Lu is a beautiful, tall, and yes, full-busted woman. She also happens to be a friend of Joy's (Joyful Expressions). And if you know Joy, you know she loves sewing and loves using Sure-Fit Designs. Since Lu doesn't sew, and since Joy decided these fabric colors better suited Lu than her, she offered to sew this SFD blouse for her.
First, Joy did a 'muslin' test.
Obviously not muslin, but a test nonetheless, just to make sure the SFD bodice pattern was fitting Lu to perfection. She decided that the 'E' cup dart shape from the SFD Adjust-A-Bust template wasn't quite wide enough. So she then widened the dart shape to an 'F' cup width.
For any full-busted women, and particularly those of you beyond an 'E', you'll find an informative video showing you how to make the Adjust-A-Bust template larger for your special needs. For the article telling you how to do this, click here to the SFD Article Library and look for article F.5 Beyond-E - Darts for Large Busts.
Also watch this Sure-Fit Designs video:
Here's Lu looking happy and sassy in her great-fitting blouse.
If you'd like to read the full account in Joy's blog, just click on over to Joyful Expressions.
Of course, at the end of this successful blouse story, Lu asked if she sewed pants too? I think you likely know the answer to that one!
One other little tip I'd like to give you is that for those of you who have fairly full bustlines and a relatively narrow back in comparison, you can always use one dot larger in the front of your pattern, and one smaller in the back bodice. As an example, if you were 46" in total bust circumference, you could use the 47" dot on Bodice Front at Underarm Pt. #2 and at the top leg of the bust grading dots and use the 45" dot on Bodice Back at Underarm Pt. #2. You end up with the same amount of total bust ease, but you've distributed more to the front and less to the back...and the front is where you need it. You'll see this instruction on Page 6 of the Dress Kit Instruction book - for Larger/Smaller Front or Back.
Joy and Lu - thanks so much for sharing...
Kindly,
Glenda
Yet another reason to read and reread the SFD instruction books! Many good tips, too easy to overlook. The larger front/smaller back adjustment is a perfect example. I read about Lu's blouse on Joy's blog - she did a great job, both in making the blouse and documenting the process.
ReplyDeleteThese are my kind of colors. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, beautifully fitted top!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great top. Love the colour and the detail at the waist - will be checking out Joy's blog! Thanks for the reminder about the bust dots - I'll try that on my next top.
ReplyDeleteHi Leonie, In the Oct Fit & Sew Retreat, we had a number of participants with this full bust situation. They used this 'one dot in front' process with great success. A couple of them required no additional tweaks. This technique really does work well.
ReplyDeleteKindly,
Glenda