Jane's Magical Bra Calculator
Almost a year ago, I read a call in a Facebook group, for
testing a new bra drafting method. I applied and was accepted for testing.
The method is revolutionary in that it uses maths from body measurements to calculate the band size, the cup size and the volume of the curves used in creating the cups.
What’s different from other drafting methods? Well, other methods use arbitrary amounts to determine curves and then you have to try, fit, adjust, redo and repeat until you get something you’re happy with...
With Bare Essentials, all those amounts are calculated.
Enter my bra making calculator. In testing, I had to make several drafts, recalculating all the variables every time. The book has all the calculations laid out step by step. I was testing two different sizes so immediately I had two lots of calculations to do. After the second lot of maths, I decided that I could do the maths in an Excel spreadsheet. Jennifer Lynne Fairbanks-Matthews, the author of the method said that when she released the book there would be an on line calculator on her website. I couldn’t wait that long. This was April, the book wasn’t going to be published before June/July, I was going to be making several test drafts...
My first Excel spreadsheet wasn’t pretty. It was functional that’s all.
The method is revolutionary in that it uses maths from body measurements to calculate the band size, the cup size and the volume of the curves used in creating the cups.
What’s different from other drafting methods? Well, other methods use arbitrary amounts to determine curves and then you have to try, fit, adjust, redo and repeat until you get something you’re happy with...
With Bare Essentials, all those amounts are calculated.
Enter my bra making calculator. In testing, I had to make several drafts, recalculating all the variables every time. The book has all the calculations laid out step by step. I was testing two different sizes so immediately I had two lots of calculations to do. After the second lot of maths, I decided that I could do the maths in an Excel spreadsheet. Jennifer Lynne Fairbanks-Matthews, the author of the method said that when she released the book there would be an on line calculator on her website. I couldn’t wait that long. This was April, the book wasn’t going to be published before June/July, I was going to be making several test drafts...
My first Excel spreadsheet wasn’t pretty. It was functional that’s all.
After I’d done a handful of drafts, I was so impressed with the method I decided to create a spreadsheet, in my house style, to use for my business.
The book was released on 8 July. I created a Facebook group to support people using the method, initially because this method deviates so much from other methods, that discussing adjustments in other groups could lead to confusion.
I befriended a user of the method in Australia who was holding a bra drafting day for a group of ladies. I offered to give her a copy of my calculator, to make it easier for her ladies. Jennifer had the on line calculator available but printing options were limited. I decided to brand my calculator to match the book. And then I shuffled output fields around to match the order of use in the book. Dale, the Australian friend, suggested adding step reference numbers, and colours to make differentiating the volumes easier.
After some time of using my calculator, Jennifer suggested I could sell it. Well, that was where the work really started. A free giveaway is one thing, offering a handful of calculations in a printable form, without checking for accuracy, for formatting consistency…
I started cleaning it up, tidying up the formatting, making it so that all the references were right. And then, just as I was ready to launch, Jennifer had a new innovative idea for the cup curves. Instead of using the static recommendations in the book, she formulated a way of using dynamic calculations that would change the drafting for the better.
Two months later, finding space in the calculator, reformatting, changing the layout, adding the new information, removing surplus information. Buying a new version of Excel because of incompatibilities of my old product... Checking for consistency I finally have a saleable product.
I present Jane’s Magical Bra Calculator. The Excel spreadsheet is a workbook containing several sheets for use. There is a worksheet of instructions, a worksheet for imperial measurements and one for metric measurements. I have also included two methods for determining your wire diameter if you are not using Porcelynne wires, a handy page to record your measurements and design details that can be used for businesses to record the sale and shipping of a custom bra or draft and a page of handy links.
I present Jane’s Magical Bra Calculator. The Excel spreadsheet is a workbook containing several sheets for use. There is a worksheet of instructions, a worksheet for imperial measurements and one for metric measurements. I have also included two methods for determining your wire diameter if you are not using Porcelynne wires, a handy page to record your measurements and design details that can be used for businesses to record the sale and shipping of a custom bra or draft and a page of handy links.
Included in the new calculator...
- Imperial and Metric calculations.
- Dynamic and static cup calculations for the Bare Essentials method.
- Two ways to determine your wire size if you are not using Porcelynne wires.
- A handy form to collect measurements for you or customers, note design details and record payments and shipping information.
- A page full of links to useful information.
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25% off for the month of April
25% off for the month of April
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