Let's face it. There are probably not many of us out there that fit in the neat little box that are pattern measurements. If we're lucky, we're going to get close, maybe being off by a few inches. If we're unlucky, then chances are it might be worse than that. Well, we're here to help the lucky and unlucky alike with our tutorial showing you how to make your own alterations to commercial patterns. For instance, in this tutorial we demonstrate how to increase the waist measurement so you can create a garment that looks like it was custom fitted using the pivot and slide method. We show you how to do a waist increase alteration on a bodice pattern, on a bottom pattern (like a skirt) and, last but not least, for the waistband. Now you'll no longer have to waffle between which size to choose. And when you see how quick and painless using the pivot and slide method is for altering the waist on a commercial pattern, you'll save yourself time in alterations later on the the completed garment.
As with all alterations, I always recommend creating a muslin after making alterations to your patterns. That way you can test your adjustments before using your more expensive fabric. You don't need to fully create the completed garment but just baste the necessary pieces together so you can try it on. Then you can see if you need to make any other alterations.
hello dear professor pincushion:)
Your videos are very good . Can you also teach us how to increase the waist for a princess style bodice pattern using seam method please? I really appreciate it. I have couple of pattern alteration books but none of them teach how to increase waist on a princess style bodice pattern
Hi, Just wondering about bodice of dress using pivot and slide. Need to increase by 10 in and wondering if increase of 2.5 at each side would be too much.
Thanks,
If you aren’t increasing by a large amount, then I would just increase the side front and side back pieces only. It’s easier and less complicating and you would still only divide by 4.
I’m sorry for duplicate question. I tried to delete, but it doesn’t look like it worked.
I have a 6-gore Trumpet Skirt pattern in which I need to increase the waist. Do I make the increase on all 4-pieces, or just the side seams of the side front & back pieces? If on all 4 pieces, what do I divide the total increase by? Do you have a video or printed instructions for this type of alteration?
I have a Princess Seam 6-gore Trumpet Skirt pattern in which I need to increase the waist. Do I make the increase on all 4-pieces, or just the side seams of the side front & back pieces? If on all 4 pieces, what do I divide the total increase by? Do you have a video or printed instructions for this type of alteration?
sorry for the delay, I just got back from vacation. Yes, even though your sleeve width might be fine to begin with, by increasing the bust, you’re also increasing the armhole and therefore the current sleeve will now be too small to fit the armcycle. This is why you still have to adjust the sleeve width after doing the bust alteration. If I were you, I’d create a muslin and add 1″ to each side of the sleeve and check the fit.
I actually just answered another person regarding this. check out my answer at this link and you’ll also see an image associated with it: https://www.professorpincushion.com/forums/topic/altering-princess-line-pattern-using-pivot-slide/ hope it helps!
If I have princess hems on the bodice, do I divide it between all the pieces, or just specific pieces? Thank you!