Find the Best Possible Size

When you are going to make your own bra, it’s extremely important to find a right cup size. The fit of the bra band can easily be adjusted when trying the bra on.

There are two-three approaches to choosing the size – with the help of the following facts:

  1. The size of your current bra = your ready-to-wear bra size
  2. Your under and full bust measurements (how to measure?)

Let’s take a closer look how to choose the pattern size by those facts.

BY THE CURRENT BRA SIZE

You may get close to the right cup fit by choosing the size based on your current ready-to-wear bra size. The problem may arise from the unrealistic under bust measurement of them, which quite often is at least 5-15cm smaller than your real measurement is. That means the cup size is larger (i.e. the letter goes up). Compare your own under bust measurement to your ready-to-wear bra band size. Typically the difference will grow at the upper and lower end of the sizes. Rarely a women with the underbust 100cm (44) buys the bra in that band size, instead it may be 85-90 (38-40).

Pros and cons of the method
+ The cup size may fit perfectly (depends also on the model!)
– The band length of the pattern may be too short. However, lengthen the band is very easy.

BY THE MEASUREMENTS

Take your under and full bust measurement wearing a non padded bra. Those measurements are interrelated and constitutes your bra size. However, the size table is made for the proportions of an average woman (Lady Green in the picture). If the cup size given by the chart differs from the cup size you are usually wearing, take a look at the options below.

BRA SIZE CHART (klick to open)

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BRA SIZES IN CM
1. Band size 2.Cup size
EU AA A B C D DD
65 74-78 76-80 78-82 80-84 82-86 84-88
70 79-83 81-85 83-87 85-89 87-91 89-93
75 84-88 86-90 88-92 90-94 92-96 94-98
80 89-93 91-95 93-97 95-99 97-101 99-103
85 94-98 96-100 98-102 100-104 102-106 104-108
90 99-103 101-105 103-107 105-109 107-111 109-113
95   106-110 108-112 110-114 112-116 114-118
100     113-117 115-119 117-121 119-123
 
EU F G H I J K
65 86-90          
70 91-95 93-97 95-99
75 96-100 98-102 100-104 102-106 104-108 106-110
80 101-105 103-107 105-109 107-111 109-113 111-115
85 106-110 108-112 110-114 112-116 114-118 116-120
90 111-115 113-117 115-119 117-121 119-123 121-125
95 116-120 118-122 120-124 122-126 124-128
100 121-125 123-127 125-129 127-131 129-133  

BRA SIZE CHART INCHES (klick to open)

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BRA SIZES IN INCHES
1. Band size 2.Cup size
  AA A B C
25,5″ 29,0 – 30,7 30,0 – 31,5 30,7 – 32,3 31,5 – 33,0
27,5″ 31,0 – 32,7 32,0 – 33,5 32,7 – 34,3 33,5 – 35,0
29,5″ 33,0 – 34,6 33,9 – 35,4 34,6 – 36,2 35,4 – 37,0
31,5″ 35,0 – 36,6 35,8 – 37,4 36,6 – 38,2 37,4 – 39,0
33,5″ 37,0 – 38,6 37,8 – 39,4 38,6 – 40,2 39,4 – 41,0
35,5″ 39,0 – 40,5 39,8 – 41,3 40,5 – 42,1 41,3 – 42,9
37,5″   41,7 – 43,3 42,5 – 44,0 43,3 – 44,9
39,5″     44,5 – 46,0 45,3 – 46,8
 
  D DD F G
25,5″ 32,3 – 33,9 33,0 – 34,6 33,9 – 35,4  
27,5″ 34,3 – 35,8 35,0 – 36,6 35,8 – 37,4 36,6 – 38,2
29,5″ 36,2 – 37,8 37,0 – 38,6 37,8 – 39,4 38,6 – 40,2
31,5″ 38,2 – 39,8 39,0 – 40,5 39,8 – 41,3 40,5 – 42,1
33,5″ 40,2 – 41,7 41,0 – 42,5 41,7 – 43,3 40,5 – 44,0
35,5″ 42,1 – 43,7 42,9 – 44,5 43,7 – 45,3 44,5 – 46,0
37,5″ 44,0 – 45,7 44,9 – 46,5 45,7 – 47,2 46,5 – 48,0
39,5″ 46,0 – 47,6 46,8 – 48,4 47,6 – 49,2 48,4 – 50,0
 
  H I J K
25,5″
27,5″ 37,4 – 39,0
29,5″ 39,4 – 40,9 40,1 – 41,7 40,9 – 42,5 41,7 – 43,3
31,5″ 41,3 – 42,9 42,1 – 43,7 42,9 – 44,5 43,7 – 45,3
33,5″ 43,3 – 44,9 44,0 – 45,7 44,9 – 46,5 45,7 – 47,2
35,5″ 45,3 – 46,8 46,0 – 47,6 46,8 – 48,4 47,6 – 49,2
37,5″ 47,2 – 48,8 48,0 – 49,6 48,8 – 50,4
39,5″ 49,2 – 50,8 50,0 – 51,6 50,8 – 52,3  

You can also calculate the size of a cup by simple subtraction: full bust – underbust. The difference shows the cup size letter.

