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Member since 2/17/08
Posts: 859
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Posted on: 5/27/08 7:47 PM ET
I am attempting my first FBA. I chose shirt # 115 from the April 2008 BWOF. The shirt has darts under the bust only with a 3 tiered flounce on the bottom. Sitting at the table with 3 sewing books and my laptop, I was still confused about how to go about the FBA. I went with instructions from this webpage. First I found my bust point and marked it on my pattern. I then drew and cut a vertical line from the seam allowance at the shoulder down through the bust point down to the bottom of the shirt. I then made a line from the bust point to the armsyce. As described on the website I made to more lines with an inch in between each. I cut these three lines from the vertical cut to the armsyce. I slid the pattern piece open about an inch at the bottom of the pattern piece. I also moved the underbust dart so that the point met the bust point. Am I on the right track? I feel like I may have picked the wrong pattern to try my first FBA. This shirt has an empire waist. Is the FBA different for this type of shirt?

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Bonnie






  
Member since 7/19/07
Posts: 3438
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Posted on: 5/27/08 8:40 PM ET
Can you post a picture of your altered pattern piece?

I'm more familiar with the FFRP method of doing an FBA, but if you can post a picture, someone should be able to take a quick look at it and let you know if you're on the right track.

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--Michelle

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Blog: http://happilycaffeinated.blogspot.com/
  
Member since 2/17/08
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Posted on: 5/27/08 10:22 PM ET
Here is what I have done. Hopefully someone will be able to make sense of this. FBA Attempt

I still can't seem to upload a picture properly to the message board but that is a whole other issue.

Bonnie
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Bonnie






  
Member since 7/19/07
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Posted on: 5/28/08 12:59 PM ET
I'm not an expert and I'm having a little trouble seeing because of the reflection, but to me, it looks like you rotated the dart that you created at the armscye back into the waist dart? I think that should work okay. I think that you're going to get a little bit of extra width through the upper chest because of the split that you added up to the shoulder area--this may affect your fit some.

I'm fairly new at this, so I'm still getting familiar with different ways to to an FBA. One way that I know would work would be to do a regular darted FBA (where you create a bust dart), and rotate that dart down to the waist dart (or on a style like this top, you could even leave the bust dart in, and I'm sure that it would look fine).

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--Michelle

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Blog: http://happilycaffeinated.blogspot.com/
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 3634
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Posted on: 5/28/08 9:48 PM ET
The only quibble I have with that method of FBA is that it provides extra width only. Many of us with larger acreages also need extra vertical length.

I'd suggest testing the altered pattern with a muslin to see if you get all the coverage you need.


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Sydney, Australia
  
Member since 8/15/06
Posts: 218
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Posted on: 5/29/08 5:14 PM ET
I agree with KiwiWendy that you may not be done yet. Pin the side seams and shoulder seams of the pattern pieces together and try on. Does the pattern's center front match your center front? Does the pattern's waist match your waist? If not, you will need to add more width or length.
  
Member since 4/11/02
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Posted on: 5/29/08 5:36 PM ET
Yep, another "agree with Wendy" vote here.
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"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com
  
Member since 6/18/04
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Posted on: 5/30/08 10:34 AM ET
In reply to KiwiWendy
Quote: KiwiWendy
The only quibble I have with that method of FBA is that it provides extra width only. Many of us with larger acreages also need extra vertical length.


Doh! (Said in best Homer Simpson voice) - I've been concentrating on side width all this time and hadn't considered this at all.

Thanks!

Gail
  
Member since 2/17/08
Posts: 859
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Posted on: 5/31/08 3:54 AM ET
Thank you all for your help. I have found Debbie's Sewing Tips with so much helpful information. I am going to start all over beginning with retracing my pattern piece. I feel more confident now and have my fingers crossed that I will succeed.
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Bonnie






  
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