Guide on making a safe binder at home!
So I lost my gc2b binder early on in quarantine and became so dysphoric that I had to make a new one. I looked up alternatives online and a lot of them sound dangerous or not effective, like using tights or multiple sports bras. So I tested out a few tries and I think I've figured it out!
It's designed based off the one I lost, but it's still a binder. Don't wear it for more than 8 hours, and if you're in pain take it off! I'm an amateur at best, so if you can get one from gc2b, do it.
The fabrics you need are a firmer fabric (mine was calico) and a stretchy fabric (I don't know what it is, it's just stretchy and thin). It can be hand sewn or machine sewn, just look up stitches/how to do different stitches on your machine.
For your measurements, you need to measure from one armpit to the other across your chest (A).
Then you need around your bust at the widest point, generally it's around the nipple (B).
You need to measure your length, I went from my chest to my waist (L).
And if you want straps, go from your shoulder blade, over the shoulder, and down to your chest (S).
Iron the fabric to make it flat, the flatter your fabric, the flatter your chest.
Measure a rectangle that is A wide and twice the length of L; I folded mine to make it thicker but depending on your material it might be safer to go with the regular length.
Cut it out, you can choose to iron it more or sew it together if you've folded it in half.
Again, lay it out nice and flat, iron if you need to.
Measure a rectangle that is B wide and the length of L twice. I chose to fold the stretchy fabric all the way around the calico to make it more comfortable, but again you can have it only covering the front if you want, just use the regular length.
If you want straps, use the S measurement and cut 2 strips that length, I went 2cm wide.
Line the calico up in the centre of the stretchy fabric, A in the centre of B, at the top so the edges line up. Fold the bottom over the top of the calico and pin everything in place.
For the straps, pin them an equal distance apart on the calico, but not at the edge or in the middle. If you're unsure wait until the end
Sew the calico piece firmly in place, all the way around.
Do a seam stitch all the way around the outside, including over the straps if you have them.
Hold it to your chest and wrap it around to make sure it fits, then sew the back and the straps.
Try it on, if it isn't tight enough take off 5mm at a time from each side and re-sew. If it's too tight, do not wear it.
Bind safely for no longer than 8 hours and don't exercise in them!
