How to Make a Dina Bra that fits… without using a hard Dina Bra base!  

Since I started making belly dance costumes, I was ALWAYS searching for one thing. 

...and that one thing, is a Dina Bra base.


Ever since I first saw the belly dance bra design called Dina Bra, I wanted it!


That iconic, round shape...


Dina Bra from Scratch

And that playful look...


Wearing it is almost like a status - you're no longer a novice dancer. 


There’s a certain level of experience and confidence that you feel from a dancer sporting a Dina Bra. 

 

Wearing a Dina Bra is like, you get to own a piece of Dina, a legend in the belly dancing world who made this style wildly famous! 

 

In recent years, many costume designers use Dina Bras as their go-to bra style, and I’ve seen tons of gorgeous Dina Bra designs. 

 

So ever since I saw this style, I wanted to make one for myself.

My love-hate relationship with the Dina Bra.

In fact, before I tried to make my own, I had bought a second-hand Dina Bra style costume. 


I was much too excited to own this beauty. It looked so professional and complete with a Dina Bra! It felt like my right-of-passage as a belly dancer! 

 

But after trying on the costume at home, I quickly realized the Dina Bra was the worst fitting bra EVER!

 

My chest area felt so bare, and my breasts completely disappeared into those bra cups, making me look completely flat-chested (um, hello? I thought I'd get the voluminous, Dina look in this bra?) 

Jennifer, Dina Bra from Scratch

My Dina Bra student, Jennifer, in her handmade perfectly-fitting Dina Bra! (above)

At the same time the edges of the bra cups dug into my chest. HOW??  

  

One thing was for sure... It looked HORRIBLE!  

   

And most annoyingly, the cups were ROCK HARD!! So there was no way of adjusting the cup shape with wire or trying to re-mold the cups.  

   

I felt SO dissappointed, and felt bad about spending $350 on this costume.  

  

I tried padding the cups...  

submerging the cups in water and stuffing oranges in the cups hoping they would dry and take the same shape...  

removing the pre-sewn wire...  

taking the lining apart...  

sewing lining back in, etc etc...  

   

Nothing worked.  

  

After trying on a few more Dina Bra costumes and realizing most (if not all) Dina Bras are hard and ill-fitting, I switched my approach and decided to make my own Dina Bra. 

Karma Williams - Dina Bra from Scratch

My Dina Bra studet, Karma, in her very own, beautifully fitting Dina Bra costume (photo by Tanisha De La Torre)  

Fast forward several years - today, I can make my own Dina Bras, and I’m MUCH happier with them than pre-made ones.  

   

And my Dina Bras are soft and comfortable, and fit me really well. I can also adjust how much coverage I want while getting the iconic round shape cups and deep plunge design.  

   

And Dina Bras really help the overall impression of my costumes. They make costumes look more fashionable, professional and expensive! 

The best part is this: I use an ordinary bra to make this Dina Bra, which means I don’t have to hunt for Dina Bra shells anymore and be limited by the vendors’ size selection! I can make a Dina Bra to fit me as I please :) And today I'm really happy being able to share my Dina Bra making method with other dancers and help them have their own beautiful Dina Bras! I'll tell you more about my method in a minute, but first, let share with you the most common Dina Bra problems that I want you to avoid!

Paula Dina Bra

"Absolutely thrilled with the end result. Hope you are too :) can not wait to dance this out. "

-Paula, Dina Bra from Scratch student

3 Big Dina Bra Challenges

  I was surprised and frustrated to find out that all pre-made Dina Bras were made from the same, hard shells, and I could not find a single one that fit me well. So I decided to give those Dina Bra bases a try. All I needed to do was buy a Dina Bra base, and cover it with pretty fabric. It would be easy, right? Well, as it turned out, I was completely WRONG. Challenge #1. Hard to FIND It wasn’t an easy search. 

Susanne Nahm - Dina Bra from Scratch

My Dina Bra student, Susanne, in her lovely Dina Bra and perfectly matching dress!


I went to Google, Amazon, online belly dance costume stores… I couldn’t find much. 


