HOW TO MAKE A MICRO BEAD BREAST FORM

LindaLou53

HOW TO MAKE A MICRO BEAD BREAST FORM

lvtwoqlt

My mom hates her prost and I know she has some of these beads (she fixed a beanbag chair for a friend). I may try making her one to see if she likes it.

Sheila

theredheadamy

These look great!!  Any thoughts on washability?  I'm considering attempting some of these, but think I need to be able to wash them as I would use these for work and I have a pretty physical job...

Thanks!

Amy 

coonie

Ohhhhh Linda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT!!!

Thank you SO much for doing this. It is MUCH cheaper doing it your way and with the exact same product. I'm just loving my beanie forms. Won't go back to anything else now.

Amy, I've hand-washed mine several times and just let them air dry. It works perfect. I usually just put a little liquid washing detergent in my sink of warm water, let soak a while, scrub a little, then wring them out and let air dry.

Linda--thank you for doing this. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned it, but I appreciated your pictures of flat vs forms previously. Way to go!!!!!!!

LindaLou53

Amy I will have to test the washing with the new breast form.  I know my TLC forms say hand wash only and cool air dry only....no dryer, no bleach etc.  The only thing I am not sure of is if the micro beads in the TLC forms are polyurethane vs polystyrene.  I believe some of the Silique advertising states "polyurethane" and I don't know if that is better suited to water than the polystyrene. I do have a couple neck pillows that are filled with the polystyrene micro beads and they state "spot clean"  only so that implies don't immerse them in water.  I am hoping to be able to wear forms in my swimsuits so guess I will find out sooner or later if they hold up to the chlorinated water or not.  I will report back the first time I hand wash the new foobies!

Barbara my camera is a Sony DSC-H5 digital point and shoot that is at least 5 years old.  I have been doing amateur photography for 30 years.  Before the digital age I was shooting slide film in 35mm SLR cameras but now digital is the only way to go.  I do use Photoshop CS4 to tweak the exposure, sharpness and image size.  One day I may buy a digital SLR but the quality of the higher end point and shoots is really excellent nowdays.  Makes it hard to justify spending the dollars for a professional SLR system if I'm not planning any commercial use for it.

Thanks Coonie!  Glad you enjoyed the flat vs forms pics. I may need to do an updated version now showing the new micro bead forms in clothing.    I still enjoy going flat, but these lightweight micro bead forms have me excited because I feel I now have options that I didn't have before with the heavier forms.  So far wearing these feather light forms has had no negative impact on my Lymphedema so that is making me happy!

BoobsinaBox

Linda,

You are so thorough and do such excellent documentation!  I had been trying for several years to figure out how to do these myself, but I always got flummoxed by how big to make the front, and since I was just doing it in my head, I never got any made.  I have bought two pairs of the size 2s, and I think they will be good for quite a while, but I still would like to make my own, now that I have your pics to go by!  Thanks!

Barbara,

My TLC size 2s are very flat looking, until I put them on, then they make just what I've been looking for.  As I have noted elsewhere, two of them in a package fit easily through the 1" mail slot in our door!  I'll get some pics one of these days.  My size 4 Silique Comfort-Lites had much more projection, and I had wondered about taking some of the beads out, but I was afraid I'd never get it sealed up again.

Dawn 

Binney4

Ah, LindaLou, what fun! I want to go to JoAnn's this minute!

Haven't seen the size of the bag of beads yet, but could you cut a small bit of the bottom corner off the bag and stick the corner into the opening in the form to fill it? (When we lived in Wyoming I used to make down-filled jackets for the kids -- now THAT was a amazing stuffing problem!)

Wonderful! Thanks,
Binney

Anonymous

Linda Lou, how flippin frustrating! I'm on dial-up (no choice) and Ive been sitting here wa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-aiting for the piks to load. Some I can see in full others are chopped off and others are 1/2 loaded. The progress bar keeps on and oooon and ooooooooooooooooon ....1/2 hour later looks like ummmm the progress aint progressing.   Grrrrrrr.        I SOOO want to see these!

Now, after that rant let me say this all looks wonderful.  (from what I can see) I wonder if I can go to photobucket directly and download your piks from there or something? I would ask you also, since Im on Dial-up, if its OK if I do DL them to my pooter so I dont have this infernal waiting game everytime a girl wants to see a pik. 

Anyway, thanks for sharing!

Musical

Anonymous

Well Ive finally loaded all the piks after I did some mucking around with the right click menu (reload pik) ...but I had to do it numerous times. Arrrghh. Ive saved it to my pooter and if you dont want me to do this just let me know and I'll delete it.

Anyway , LindaLou what a brilliant job youve done and what a great tutorial. 