DIFFERENCE (cm)
13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
A B C D DD F G H I J

IMPORTANT SIZING TIP

The cup size depends strongly on the relation between the back width and the full bust measurement. That’s why Ladies in the picture need different sized cups despite having exactly the same under and full bust measurements.
back-breasts
Lady Blue has narrow back and fuller breasts. She needs one or even two sizes larger cup than the chart tells her.
Lady Green is the lucky one and finds her size from the size chart.
Lady Red has rather broad back and smaller breasts. She needs one or even two sizes smaller cup.

fr Un conseil important sur les tailles
DE Wichtiger Hinweis für die Abmessung
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Un conseil important sur les tailles

Dans le tableau, cherchez la taille de votre tour de poitrine (le plus proche possible) qui correspond à la taille de votre tour de dessous de poitrine.

Les tailles dans ce guide sont des tailles standards pour les femmes (La femme verte). Si la taille de bonnet proposée par le tableau n’est pas la même que vous portez normalement, regardez les exemples suivants.

1. Votre dos est étroit et vos seins sont plus grands par rapport à votre tour de poitrine (La femme bleue). Choisissez une taille de bonnet plus grande que ce que le tableau vous propose.

2. Votre dos est plutôt vaste et vos seins sont plus petits par rapport à votre tour de poitrine (La femme rouge). Choisissez une taille de bonnet plus petite que ce que le tableau vous propose.

Notez bien que les tailles de dessous de poitrine sont marquées différemment dans le système européen que dans le système français. Par exemple EU 80A = FR 95A. La taille française est toujours +15.

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Wichtiger Hinweis für die Abmessung

Suchen Sie die Zahl ihres Brustumfangs auf der Zeile, wo sich ihre Unterbrustbandgröße befindet. Ihre Abmessung sollte sich, so genau viel wie möglich, zwischen zwei Ziffern befinden.

Die Tabelle ist nach den Proportionen einer Durchschnittsfrau (Frau Grün auf dem Bild) erstellt. Wenn der Brustumfang, den Sie sich in der Tabelle gesucht haben, von ihrem Brustumfang abweicht, machen Sie sich mit den Alternativen unten bekannt.

1. Ihr Rücken ist schmal und die Brüste machen den größten Teil ihres Brustumfangs aus (Frau Blau). Es kann sein, dass die Größe der Körbchen eine oder zwei Größen größer sein sollte, als angedeutet.

2. Im Vergleich zu ihren Rücken machen die Brüste einen kleinen Teil ihrer Unterbrustbandgröße aus (Frau Rot). Es kann sein, dass die Größe der Körbchen eine oder sogar zwei Größen kleiner sein sollte, als angedeutet.

Trotz den gleichen Abmessungen dieser Frauen auf den Bildern, brauchen die Frauen verschieden Größe Körbchen.

Pros and cons of the method
+ Easy to find the size if you are an ”average” woman
– The margin of error increases when the width of the back becomes bigger or smaller

BY THE MIX OF ABOVE

Maybe the best approach would be to compare the size given by the measurements and your ready-to-wear bra size. If they don’t match, do like this:

1. Take your real underbust measurement as a fact. Round it up or down as in the table below.

THE BAND SIZE
Figure > SIZE
68 – 72cm > 70
73 – 77cm > 75
78 – 82cm > 80
83 – 87cm > 85
88 – 92cm > 90
93 – 97cm > 95
98 – 102cm > 100

2. Convert your ready-to-wear bra size to match your real bra band size with the help of the sister size chart. Parallel sizes are on the columns. Sister sizes refers to the bra sizes that have the same cup volume although the band size changes.

Example: Your underbust measurement is 95cm and the size of your ready-to-wear bra is 85G. Adapt the size 85G into a 95 series. The result is 95DD.

SISTER SIZES
Band size Cup size
60 (28) C D DD F G H I J        
65 (30) B C D DD F G H I J      
70 (32) A B C D DD F G H I J    
75 (34) AA A B C D DD F G H I J K
80 (36)   AA A B C D DD F G H I J
85 (38)     AA A B C D DD F G H I
90 (40)       AA A B C D DD F G H
95 (42)         AA A B C D DD F G
100 (44)             A B C D DD F
105 (46)               A B C D DD
110 (48)                 A B C D
Pros and cons of the method
+ Probably the least pattern adjustments
– Requires mathematical pondering

How To Measure

bra measurements

1. BAND SIZE

Place the measuring tape firmly on the lower edge of the bra parallel to the floor. Keep the tape snug. Compare your under bust measurement to the size chart below.

2. CUP SIZE

Measure around your body at the fullest part of your bust keeping the measuring tape in place firmly, but softly. The tape should stay parallel to the floor.
Now you have two figures that lead you to your bra size. Find your full bust measurement from the middle of the number pairs at the row corresponding to your band size. The letter above is your cup size.

Other Underwear

For underpants you will need two measurements: the waist and hip measurement. The hip measurement is the most important and the pattern of the panties should be selected on the basis of it. Hip measurement is taken from the widest part of the hip by pulling the measuring tape snug, but not too tight.

UNDERWEAR SIZES (cm)
S M L XL
Chest 80-84 88-92 96-100 104-110
Waist 64-68 72-76 80-84 88-92
Hip 88-92 96-100 104-108 112-118