Val Breast Form: Sewing Pattern for Soft Breast prosthesis Post-Mastectomy

I am so happy to share with you my new pattern, the Val Breast Form.  As an alternative to traditional breast prostheses, you can create your own with the Val Breast Form. Use Val to create soft, lightweight, breathable breast forms in beautiful fabrics. Val can be customized with cut-and-sew bra foam to create a smooth and sleek surface, and an overlapped back closure allows for adjusting the level of filling. The Val Breast Form is quick and easy to make, completely washable, and uses materials you
most likely already have in your sewing stash.

Two sets of Val Breast Forms shown with an Annika Wireless Bra and Daisy Briefs

Last month I published the Annika Wireless Bra with Mastectomy and Flat Cup Options, and Val was created as a companion pattern.  In my earlier blog post, I talked about creating mastectomy bras for my sister-in-law after her breast cancer diagnosis.  One of the first things she asked me to make her was a pair of knitted knockers.  I used to design knitting patterns and had to give it up due to carpal tunnel problems, but I figured such a small project wouldn't cause a problem.  It did, unfortunately, but I powered through and completed the pair.  She was thrilled and mentioned wanting more in the future.  I started to think about creating a sewing pattern for a soft breast form, not just to make the work faster and easier for me, but also to provide the opportunity of offering a pattern for people who don't knit.  

My sister-in-law didn't like the weight of her silicone breast prosthetic, but she liked the shape.  After several phone calls and a scribbled diagram from me, she provided me with the dimensions and my work began.  I used my basic bra pattern draft as the base, and created a form with similar dimensions to the Amoena Natural Light 2S.  I wanted her to be able to adjust the filling level, just like the knitted knockers, so I began with a back opening and snap closure.  Once I got into the pattern testing phase, some of my testers let me know that this sort of closure could be very uncomfortable for people who have had radiation therapy, and an overlapped pillow closure would be better.  I reworked the pattern to an overlapped closure and am even happier now with the final result!

Val with overlapped back closure

There are different options for fabrics and fillings.  Softness is key for fabric choice, with soft knits (such as the bamboo jersey shown above) being most appropriate right after surgery and radiation therapy.  Pictured below is a knit satin spandex backed with bra foam, which creates a firmer and sleeker breast form.  Val can be filled with poly fiber fill for a lightweight form, or poly pellets for a weight closer to a natural breast.  

If you'd like to sew a Val Breast Form for yourself or someone else, check out the pattern listing for more details.  Until next time, happy sewing.