Musical

apple

you are brilliant Linda.

i am busy these days, these weeks.. but really look forward to making one.  I really thank you for this.

3jaysmom

ive been avoiding my sewing machine (for alterations) till i could find a good reason to lug it out. thank you linda  !! surely, this is the reason ive been looking for. my belly is so bloated from gasto/chemo problems, i need bigger foobs to hde under, for meantime..off to joanns tommorow...light and love,    3jaysmom

LindaLou53

Binney the micro bead bag is 20 inches tall and 26 inches in circumference and weighs 1.25 lbs!  When you figure it takes less than 0.6 ounces to make a foobie that's a LOT of foobies! I was afraid to put a hole in the bottom corner of the bag because I had visions of the beads all pouring out uncontrollably.  Did not know how to control the flow once gravity was in effect.  They need to build an attached tube into the bag that can be capped when not in use.  I also wish they sold the micro beads in much smaller bags but I have not found any yet. Wow...I can't imagine hand stuffing down into all those coats! That had to be quite a job!

Musical please feel free to download the images to your computer for reference.  I know how frustrating dialup and slow downloads can be.  Glad you were finally able to see the pics!

I am glad you are all finding this post helpful.  I am working on converting a variety of tops to hold prosthesis and am trying out several different methods for making bra pockets.  Maybe I will post some of those examples later after I have them finished.

Anonymous

Linda its so neat when people have posted piks.... as they say.... a picture is worth 1000words    and thankyou for permission to DL. They will only be used for reference.

Musical

apple

I'm wondering if you could make them like lasagna, ... a row of lasagna with the triangle tops alternating up and down, if you wanted to make more than a few

><><><><<><><> 

 Have you tried wetting the beads before transferring them from the bag to the form?.. perhaps just a misting would help.

mthomp2020

Color me impressed!  You did a marvelous job with those!  I'll keep my fingers crossed that the beads survived the water/pool.  If you find that they don't, try looking on-line for the polyurethane beads.  You could probably find some that way, and maybe even get smaller bags of them. 

Maybe transferring some beads into a smaller zip-lock bag would make it easier to handle them.  Also, maybe spraying some anti-static spray (can you still buy that?) into the beads would help keep them under control.

lassie11

Thanks for this! I made something like that using a knit foob (my daughter is a clever knitter) and a knee high nylon reshaped to serve as the lining to keep the beads from escaping. What I didn't think of was going to the fabric store for the micro beads because I think mine are a bit heavy. Guess where I'll be going this morning!

 To get the beads into the shape, I used a kitchen funnel which worked fairly well. Of course there was still a mess, but maybe less of one.

Wetting the beads separately from the project is a good idea to find out what would happen. Getting caught in a rain storm could be worrisome otherwise.

GramE

Thanks for the detailed instructions.  I had a lumpectomy, so only need part of a form to "round out" my shape...   And I have made a couple of embellished bras for wearing to BC events and walks.   I used a 44DD padded bra, but it still needs some fill to look good.   Making a couple of these forms will be the perfect fill for them.   

Would wiping the bag of bead with a fabric softener sheet work to cut static?   I know if you are wearing a slip that clings to panty hose and skirt, a mist of water will help with the static.    

Thanks again.    

sespebadger

Thank you, Linda Lou!!!

LindaLou53

Ladies I just added an update note to my original post after testing my new  "micro beads containment system" and also testing the beads in water.  You can see the results now in the original post. 

GramE

You should apply to Consumer Reports (magazine) for a job.   Very thorough and detailed info.   Thanks a bunch.   

BoobsinaBox

Excellent, Linda!

Dawn 

RegulJ

Great Job   Maybe we can get a sticky post for this
Diagnosis: 8/30/2009, IDC, 5cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 3/15 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2+

theredheadamy

Linda---you are so talented!!  Thanks so much for the info.  You've given me hope that I can find something that I will be comfortable with when I want "a little somethin" " there....

Coonie--Thanks so much for letting me know that hand washing has worked well for you.  I appreciate it!

Amy 

Sunshine99

Thank you, Linda!  Now I know what my weekend project is going to be.  I couldn't figure out how to get one side of the form "poofy" and the other side flat.  Your picture and description were perfect.  God bless you!  This could be one of the best threads on this board

Sunshine99

Oh, I thought of another thing...  I think I'm going to make a pair of forms - although my mast was only on one side, I'm still small enough that I could use a little padding on the side I still have.  So, I'm thinking of making one bigger one for the mast side and a smaller one for the non-mast side.