Then finally, I found a few eBay vendors located overseas that sold Dina Bra bases.


Great!


Then I faced another problem - all these vendors carry their Dina Bra bases in A, B, C, and D cups. I’m 30DD.  

   

You really have to be careful when vendors only tell you the cup sizes (like A, B, C...) and not band sizes, even if the side straps stretch. That’s because cup sizes make sense ONLY when they are combined with the band size. For example, 30B and 38B are completely different bra cup sizes! 

Pre-made Dina Bra


After contemplating on the risk of this vague sizing info, I ordered a couple of sizes to try from one of the vendors.  

 

To my huge disappointment, I faced the same problem as my first Dina Bra costume…..which is the next problem.  

 

Challenge #2. Hard to FIT 

 

The larger size was way too big. The smaller size fit me better, but still my breasts disappeared, and yet the edges dug in, and the cups were hard as a rock. 


See the image to left - when you knock on it, it sounds like you are knocking on a door. You can’t even bend it.


Sturdy? Yes. 


Comfortable? Definitely no!


The only people who would fit in those cups well are those who have the exact same breast shape as the moulds they use to make those Dina Bra bases with!  

 

Once I took it to my own hands and started to make Dina Bra bases myself, I realized Dina Bras don’t have to be so hard and inflexible. You can have a soft Dina Bra that doesn't dig into your skin.  

 

I’ll tell you more on that in a minute… and here’s the third problem.  

Challenge #3. Hard to DECORATE. 

 

Another thing I noticed about these pre-made Dina Bra bases was that the cups were so hard that it’s very difficult to put a needle through these shells. 

 

“How am I going to cover this with fabric, and THEN decorate it!?” 

 

If you have an infinite amount of time, patience and a pair of pliers to pull needles with, you may be able to work with those hard shells. 

 

But I don’t. 

 

Okay, I have a pair of pliers… but I’m not the most patient person. 

 

I’m the type that wants to go through the bra covering process as quickly as I can so I can decorate it with sparkly gems. 

 

I can’t afford to have my fingertips raw and sore before I even get to decorate it!


So after discovering these problems of pre-made Dina Bra bases, I switched my approach to creating my own Dina Bra base, which turned out to be the BEST decision I ever made!  

Here's the new approach to Dina Bra making!

You see, when we have no idea how things are made, we fall for a poor shortcut that appears to make sense in our heads….until we try it. 


In this case, that poor shortcut was the pre-made Dina Bra base. 

Dina Bra from Scratch

It’s natural. We don’t have time to test different things and waste bras.  

But the problem is, many dancers try these pre-made bases, and face the exact same problems! They get frustrated, and end up giving up on Dina Bras :(  

  

….when they can make their own Dina Bra bases!  

   

Forget searching for a Dina Bra shell that’s rock hard, inflexible and made only up to cup size D.  

   

Dina Bra with baladi dress

Instead, make a beautiful & soft Dina Bra base, based on your size, and customize it to fit you well! I spent months to research with lots of trial and error (and wasted bras....) to develop my method. But you don't have to. I've packed all my findings and step by step method in 1 single course, so you can start creating TODAY!  

Introducing... Dina Bra from Scratch Premium Course!


Dina Bra from Scratch Premium Course

After completing this course, you will: 

  • Have a soft & comfortable Dina Bra (or many!) that is custom made based on your measurements! 
  • No longer search for hardshell, inflexible Dina Bra bases; instead you’ll start creating your dream costumes!  
  • Be the envy of all other dancers because you know the secrets behind creating a professional-looking Dina Bra without spending tons of money! 


Specifically, in this special course, you will:

 

  • Create your very own, beautiful Dina Bra base that fits you perfectly (BONUS:using an ordinary bra! )
  • Learn the 3 Base Bra criteria that help you pick the RIGHT bra to use as a Dina Bra base - no more guessing! 
  • Find out the BEST tool to shape the Dina Bra cups perfectly every. single. time!
  • Master my 5-Step Seamless Bra Covering Technique that helps you cover a Dina Bra base without folds, darts or gathering and create a designer bra look! 
  • Learn the secret to creating sturdy & stretch side straps which is key to making the fit of your Dina Bra even better!
  • Get access to the Dina Bra Q&A Vault - Can't find the right bra? Your bra needs more strength? More coverage? Find the solutions in the Vault! These extra video lessons answer the most common questions from Dina Bra from Scratch students! 



