Excited to find cheap Camisoles at Target

Thank you Lovemygarden for measuring your beanies!  I was all set to order mine a bit bigger in size 6, now after seeing Coonie's pics, I'm not so sure.

Coonie, could you possibly measure your beanies for me as well?   My camis are XL, so wonder if the size 6 beanies would get lost in there?

Coonie, THANK YOU for the pictues.  I decided I am going to try to make a foob.  I bought the micro beads and some fabric similar to the cover for one of the others I have.  We'll see.  I'll let you know how it goes

Lindalou, you can find the microbeads at Jo-Ann stores, and through their website. The brand is Fairfield Poly-fil Microbeads. The only downside is that they are sold only in a fairly large (20-oz) bag but you could always make other things like pillows, headrests, computer/mouse wrist rests with them too! The bag costs about $20 but Jo-Ann Stores always have coupons for 40% or 50% off....

 Edit: Sorry, I just realized that you are looking for polyurethane beads, not polystyrene... the Fairfield ones are polystyrene.

 I wonder if it makes a difference though? The main difference seems to be when they are used for insulation: http://www.sunsationalgreen.com/?page_id=47

Come back Coonie!!!!!

I can't believe I didn't get myself to Target when it was a mile from the house.

Now we're headed out to the wilderness and there's a Target about an hour away.

Ding-dong.

My new surgeon still doesn't me want to use anything heavier than my little fluffies, till we can get my incision line under control.

You gals firgure this all out & once you have it all conquered, I'll jump into the fray.

Maybe by fall??? LOL.

Fluffies forward. Shoulders back.

Good thing that clevage was never a part of my performance.

More laughing.

I received the Cool Comfort Cami from TLC today and here's my "review". I got the Beige in size Medium.

PROs:

* The fabric is very soft and comfortable.

* The breastform pockets and pocket openings are HUGE.. my size 5 microbead form fit with plenty of room. You could fit a 6 or 7 form into these pockets, I'm sure.

 MAYBE GOOD/MAYBE BAD:

* There is a wide elastic band under the pockets only (does not go all the way around) but in the size M cami it is not tight on me (I weigh 110 lbs); good since I hate anything that feels snug or constricting. In fact it, and the front itself, is quite loose which brings up the:

CONs:

* There is so much room in the front that the cami top edge (which is lace trimmed) gaps open noticeably. Looks very sloppy.

* Those oversize pockets allow even the microbead form to "droop" noticeably too.

* The straps are not adjustable for their full length, only for what IMHO is a too-short section in the back.

* The color of the lace trim on the beige cami doesn't even remotely match the body! The body is medium beige but the lace trim is a sort of sage-greeny color (think "faded camo"). Ugh. 

* Overall the cami is cut too big in the front (IMO) but too skimpy across the back. That's why I am returning it instead of exchanging it for a size Small ... I know the back would be annoyingly tight because it almost is with the size M. When I tried shortening the straps more, the top front gapped even more and the armholes became too high for my comfort. Of course YMMV, but overall I'd say this cami is a poor cut/design. It's made in China, what else is new....?

Oh well, more return postage!

Hi LindaLou and everyone,

I did get the micro-beads at JoAnn Fabrics.  They are really, really tiny.  I also got some soft stretchy fabric to try to make the form.  Haven't done it yet, but here is what I tried:

I took a pair of panty hose and cut off about a foot (no pun intended) - 12 inches - off the bottom.  Then I took the big bag of micro beads on my big smooth kitchen island and using a wide funnel (like for canning) poured about a cup of micro-beads into the stocking (I'm small busted).  It's kind of messy, but then I tied off the end of the stocking and squished the beads around and then put it in my  bra.  It felt super comfortable.  I just need to work on getting the right amount in there, and then I'll make some kind of cover.

Don't know what I'll do with all the extra micro-beads unless I start selling breast forms on the corner

Anyone else tried to make their own form yet?

Jet3648 the TLC website stands for "Tender Loving Care"  and is sponsored by the American Cancer Society.  They have products for women going through chemotherapy and surgery. 