I even thought about embroidering a little "tag" on each one:  red for the right side and blue for the left.  That way, it will be easier to remember which one goes where

dharmamama

Excellent!!! My cat actually attacked my silicon breast form (he probably thought is was a chicken cutlet) . i really didn't want to buy a new one. I am putting my old Singer to work!

nagem

I'm thinking it might be possible to make the case out of an old T shirt, which would be even more comfortable—though not as quick-drying.

apple

what to do with leftover microbeads if you have kids

FLOAM

Instructions

Things You'll Need: 1 c. warm water, divided 1 cup craft glue (must contain polyvinyl alcohol) 2 tsp. Borax 3 c. micro beads (the type used to stuff bean bags) 2 small packets powdered instant (koolaid-type) drink mix in 2 different colors 2 quart-sized resealable (ziplock-type) plastic bags Step 1 Pour the Borax into a medium-sized bowl. Stir in about 1/3 c. of warm water, continuing to stir until the Borax dissolves completely.Step 2 Put each envelope of powdered drink mix in a small bowl, then add 1/3 c. warm water to each bowl. Stir until the drink mix is thoroughly dissolved, then add half of the glue to each bowl.Step 3 Place half of the micro beads into each bag. Pour half of the Borax mixture and one bowl of the glue mixture into each bag of beads.Step 4 "Burp" the air from each bag and seal it tightly. Squish your floam until it is well mixed. Let it stand for about half an hour, then knead it a bit more to make sure some it's good and squishy.

LindaLou53

UPDATE 7-10-10:

I wanted to update my process for making the microbead forms at home since I have made a few pairs now.  Here are just a few tips with pics if you decide to make your own.

1.)    I found that trying to piece the larger top cover of the form to the smaller back cover was easier if you ran a simple basting stitch in the front cover first and then gathered it up evenly to fit the back cover.  

BASTING STITCH IN TOP COVER TO GENTLY GATHER TOP TO FIT

PINNING GATHERED TOP TO BACK COVER

2.)    I also found that keeping the seams on the outside of the form tended to make ridges show through the bra or top you wore them in and they just didn't look as finished as I would like. So I decided to leave a small opening (aprox 1.5 - 2.0 inches) when stitching the front and back covers together (keep right sides together) and then turned the fabric inside out so the seam was hidden inside.  I folded the raw edges of the opening to the inside of the pocket and pressed them smooth. After filling the form with microbeads I then just topstitched the small opening closed using the sewing machine.

 COVERS SEWN TOGETHER WITH OPENING FOR TURNING

FORM COVERS TURNED INSIDE OUT TO HIDE SEAMS AND PRIOR TO STUFFING WITH MICROBEADS

 

 FRONT OF FINISHED FORM AFTER STUFFING WITH MICROBEADS AND STITCHING OPENING CLOSED

 BACK OF FINISHED FORM

3.)    Fabric selection is important also.  The fabric for the back cover needs to be either non-stretch cotton or very minimal one-way stretch cotton because you need it to keep the triangle shape of the form.  The material for the front cover of the form needs to be a two-way stretchy fabric with generous ease so there is room for the microbeads to fill it out with the desired projection profile in front.  Both fabrics should be washable.

4.)   Stuffing anything with microbeads is a pain in the %$#@!  I thought I must just not be doing it the right way but I have spoken with numerous sewing store employees who say they have never found an easy way to get the microbeads into any project.  I finally gave up on my turkey baster (it was too slow to fill and got clogged) and started using a cookie dough press tube which was wider at both ends.  I still take the bag of microbeads out on the deck and try to fill the forms there to reduce hundreds of little microbeads floating around my sewing room.  Definitely keep your vacuum handy if you use them indoors!

5.)     If you plan on making several pairs of forms its a good idea to create a muslin pattern that you can label and include any markings as a reference.  I have made a couple pairs for friends and make a muslin cloth template of their form size so I can make more later if needed of the same size.

BREAST FORM TEMPLATES

Hope this helps any of you wanting to make your own breast forms. It really is not that difficult and certainly cost effective if you would like several pairs or different sizes!

BoobsinaBox

Linda,

I had wondered about turning the seams inside, but I was afraid the closing seam might not keep the beads in.  Thanks for proving it could be done.  I really like these forms, and when I get my sewing room back, I'm going to make my own.  Thanks again for being the pioneer for all of us!

Dawn 

MrsNice

Amazing idea!!  Nice work!  I also saw your pics on the breastfree.org website; I'm just recovering from a R side lumpectomy, but it was centrally located so basically the nip and surrounding tissue were removed, and my skin was sutured in sort of a drawstring fashion to close the top.  My doc has mentioned a reduction of the L breast to match, but I may delay that surgery for awhile while I lose a significant amount of weight.  These microbead forms would be perfect to fill me in during the interim.  Thanks!