If you follow me on Instagram, you know that we’re clearing out Grandma’s house at the moment. And I found some of her lingerie: bras and garter belts! They’re probably from the late 1940s or early 1950s. The bras have the characteristic, pointy, conical bullet bra shape of the 1950s – but not as exaggerated as some of the 1950s bras.
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And if you want to sew your own pin-up bra or vintage garter belt, I traced the patterns of two of the bras and of one of the garter belts. You can download the patterns for free and adjust them to your size.
1940s/ 1950s Pink Bra
>> Click Here To Download The 1950s Pink Bra Pattern For Free <<
– The PDF opens in a new window –
The first bra is light pink. The fabric is thin, sheer and non-elastic, probably nylon or polyester taffeta fabric. My other grandma, a dressmaker, used that kind of fabric to line skirts and dresses in the 1950s and 1960s.
The bra is made out of one layer of fabric, just the lower cup below the circular stitching is made out of two layers of the taffeta lining fabric.
Bra Straps & Closure
The bra has non-adjustable satin ribbon straps, and is closed with an elastic loops & hook closure. Anna shared a tutorial how to attach such a 1950s French bra back closure.

Circular Stitching
The bullet bra has the iconic circular stitching.


Elastic Insets
The bra has two triangular elastic insets, one at each side.
The Inside
The bra is neatly finished on the inside with pink cotton bias binding and flesh-colored, very soft net fabric.
Hand Stitches
Broken seams were fixed with hand stitches.


1940s/ 1950s White Satin Bra
The second bra is a white satin bra with lace insets.

It has the same type of closure like the pink bra.
The bra is lined with thin, white cotton fabric.
1940s/ 1950s White Lace Bra
>> Click Here To Download The 1950s White Lace Bra Pattern For Free <<
– The PDF opens in a new window –
The third bra has padded bra cups. The bra is made out of sheer, but stiffer, white taffeta fabric and lace.

It has the same kind of closure like the other two 1950s bras.



1940s/ 1950s Garter Belt
>> Click Here To Download The 1950s Garter Belt Pattern For Free <<
– The PDF opens in a new window –
There are two garter belts: a pink one and a white one with lace – the measurements of the garter belts are the same.

The fabric is again a thin taffeta lining fabric. The raw edges of the garter belts are finished with cotton bias binding.
Elastic Insets
Both garter belts have an elastic inset at each side.




Hook & Eye Closure
The garter belts are closed with hooks and eyes.

Spiral Steel Boning
Both garter belts are lightly boned with thin, flexible spiral steel boning.

The Clips
The white garter belt has plastic suspender clips.
And the pink garter belt has metal suspender clips.
Some of the clips were probably broken and repaired with metal and plastic buttons.
Hand Stitches
Broken seams were fixed with hand stitches.
These are so beautiful, and look so delicate. Thank you for sharing the patterns for free.
You’re welcome! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Manja-Freyja!
Beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing the patterns! Kisses!
You’re welcome! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Lina, whenever I visit your site I get the urge to become a costumer for a theatre company! Your attention to every last detail is amazing.
Thanks Jean! 🙂
These are amazing, how lovely that you still have them and have been able to take patterns from them.
Yes, they’re amazing, aren’t they? 🙂
These pieces are in the most wonderful condition, especially considering their age! Thank you so much for sharing them, and the patterns you have made, with us at the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Pinning!
Thanks for pinning April! 🙂
This was really an interesting post – fashion and history all sewn together!
I always enjoy the posts you share with us.
Thanks Linda! 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!
Lina! Thank you so much for this pattern! This examples are so pretty! Once I made some garter belt, but now I think it’s time to sew some new one 🙂
You’re welcome! 🙂 I’d love to see the garter belt when you make it!
Oh boy do these take me back! I’m amazed that she still had them. I was in jr. high and high school in the 60’s and early 70’s. I certainly remember wearing a garter belt. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks for stopping by, Jann!
These are all beautiful. They are so feminine, sexy and ladylike all at once. Its great that you are able to replicate these treasures and share the patterns. Beautiful post.
Thanks Leanna!
They are gorgeous and you are such a skilled seamstress an art that I am afraid is being lost
Thanks, Amber, but I didn’t make the lingerie, I just took the patterns! 😉
What a cool post. Makes me wish I knew more about sewing. Thanks so much for linking at To Grandma’s House We Go link party! Your project has been pinned. We hope to see you again this Wednesday!
Thanks for pinning, Sheri!
Been looking all over the internet for a vintage Garter Belt Pattern, now I have one, thanks to you. Have self drafted them but not with as much detail as you have brought to the table. And all for free.
Thanx a Bunch:
Bart
You’re welcome! I’m glad it was helpful!
Wow! I love the repair details! Unworn or lightly used vintage undergarments from this time are pretty plentiful but well worn ones are not! It really shows the necessary frugality of the depression and war rationing.
What would your grandmother have thought while mending these had she known they’d be shared for all eyes to see?
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks, Elizabeth! 🙂
Would you know the approximate size of the bras?
No, sorry, they didn’t have a size label.
Beautiful photos, and many thanks for sharing the patterns! But what is the original size so we can adjust it?
Thank you! They don’t have size labels.
I *am* a costumer for a nonprofit theatre (well, several) and, especially in a time crunch, I don’t like to “reinvent the wheel.” Thank you for the garter pattern. It’s perfect for my current production.
Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful!
I enjoyed seeing these hand-made bras and undergarments.
Would really like to make my own. Thanks for sharing and inspiring us!
Thank you, I’m glad you like it! 🙂 However, the underwear is store-bought, not hand-made.
Will you be posting a blog with instructions for sewing these? The patterns are lovely but a bit confusing to follow without instructions
At the moment I don’t plan to write a tutorial. But you can ask me if you have any questions about the patterns. I’ll try to answer them. 🙂