This is the link to the details page on the Micro Bead light weight forms:

http://www.tlcdirect.org/products/sku-8139__dept-34.html

The largest form size they sell in the Micro Beads is a 15 which is like a 50DD.  Since you will need to augment your partial mast side though and your mom sews, the micro beads at Jo-Anns Fabric store might be better for making a custom sized bra insert.

Sunshine thanks for the update on the micro beads at Jo-Anns.  I will definitely try them out.  I picked up some very lightweight poly-knit fabric that should work for both bra pockets and also breast form covers.  I was thinking I would use my digital kitchen scale to weigh the microbeads so I could get the same amount each time for each form.  My size 7 form weighs 0.75 ounces and the size 8 weighs 0.85 ounces.  My chest is uneven after the surgery so I need a larger form on the right to look even.  I will let you know if I get a form made.  Won't have time to get the beads and try it til later next week.  Right now I'm sewing pockets in some camis and tank tops!

Thanks to everyone for all the posts! Very reassuring to those of us who are chosing BMX with no recon. Mine is on July 12. I appreciate all the info you are sharing so much!

My mom had a single mast in 2001 and has frequently complained that she hates her silicone breast form, it doesn't match her remaining saggy boob so she only wears it for special occasions, 99% of the time she goes flat on one side. I have seen the clear plastic beeds at Handcock fabrics (I use in pincushions) I may try making her a new fake boob with some soft knit fabric. thanks everyone for the ideas and photos on how to create a beed-boob.

Sheila

Hi Ladies,   Mom is excited to be able to help me with a beaniebag boob to augment my part.mx until I have a reduction on the otherone.  I found that I have a pillow full of tiny beads that we are going to start with.  On my TV they have been advertising a Sobakawa pillow full of little beads. 

I expect it will be at Walgreens/CVS  Seen on TV shelfs.  Think I will check that out instead of the big bag of beads at JoAnn's  Don't think I can stand on the street corner in this heat in OK.

 By the way,  are there any of Okies out there??? 

Just ordered the size 5 micro-bead forms from TLC and some Target crossover camis! I'm hoping this will be a good option for me post surgery after my drains are removed. Thanks for all the great info.

My aunt showed me the boob she made from a stocking and birdseed back in 1988.  When I had my bilat, however, it seemed too hard to use on my very sensitive skin.  Now that I'm 4 years out, I'm loving my new microbeads, and I think of Aunt Lyn everyday!  She died less than a year after her mast, and I felt her presence as I made my own decisions.

Dawn 

Hi Cornellalum,

I'm also tall and wear a size 7-8 silicone form.  I got the Sz 7 and Sz 8 TLC microbead forms and know what you are talking about when you say they flatten.  What I have discovered is it is VERY important the type of bra or garment you wear them in.  If you wear them in a garment in which the bra pocket is too large and roomy, the forms will not project well and will seem flat in profile.  If you wear them in a tight spandex shapewear type garment it will also tend to flatten the form since the garment fabric pushes back so strongly.  If you wear them in a well-defined cup that closely encases the form so it can only expand by pushing forward it will give a much rounder and better projecting profile.  The Target camisoles work fairly well because the pockets are relatively small and very triangle shaped to make the forms not flatten out.  I have some tops that the forms look flat in but other tops that the same forms have a very nice rounded profile.

Here is a pic of an old tank top with a shelf bra that I converted to pockets and used extra stitching to help shape the microbead forms like they would be in a standard bra cup.  The forms have nice projection even when not wearing them. 

One thing to remember about these lightweight microbead forms is that they will shape to whatever pressure is applied to them and will take the shape of the container they are held in.  When I drive with the seatbelt across my chest it does tend to flatten the right form but then I just do a little "hand molding' to push it back to normal shape after removing the seat belt.

I love the TLC microbead forms and they are the only forms I have found I am willing to wear.  I don't think the size of the form makes a difference.  It is just a characteristic of the very mobile microbeads in a light stretchy covering.  Try wearing a different type of bra or top with a smaller bra pocket and see if you notice a difference in achieving the profile you are looking for.