Altering clothes to allow for big bust?

malamay

Too late for NYE, but maybe try http://www.bravissimo.com/ in future? They have a sale on now, and have a good range of clothes that cater for curvy ladies.

shegirl

The problem with bravissimo is they don' t do much that isn't frumpy!
They also do styles that do not suit busty ladies!

I tend to get a dress to fit the bust then take it in as stated here or get one that' s very open topped and find a pretty matching stretch cami with the same style neck line.

Muppet81

If any of you live in Lancashire, a sewing cafe in Todmorden does occasionaly do courses on altering patterns. If any one wants their details please PM me. Have not done it mself but think it sounds good.

gibson123

Peggybabcot wrote: »

This is what I do for a living so here goes. Firstly buy the dress to fit the bust. Try it on wearing the correct underwear. Get someone to pin each side seam (assuming no zip) as equally symmetrical both sides as much as poss with the actual seam as the fold when you pinch it to pin (if that makes sense?) then turn the garment inside out and mark with chalk or a pen where the pins are. Do not unpick this will act to hold the dress together whilst you sew it but do remove the pins. Start at the bust and then sew down following the chalk marks to the hem. It's better if you can open the hem up enough to sew all the way down then re hem when you've done. Try the dress on for fit and if alls well trim off the excess and zig zag to prevent fraying. Re sew hem et voila. Alternatively as a ball park figure with no zip expect to pay around £18 for a non lined dress done professionally. Hope this has helped x

Great post and as an amateur sewer I would like to add my tuppence worth.... do as above but rather than guessing, find a skirt or dress that fits your bottom bits and use this as a template for your chalk marks, basically lay it over the dress for altering and mark with chalk where you need to alter to.