"I watched the videos [in the Q&A Vault] and seriously.... my mind was blown" 

- anonymous Dina Bra student


  • Get the tested & proven Dina Bra shaping pattern that lets you create the perfect Dina Bra shape every time without guessing!
  • Have all the key information in 1 place with the Dina Bra from Scratch Cheatsheet Pack that you can carry with you to stores and/or sewing station 
  • Learn 5 additional ways to troubleshoot common Dina Bra fitting issues and make them fit, no matter what!


This course is perfect for someone who has created a belly dance bra before OR completed the bra module (Module 4) of my Belly Dance Costume Workshop. The Dina Bra making process is explained in detail step-by-step in this course, but having a basic understanding of belly dance bra making will be very helpful


If you’re completely new to belly dance bra making, email me at mao@sparklybelly.com and we can figure out what to do!


Start creating your own, and adjust the fit and coverage to your liking! PLUS you'll enjoy much easier sewing and decorating ;) 

 

Dina Bra from Scratch Premium Course
Premium package

IMAGINE this - this weekend you’ll start gathering materials and designing your first Dina Bra costume. By next month, you’ll be dancing in your very own, perfectly-fitting & professional-looking Dina Bra! 

And your dancer friends will be asking, “OMG, where did you get the base from? How did you cover it so nicely??” :)

To join the Dina Bra from Scratch premium course, follow these 4 simple steps: 

1. Pick a package that suits your needs below. 

2. Make a payment on PayPal. 

3. Wait a few minutes for the email called "Claim Your Order" 

4. Open the email, click the link in the email to register for the course. Enjoy! :) 

Pick a Package

Dina Bra From Scratch Premium Course

Dina Bra Premium

One-time purchase

Includes:

  • Lifetime access to the Dina Bra From Scratch course materials (you can come back to the lessons anytime in the future!)

Perfect for those who want unlimited access to lessons & calculators and embrace the freedom of independent learning!

$59 USD one-time payment

JOIN NOW

All-Access Membership

All-Access Membership

Monthly payment

Includes:

  • Access to the entire Sparkly Belly Premium Courses library as long as you are a member
  • Access to the exclusive private community where you can ask course-related questions and participate in discussions and events.

Perfect for those who want limitless design options and receive the perfect push to conquer your projects from the vibrant community!

$29 USD / month

What Other Dancers Are Saying

Karma Williams - Dina Bra from Scratch

"That tutorial is amazing. You made it so easy to make the Dina bras. I have such a hard time finding pre-made bras that fit, so this was a god-send for me!"

-Karma, a Dina Bra from Scratch student (photo by Tanisha De La Torre) 


Na'Imah Dina Bra 2

"She's DONE!!!! Fully lined with super soft cotton jersey...officially one of my most comfy costumes! I will never buy another bra form again...as a matter of fact there are 2 in the closet I'm going to sell...Thank You!!!" 

-Na'Imah, Dina Bra from Scratch student

- Sa'eeda, Dina Bra from Scratch student

"I loved your instructions, everything was very clear and I really appreciated the detailed step by step instructions - so helpful. And the end result was a super comfy Dina bra that fit perfectly. ...It really worked for me!!!"

- Susanne, a Dina Bra from Scratch student

Susanne Nahm - Dina Bra from Scratch
Kashi Dina Bra & Aurora Skirt

Kashi Dancer of Ariona in her very own, beautiful Dina Bra (above)


Jennifer, Dina Bra from Scratch

Jennifer in her perfectly-fitting Dina Bra! (above)

Amanda Dina Bra

Amanda in her vintage inspired costume featuring a Dina Bra (above)

Fanny Dina Bra

Fanny's elegant burgundy costume featuring a Dina Bra (above)

Carey's Dina Bra

Carey's gorgeous metallic Dina Bra in progress (above)

by Jennifer

by Sarah

"I can't wait to actually wear this costume and perform...

