Bra Bug Gardens – the tutorial you’ve all been waiting for!
Our household just held a massive cleanse. We decided we just had FAR TOO MUCH STUFF! So we’ve been through every cupboard, drawer and shelf cleansing out the excess stuff. The pile is immense and I’m very much looking forward to our Garage Sale this weekend to help raise funds for the Christchurch Women’s Refuge. I’m also donating 100% of pattern sales, so please pop over to the shop and pick one up.
But there’s some stuff you can’t sell too easily. And I’ve managed to filter a whole big bag of old knickers socks and bras out of the drawer (which I can now close! hurrah!). Rather than biff them in the bin, since textile production is one of the most wasteful industries on the planet, I’ve been seeking out ideas for reusing.
I’ve also set myself a wee mission this year to see how many different ways I can come up with the grow plants on fences. Long time readers will know I’m not the worlds biggest fence fan. But while it’s not possible to completely do away with them, I’m interested in finding ways to make the ones we have to have more functional. Canvases and gardens have been my two areas of experimentation.
So with that in mind I had a cheeky yet cunning idea to reuse my old bras. I’ve recently finished breastfeeding and I’m certainly not planning on doing that again so I’ve got a heap of maternity bras. They’re pretty solid so I thought they might make awesome plant pots!
PRESENTING: Possibly the worlds first Bra Bug fence pot tutorial!!
Materials:
old bras
scissors
needle and thread
stuff to decorate with (buttons, glitter, embroidery thread etc)
dirt
sand
little plants – succulent cuttings are ideal
STEP ONE
Grab a big pile of bras
STEP TWO
Cut off the back strap and shoulder straps
STEP THREE
Decorate!! There is absolutely no instruction here. Go nuts. Make your bras whatever you can possibly imagine them to be. I made bugs because these were heading for the fence at our community garden where our Permaculture Playgroup is held. Each week we have a theme and bugs was it this week.
Don’t laugh at my dorky bugs!
STEP FOUR
Fence time! This is of course the most fun bit. Find yourself a chain link fence and slip one half of the bra through and fold it back on itself so the two cups are joined. Then stitch along the side and the bottom so it holds together. You can stitch however you like just try not to leave gaps or the dirt will just fall through.
TIP 1: Use a fat long needle. It’s quite tricky pushing the needle through since the fabric is usually quite thick. Especially if you have a padded bra.
TIP 2: Get a friend to help with this bit and have a person on each side. It’s a wee bit tricky to push the needle through from the opposite side of the fence you’re standing on. It’s possible but annoying. Also, it’s more fun making stuff with friends 
STEP FIVE:
Gardening time! Fill your bug up with dirt and then plant. I was planting succulents and put 3/4 dirt and 1/4 sand so it looked pretty.
TIP: when you’re putting in the first bit of dirt make sure you stuff it in to fill the cups out, especially if you aren’t using padded bras. It’ll help it hold its shape.
And that’s it!
These ones were very much an experiment and I am quite sure I will perfect the art of upcycling old bras into spectacular mini fence gardens and I’ll try and update this post with any great lessons learned. In the meantime, have a go! I for one think the world is finally ready for the next great thing in organic, sustainable street art.
xox
Craftivism, Environmental Politics, Fun stuff, Photos, Tutorials/Patterns
16 Responses to “Bra Bug Gardens – the tutorial you’ve all been waiting for!”
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Oh my gosh! These are so cute and useful! That is what you do with Maternity Bras.. you grow plants! OF COURSE!!! So good, Rayna!!!
pip´s last [type] ..- Rug Up
from nurturing to nurturing huh Pip. Thought you’d like! xox
I am desperately searching the crevices of my mind for nearby wire fences so I can do this. You’re an inspiration as always, Ray x
Rosa´s last [type] ..Don’t call me “lady”
What an awesome idea! I love it
Flossy x
Flossy Bobbin´s last [type] ..To Stitch or Not to Stitch Giveaway
Yes! I love this. This would be such a fun thing to do with a few squirrel-y girl friends !! Thank you!
Also, all flattr funds from this post are going to Women’s Refuge. So ya know xox
[...] Gärten aus alten BHs: das DIY-Tutorial! Posted by *A Filed in new projects, street art, urbanism No Comments » Hängende [...]
What an interesting way to reuse a piece of clothing often concealed by many! LOL I hope the cloth can hold the soil for a very long time. I am not sure yet whether I will have the guts to try this at home, but I would certainly like to!
Lis´s last [type] ..Video- Hvilken vaskemaskine skal du vælge
[...] bras. They’re pretty solid so I thought they might make awesome plant pots! …” Hier gehts zum [...]
This is hilarious. I hope it works.
Love the pictures.
R.A. Quinn´s last [type] ..Skins the novel By Ali Cronin
posted with one of your photos (I’ll remove if you object).
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[...] And if you’ve come visiting because you just heard me on 774 chatting with Alan about the bra bug gardens, you can find the full article about them by clicking here. [...]
Very creative & a great recycling tip! Most bras are made with material that don’t easily break down, so they would work well as planters.
samsstuff´s last [type] ..Writers Club- Changing the World
[...] up was the infamous bra bug gardens. They didn’t hold up too well in the weather. You definitely need to use a padded bra! The [...]