PatternReview.com online sewing community
Online Sewing Class: Fit the Tee to a T
Register Today!
Join our community of 579,272 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,272 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
Member since 7/23/07
Posts: 251
Send Message
Posted on: 7/24/07 0:19 AM ET
Hi people. I really dislike the look of bust darts and having a smallish bust and narrow chest, they only serve to poke on me. Is it acceptable to cut through the centre of the dart across to almost the CF and close the dart out? I did this alteration some years ago and it was kind of okay but not entirely 100 percent.

I avoid patterns with darts but have missed some really nice shirt patterns because of this.

Opinions please?

xtreme1

  
Member since 2/7/04
Posts: 2188
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 7/24/07 0:39 AM ET
In reply to xtreme1
Bust darts smaller than C cup can be pinned or taped on the pattern piece and closed up. The tip of the dart will form a little bump but you can tape over it and effectively smoosh it out.
It works well, give it a try.

HTH and welcome to PR!!

------
Leah
  
Member since 7/28/03
Posts: 1405
Send Message
Posted on: 7/24/07 0:45 AM ET
In reply to xtreme1
Yes.

It's OK to do whatever alterations fit your body type and your acceptable level of ease. You are sewing clothes to fit YOU and YOUR lifestyle. You have my permission to do whatever you feel is necessary to your pattern. After all, it's just paper and fabric...

Basically, what you are doing when you cut through the dart legs and then match up the legs is to rotate the dart out to the side seam. Some people need a smalll bust adjustment (SBA) as most patterns are drafted for a B cup. If you are smaller than a B cup, you need to adjust the pattern to reduce the fabric in the bust area. Since I've never needed that particular alteration, I'm no expert.

I highly recommend the book Fit for Real People by Patti Palmer and Marta Alto, available on Amazon here. They have wonderful illustrations of how to fit to an individual woman's particular bosom.

Plus other great fitting advice.

NAYY... but a great resouce IMHO.
------
Suo ergo maledicto

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. - Steve Jobs
  
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Discovery Fabrics
High Performance Fabrics
Specials!
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics
Elliott Berman Textiles
High-end Fashion Fabrics
Specials!