Fitting Success Story: Create a well fitting Tee with a Sway Back

[@tafh3842]

So grateful for you putting these videos out there that can help all of us! ❤

[@JSternDesigns]

My Pleasure! I'm so happy you're finding them helpful!

[@AlineLariviere]

I really appreciate you sharing this project adjustment. Very helpful !

[@JSternDesigns]

So happy this helped you!! Thanks for following along with me

[@kathiethompson6719]

Thank you for this video! I can also use this in the opposite direction, reversing the process, for adding 4" in length to the back without adding a CB seam.

[@JSternDesigns]

:) My Pleasure, ...and yes you can! Thanks for fitting along with me

[@Maridith2]

Oh my goodness! I can’t wait to try this method. I have at least 3” extra in the back on everything. It’s so frustrating! Thank you so much for presenting this solution - Crossing my fingers!😊

[@JSternDesigns]

I'm crossing my fingers for you too! Thanks for watching

[@annscott4031]

This is brilliant thank you. I too have 3 inches to remove from a jersey pattern and will try this method.

[@JSternDesigns]

My pleasure... I'm happy that this will help you fit your jersey pattern. Thanks for fitting along with me

[@annahackman2539]

I will definitely have to try this to better understand the wizardry. I have a strong swayback. Thank you for sharing this.

[@JSternDesigns]

:) Happy this helps! Thank you for fitting along with me

[@new-wardrobe]

Thank you so much, I have been playing with this problem for a while now.

[@JSternDesigns]

You are so welcome! Thank you for fitting along with me

[@moira7083]

Amazing! I have to play around with this issue every time - I’ve tried adding centre back seams, etc! Am definitely going to try this! Thank you for sharing Jen! And of course when you stand back and think about it, it’s obviously better to distribute the excess right across the back!,

[@JSternDesigns]

:) Happy this helps!! ...and I agree this is a good example of the value of taking a beat to think about what's happening and how to fix it! Thanks for watching

[@lynnshepard7485]

This could be epic for me Jen! I received your package on Sunday. 💗 Thank you for the special elastic. 😊 I’m hoping to start on Sorcha today…busy week with life. See you on Friday! BTW, when I grabbed SewTites from your link, they were apparently sold out on some of the items because they weren’t showing. The dots and Tula hearts were available. Interestingly, the Tula hearts were less expensive than the dots. I got both! Haha. See you Friday!

[@JSternDesigns]

Yay! So happy this is helpful for you... and that your package arrived (thank you!). You'll love those dots... I think I need some hearts!!

[@sandrabradley5356]

Thanks Jen, I have been dealing with this issue for a long time and I just kept deepening in one area. This is fantastic. I have a t-shirt and tank that I am currently working on. I am inspired to try your method. Hope the results are close to perfect if not one hundred percent perfect 👌

[@JSternDesigns]

I'm so happy to hear this helps you! Keep me posted if you need help & thanks for watching

[@sandrabradley5356]

I will definitely be in contact, thanks again

[@earthangellibra2925]

♡ great video as usual

[@JSternDesigns]

Thank you! and thanks for fitting along with me

[@victoriahannah1633]

This is so interesting & so helpful. Actually a friend of mine gave me quite a few of the little round magnets and I never knew what to do with them. Your video on them has really saved me quite a bit of time . As a new sewist I struggled to keep my layers of fabric together and several years ago I broke my dominant arm in several places and using that hand to attempt to keep layers together causes quite a bit of pain. So I would stay stitch most everything which can be so time consuming. This has been so helpful. I do plan on getting some of the longer stay right magnets for longer seams and that is an awesome way to store them.

[@JSternDesigns]

:) So happy to hear the SewTites help you!! Thanks for watching

[@rainemandrillo4262]

This is exactly what I’ve been dealing with and have tried some of the same earlier things she did. I’ll keep going and distribute the measurements unevenly . I’ve also got about 3” in excess back length.

[@JSternDesigns]

Yay!! I hope this helps you... remember to remove some of the 3" from the top and some from the bottom ... I think that's what helps when you've got a significant amount to remove :) Thanks for fitting along with me

[@raspeight22]

Thank you!! What a great adjustment technique! 😊

[@JSternDesigns]

Glad you liked it! and thanks for fitting along with me

[@carolpatrick3567]

wow, so interesting, thanks for sharing this fitting technique.

[@JSternDesigns]

You are so welcome! Thanks for fitting along with me

[@JRo605]

First--thank you for ALL the incredibly helpful information/instruction. I'm an accomplished sewist but like everyone else struggle with fitting. I'm 5'2, curvy, sway back, full bum.I usually have to adjust for sway back and full hip (slash method up center/45 to armhole). Question: what is the best order of operation? Sway then hip or vice versa

[@JSternDesigns]

My pleasure! :) Technically these two adjustments are independent of each other... But, I always do the adjustment that gets the key areas in the right spot first. If you remove the excess vertical length by doing the swayback adjustment first, then you can adjust for the full hip. Thanks for fitting along with me!

[@shaminnaicker7637]

Thank you for this awesome video. Just a quick question please. When a sway-back adjustment is done with a centre-back seam, what causes the fabric to stand away from the centre back waist? Could the SW adjustment be too severe?

