How to Fix a Saggy Bra
Most bras fit comfortably and give good support when new, especially the more expensive ones. After several washings, however especially if care is not taken during the laundering, the bra no longer provides the support it used to. It's preferable to try and repair the bra rather than throwing it away. Fortunately there are a few simple adjustments you can make to tighten the bra and reduce the sag. If these do not do the trick, you can replace a part of each strap to restore the bra to its former effectiveness. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tailor's chalk
- 1/2-inch wide elastic
- Pins
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Thread
- Sewing machine
Instructions
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Adjusting the Straps
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1
Put on the bra and lift one the shoulder straps at the point where the strap is attached to the front of the bra cup, to see if this reduces the sag. Adjust the strap by pushing about 1-inch of strap into the "S"-shaped hook in the middle of the strap.
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2
Pull the strap from the opposite side of the "S" hook to straighten the loop that was formed, shortening the strap. Do the same thing on the other strap. Shorten the second strap by the same amount as the first one.
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3
Try on the bra to check the fit. Repeat steps 1 and 2, tightening the straps in 1/2-inch increments until you are satisfied with the improvement. Follow the steps below if tightening the shoulder straps in this way does not give the support you need, or if the bra does not fit comfortably.
Replacing Part of Each Strap
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4
Open the bra and lay it on a flat work surface. Cut through one of the bra straps near the back of the bra where the strap may be looped through a metal ring. Un-thread the strap from the ring if there is one.
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5
Make a second cut in the strap about 4 to 6 inches from the first cut, or at the seam line if the strap has a join in it. Measure the length of this piece of strap and discard it.
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6
Cut a piece of 1/2-inch wide elastic, one inch less than the length of the piece you removed. Lay the end of this elastic piece on top of the cut end of the bra strap, overlapping by about 1/2-inch.
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7
Stitch the elastic to the remaining section of bra strap, using a straight stitch on the sewing machine. Change the machine to a zigzag stitch and sew over the join where the strap meets the elastic.
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8
Loop the free end of the elastic through the "S" hook of the bra and through the back metal hook. Fold the elastic through the metal clip and through the "S" hook. Fold the end of the elastic about 1/2-inch through the "S" hook and stitch this end fold down with a straight stitch. Stitch along the raw edges with a zigzag stitch.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure the straps are smooth and flat without any twists in them before you stitch the ends in place.
Get yourself measured for the correct bra size when you purchase a new one; an improperly fitting bra can cause health problems.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
