Substantially seamless brassiere, and blank and method for making same

A blank for making a substantially seamless brassiere, comprising a fabric structure having:

• a first series of courses defining a first pair of breast cup panels and a first central panel integrally knit to and extending between the breast cup panels, and defining a first torso-encircling portion integrally knit to the first breast cups and to the first central panel, the first series of courses beginning at a first end of the fabric structure and progressing toward an opposite second end of the fabric structure, an end of the first series of courses defining a bottom edge of the first torso-encircling portion;
• and
• a second series of courses knit to the end of the first series of courses and progressing to the second end of the fabric structure, the second series of courses defining a second pair of breast cups and a second central panel and a second torso-encircling portion arranged in mirror image to the corresponding portions of the first series of courses, whereby the fabric structure can be folded about a fold line located at the juncture between the first and second series of courses to create a two-ply structure having the first breast cups, first central panel, and first torso-encircling portion overlying the second breast cups, second central panel, and second torso-encircling portion, respectively.

A blank for making a substantially seamless brassiere, comprising:

• a tubular two-ply fabric structure having a first series of courses defining a first tubular fabric ply and a second series of courses knit to one end of the first series of courses so as to define a second tubular fabric ply in overlying relationship with the first tubular fabric ply, at least one of the plies having a pair of defined breast cup panels, a central panel extending between the breast cup panels, and a torso-encircling portion, and wherein the central panel is knit to have a greater resistance to stretching than the breast cup panels and torso-encircling portion.