[@JSternDesigns]

It could be that too much vertical length was taken out making the CB seam too short. This would cause the fabric to not have enough "play" to setting against your shape... Without seeing a photo of what's going on, that's my best guess. I hope this helps! Thanks for fitting along with me.

[@janetwilliams7705]

Thank you!

[@JSternDesigns]

You're welcome!

[@donnahixon3643]

Fabulous !!! Thank you

[@JSternDesigns]

So happy you enjoyed! Thanks for fitting along with me

[@sarag1158]

do you ever come to the San Francisco Bay Area? I realize you're on the east coast and you can't be everywhere all at once. except, maybe on KZbin or the Pattern Review classes.

[@JSternDesigns]

I do love to travel! If you are a member of a local ASG Group (American Sewing Guild) or live near a sewing store that brings in sewing teachers maybe they would be interested in having me come for a weekend workshop I come where ever I'm booked to go!

[@robyn3349]

Great results!

[@JSternDesigns]

:) Yes, she did a great job!! Thanks for fitting along with me

[@slrcouture]

Thanks. This was helpful. Is this method only for knit fabric without the front bust dart?

[@JSternDesigns]

You can use this method to fix a sway back on any pattern (the bust dart does not affect what's happening in the back)... But if your pattern has a center back seam, you can also do it this way. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGjQZnuAg9F9h9E Thanks for fitting along with me

[@missykasi8248]

Great tutorial! I was wondering if this adjustment can be used to correct the puddling of material at the back when you have a full bust (34E) and you are short waisted. Any advice? Thanks Jen!

[@JSternDesigns]

There are other reasons for fabric to puddle in your lower back, like being short waisted :) This method is independent of the front because it doesn't change the length of the side seams or shoulder length, so you can use it to fix your back pattern pieces :) Thanks for fitting along with me

[@monicahendriks516]

Is this better or vertical darts? It looks a little the same.

[@JSternDesigns]

This sway back adjustment removes vertical length at CB... Horizontal wedge (or darts) pick up the excess length... A vertical adjustment would remove excess horizontal ease... Hope this help! Thanks for watching!

[@dianebacon811]

Jen, I am quite lopsided due to scoliosis & wonder if this is the type of adjustment I need for that problem.

[@JSternDesigns]

If it's causing your tops to be too long in the back, this can definitely help!!

[@aimster2084]

Is it weird that I'm sort of imagining a metal work table with those magnets? I feel like that would help me with my sliced and diced patterns while I'm doing adjustments and whatnot.

[@JSternDesigns]

OMG, that's brilliant!! Slip a sheet of metal on your work surface and use the SewTites to hold fabric and pattern pieces together and secure!! I love it... Wonder if you can use your rotary cutter on metal???

[@aw8655]

Can you adjust swayback in ready-to-wear?

[@JSternDesigns]

That's a great question!! When you lay a pattern piece that has been adjusted for a swayback on top of the original, the change is realized at the base of the back neckline and shoulder (It dips down lower) You can take off the collar or neckline finish and pull up the excess vertical length by "scooping" the back neckline and trimming off some at the neckline side of the shoulder seam, blending back to zero at the tip of the shoulder. Then put the collar back on. Watch the end off this tutorial to see how the pattern changes with this simple swayback adjustment. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXarh2mkbK1lb9E Thanks for fitting along with me

[@aleciacope3503]

Hi Jen, this is very informative. Thank you! I can't quite wrap my head around it yet, but I'll get there. What pattern is the pretty blue dress on the dress form?

[@JSternDesigns]

Thanks!... and keep me posted if I can help you wrap your head around it!! The dresses in the background are my Anna Dress Pattern. Here's a link: jsterndesigns.com/product/the-anna-dress-and-top-pdf-pattern/ Thanks for watching

[@LouiseMorin-zp3ti]

HI Jen Love your videos. I have a sway back and I'm trying to do this 3 slashes adjustment. For the top it is working fine. Now for the bottom if I straighten the side seam (10:30 in the video) and trace the bottom hem line straight am I not removing the adjustment I made with the slash below the waist?

[@JSternDesigns]

So happy this helps! When you take out the excess from the bottom to remove fabric from the small of your back... That takes the excess fabric out above the small of your back so it won't bunch up there. Adding to the hem is different. It's just adding length to the hem below the small of your back :) Hope that helps!

[@stephaniepaterson6340]

This is wonderful! Thank you! Just 1 question if I may,…..everything I make looks better if I hitch it up an inch..so picking the very top of the garment (the shoulders) and lifting…of course it ruins the neckline and I don’t do anything because I don’t know what adjustment to make….the armholes are always too big…I am only 5ft tall…can you help with this now you’ve sorted my sway back? So many thanks

[@JSternDesigns]

My Pleasure! It sounds like you need to "petite" the armhole to remove excess vertical length from the shoulder to the base of the armhole. Stay tuned, it's coming up quick because this topic was already on my Short List of upcoming Tutorials!

[@stephaniepaterson6340]

@@JSternDesigns you’re a life saver! Thank you so much

[@JSternDesigns]

:)

[@susananderson9619]

My fitting dilemma is I'm a size 3X and I want to be a 10 pattern again lol

[@JSternDesigns]

Exactly why I sew for myself!!... I'm a few sizes larger than I used to be too. I love adjusting my patterns to fit. Then I lable them "My Size"! Thanks for watching