I was so happy when I finished that now I'm starting to work on another costume.

Thank you again for creating these tutorials!" - Carla

How do I know if this is for me?

Worried that you may not have access to materials used in this course? 

 It is important to me that anyone can try my courses, and Dina Bra from Scratch was no exception. So this course and Dina Bra making techniques were developed using simple materials that you’d use to make regular belly dance bras. 

In the new "Dina Bra Q&A Vault" included in this premium course, you'll also find a list of bra brands that are recommended by myself and the Sparkly Belly community!

 However, if it is impossible for you to find the materials mentioned in the course, please email me at mao@sparklybelly.com and I’m happy to further discuss other material options or workaround. :) 


Is the Dina Bra soft or hard? 

 The finished Dina Bra will be soft and comfortable, so it molds into your body curves, and it is easy to sew on decorative items. But it's definitely sturdy enough, and you can add more support if you need, which is explained step by step in the Dina Bra Q&A Vault.

Live far away? 

No problem, the course materials are all available online, so you can access them from anywhere around the world. :) Once you make a PayPal payment, you’ll receive an email to claim your purchase. Click on the link in the email, log into your account, and you’ll see "Dina Bra from Scratch Premium Course” on your Dashboard. 


Worried that it may be too difficult for you? 

If you are concerned about sewing, this course is a great project to practice sewing skills with. The sewing part of this project is quite straightforward, and you'll see sewing tips in the course. 

But it does help to know how to make a simple belly dance bra, because some parts of the course such as the bra covering technique are somewhat advanced. And of course, you can always email me at mao@sparklybelly.com if you have any questions.


Seems too expensive? 

Consider what you’ll get out of this course: 

  •  a gorgeous, well-fitting Dina Bra - worth $100-500+


PLUS: 

  • Dina Bra making method that you can use over and over 
  • the 5-step Seamless Bra Covering Technique 
  • the Dina Bra Shaping Pattern, Cheatsheet Pack, 5 Ways to Make a Dina Bra Fit like a Glove, Dina Bra Q&A Vault...and more!


(You'll be hard-pressed to find a tutorial like this anywhere!) 

I think it’s a great investment! But I understand your worries, so let me take the risk off your shoulders. If you don’t see your money’s worth, email me at mao@sparklybelly.com within the guaranteed time period (see below for details), and I’ll refund all your money back.


Any more questions? Email me at mao@sparklybelly.com :)

Backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

Dina Bras

As mentioned before, I’m confident about the quality of my courses but I understand your worries. 

So let me take the risk off your shoulders. If you don’t like the course or if you don’t learn anything from the course, email me at mao@sparklybelly.com within 30 days of your purchase if you join the All-Access Membership or 60 days if you join this course only, and I’ll refund all your money back. 

That’s how much I want you to give it a try and create awesome costumes that you feel proud of. Take your time evaluating the course for yourself. :)


How long have you been searching for a perfectly-fitting Dina Bra?

The next 6 months will most likely be no different than your past 6 months.

Isn't it time to finally get a Dina Bra that fits? 

(Plus you'll be gaining new skills and be an even better costumer at the same time!)

End your search for Dina Bra bases! No more fighting with hard shell, hard-to-adjust Dina Bras. 

Pick a package below and start creating!

Pick a Package

Dina Bra From Scratch Premium Course

Dina Bra Premium

One-time purchase

Includes:

  • Lifetime access to the Dina Bra From Scratch course materials (you can come back to the lessons anytime in the future!)

Perfect for those who want unlimited access to lessons & calculators and embrace the freedom of independent learning!

$59 USD one-time payment

All-Access Membership

All-Access Membership

Monthly payment

Includes:

  • Access to the entire Sparkly Belly Premium Courses library as long as you are a member
  • Access to the exclusive private community where you can ask course-related questions and participate in discussions and events.

Perfect for those who want limitless design options and receive the perfect push to conquer your projects from the vibrant community!

$29 USD / month

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