Some time ago, I made two crocheted bras for the two guys who organized a Labor Day meeting called “Multitudfest”.

The first bra is made from olive green acrylic yarn, dark green mohair yarn and lovely red acrylic yarn. I used two red painted wooden beads at the ends of the back ties that can be tightened and knotted at the front.

The second bra is made from white and blue acrylic yarn and white cotton embroidered lace. I used two wooden beads for the back ties as well.

I decided to give away a bra to the men because I think that men should be allowed to wear women’s fashions without being oppressed. We should liberate men and for every man we liberate, we also liberate a woman!

These are my first bra projects and I thought they were really fun. I would like to make more of them. I think that bras would also make a good first project for people who find crocheting wearables too daunting.

Two construction approaches

I noticed that there seem to be two general approaches to crocheting bras (or bikini tops). One approach is the triangular type, and the other is the circular type.

The triangular type seem to be the most common and most simple approach. Some examples are “Ina” from Berroco, which is really quite simple. Crocheting the bra cup starts at the bottom and decreases to create the triangular shape.

A similar simple pattern is a white bikini top from DROPS. Just reading the basic pattern below, you can already see how simple the structure of the pattern is:

Bra: Ch 43 (47). Turn, work 1 row of hdc beginning in the 3rd st = 41 (45) sts. On the 2nd row work 3 hdc in the center st = 43 (47) sts. Dec 1 st at each side:

Size S/M: 2 times every other row, then 18 times every row

Size M/L: 2 times every other row, 15 times every row, then 5 times alternately every and every other row

= 3 sts. The bra piece is approx. 17 (21) cm [6.75" (8.25")]. Tie off the strand.

Crochet a second one.

Make a chain st cord about 120 cm [47.25"] long, thread it through the first row of sts of both top sections, so that it can be tied at the center back. Make a chain st cord from the top of each bra section approx. 70 cm [27-5/8"] long. Tie off the strand. The top sections are tied behind the neck at the center back.

A slightly more complex pattern is this bikini top from DROPS; each cup is also crocheted from the bottom up but is done in alternating colors .

There is also a tassled bikini top from DROPS which is worked in the same basic triangular pattern.

And yet another triangular-cup pattern, but this time for little girls, is the lovely Flower Child Bikini.

Another triangular-cup construction method is the use of square motifs (or granny squares). This is also very easy. Some examples are this plum and brown bikini top from DROPS, and this red and burgundy bikini top, also from DROPS.

The other method is a semi-circular pattern, though still triangular in basic shape. A good example is this crochet bikini top from DROPS and this orange crocheted bikini top from Canadian Living.

And finally, here is an example of the circular method of crocheting a bra, this white bikini top from DROPS.

Measurements

There’s an article on eHow called “How to crochet a bra.” Although the crocheting part is not that fantastic, the section on measurements could give ideas about developing new patterns. This “Howto” could also be useful for designing bras for men!

Plus, another very useful website/reference, this from Belarussia, a crocheted bra with starfishes. The visual instructions are detailed.

So, crocheting a bra is not really difficult. Crochet Beginners should give it a try if they want to get started on crocheting wearables and understanding the importance of body shape (but this one isn’t easy!!).

Good luck!