Mar 12, 2019

Sway Back Solution

www.surefitdesigns.com

Do you have a sway back? What is a sway back?
We all have a natural 'S' curvature of the spine.  It dips in at the low back/waist circumference of our body.  This is normal.  But some folks have a pronounced 'S' curve that dips in more than normal.  It might look something like this:
When a sway back occurs, it often results in excessive fabric in the center of your back which pushes up and causes horizontal folds and fullness.
The side seams appear to be the correct length, but center back of the bodice needs to be shorter.  This can become even more pronounced when it's a one-piece garment, like a dress with center back on the fold of the fabric.

You definitely need to check that the hip circumference of your pattern is large enough to hang comfortably on your hips.  If not, this can be a culprit in pushing the fabric upward, but if the hip circumference is hanging smoothly and without restraint, then you most likely do have a sway back with excess length in the fabric at center back.  There is an article in the Sure-Fit Designs Learning Center that discusses the causes of excess fabric pushing up into your low back.  You'll want to make sure you eliminate these causes before you make alterations to your pattern.  Please click here.


Traditional method to achieve a sway back alternation usually involve pinching out a wedge of excess fabric going to nothing at the side seam.  This works well if you have a waistline seam and possibly at center back seam to help shape the fabric to your curvy 'S' curve.

But what if you want center back to be on the fold of the fabric and you don't have a waistline seam to use for any shaping?  I've just recently released a video showing you how to remove excess length at center back at the waistline.  This process does compromise the shoulder slope, however, when the garment is on your body and the neck and shoulders are sitting where they are supposed to, this process will definitely shorten center back.


Please click on this video link to watch this informative video.  I'm sorry I can't get the videos to play directly from this blog, so simply CLICK HERE

Give this a try!  You never know...it might be the perfect solution for your sway back.

Kindly,
Glenda the Good Stitch!
 

1 comment:

  1. Such a worth reading article and your idea in designing is very impressive.

    Thank you
    ambfa

    ReplyDelete