

To do this, refer to the sizing chart of the pattern and find the size where the pattern’s stated Bust Size is equal (or closest to) your Upper Bust size ( not your full bust size).
Patterns to draw pdf#
This is one instance where a PDF pattern is helpful, as you can just print off a new one.įirst we need to select the right size of pattern piece to use as our starting point. We’re going to be cutting this piece up pretty significantly, so you may want to trace the piece onto another piece of paper and use that instead if you’re nervous about cutting up the original pattern, or want to re-use the original at a later date. Once you’ve determined that you need to do a full bust adjustment, we’ll need to modify the bodice pattern piece. a Princess Seam), then there are other tutorials available online for these slightly more complex cases, but it’s still worth understanding the basics as the underlaying principles are the same. If you have something more complex than this (e.g. This is for the most common case, where the pattern has a side seam with a single bust dart.
Patterns to draw how to#
We’re going to show you how to do a basic full bust adjustment, suitable for someone who’s not done one before. If you’d prefer a video to written instructions, or would simply like to see a demonstration, then we’ve created a full bust adjustment tutorial over on our YouTube channel. It can be trickier to do this accurately with a basic ruler. Although you can use a basic school-type ruler, a set square or specialist pattern making ruler like a Pattern Master (or cheaper equivalent) is helpful for ensuring your lines are parallel to other lines on the pattern, as you’ll see later. So long as it’s large enough for the pattern piece you should be fine.īeyond that you’ll just need a pen or pencil, some sticky tape, scissors, a tape measure (for measuring yourself) and a ruler (for marking up the pattern piece).
Patterns to draw free#
Feel free to improvise with greaseproof paper, the back of some wrapping paper, or just tape multiple pieces of printer paper together. If you already have dressmaking pattern paper, that would be perfect, but really any suitably large piece of paper will do. You’ll need paper which is slightly larger than the bodice piece you’ll be adjusting because we’ll be increasing the size of the piece to accommodate a larger bust. The main thing you’ll need that you may not have laying around is suitable paper to create a your adjusted bodice pattern. What Equipment Do I Need To Do A Full Bust Adjustment? If the difference between your full bust measurement and your upper bust measurement is greater than 2.5” or 7.5cm, you’ll probably benefit from a full bust adjustment. Just subtract your full bust measurement from your upper bust measurement.Īs mentioned previously, most patterns allow for a difference between these measurements of around 5cm (approx. Once you’ve taken both you upper and full bust measurements, we need to do some simple maths. Likewise when finding your bust point later, you’ll want to be wearing a bra like the one you’ll be wearing with the finished garment. See the diagram below for where you should place your tape measure in order to take these measurements.Īn important point to note when taking these measurements is to make sure you are wearing a good bra! This will ensure you get measurements that are the same as those you’ll have when wearing the garment, bra-and-all. In order to determine if you really need a full bust adjustment, you’ll need to take a couple of measurements, these are your Full Bust and your Upper Bust (sometimes called High Bust).

Some patterns do provide a choice of cup sizes, such as our own Chichester Wrap Dress pattern, but generally this isn’t the case so a full bust adjustment will be of benefit if you have a larger bust. If you find that selecting a pattern size based on your full bust measurement sometimes results in a loose or gaping neckline, this can also be a sign that a full bust adjustment will produce a better fit for you. If your full bust measurement is 2.5” or 7.5cm larger than your high or upper bust measurement, you’ll probably benefit from doing a full bust adjustment as the finished garment will almost certainly fit you better. Don’t be fooled by your bra cup size, this is a different thing altogether. Typically patterns are drafted for a B Cup or a full bust measurement which is 2”or 5cm larger than the upper bust measurement. A Full Bust Adjustment is a modification to a pattern such that it will accommodate a larger bust than the pattern was drafted for.
