How to do a Pivot and Slide Full Bust Adjustment

Full Bust Adjustments or FBA can make or break your project when sewing. Here I will walk you through the steps of doing a pivot and slide FBA. We will go over how to measure to find out what cup size you are in sewing patterns. Please note your cup size in a sewing pattern is not the same as a bra cup size. Next we will figure out what size pattern to cut out so the garment fits you shoulders best. Then we will do our adjustments so that there is room in the garment to accommodate your bust area.
I will be using the Elodie Wrap Dress from Closet Core Patterns (link below)
For the fabric I chose a Rayon Challis from Fabric Mart Fabrics. They have a huge selection of great fabrics and often get designer dead stock fabrics. I highly recommend them for your next fabric purchase.
Make sure to follow me on Instagram and Tiktok. I also have a blog and make t shirt hair towels and sell them in on my website so check out what I have going on there too!
My Website - ModistraSew.com
Tiktok - Tiktok.com/modistrasews
Instagram - modistrasews
Pinterest - pin.it/5k7xzhG
Closet Core Patters - closetcorepatt...
Fabric Mart - www.fabricmart...

[@momzilla9491]

I have been watching FBAs for 5 years and only ran across Nancy Zimmerman Pivot demonstrating the Pivot and Slide method a month ago. After all these years, no one said that the Back Bodice also needed to be adjusted, or what needs to be done to the waist of a separate piece that will be added. Thanks for this. You have taken me off the Failure Track. This lesson wins a big Bookmark!

[@kathecampomanes1154]

I just discovered this method a couple of weeks ago. It’s so much easier and you don’t have to cut up and use a ton of tape on your original patterns. Thank you for posting this!

[@raspeight22]

THANK YOU!!!! The pivot method is SO MUCH EASIER than having to cut lines and fill in! 😊

[@notesfromleisa-land]

Excellent tutorial. Nancy Zieman's videos are also on You Tube for those looking for additional pivot and slide adjustments.

[@anitabrock6858]

Your using the Nancy Zieman pivot and slide fitting technique, I learned this years ago and it works great for me.

[@marydomingue9902]

I saw this many years ago from Nancy Zieman. Loved it

[@ModistraSews]

Yes. I love Nancy Z! She is amazing

[@kimt2au]

Hi, thank you for such a lovely, clear to follow explanation. Your dress looks fantastic. I do have one question though - Why do you spread the increased bust adjustment across the front and the back of the bodice? Surely the FBA is because you have larger breasts and therefore the spare fabric to accommodate them is required at the front of the garment only, not in the back? Kim

[@solarwinds-]

Thank you, the video is well done. Short intro and you get right to the point. I'm a full figure gal myself so it will be most useful.

[@bekesize]

Thanks for a clearly demonstrated example of how to do this adjustment. I also need a bicep adjustment. Would that be marking the center seam allowance at the top of the seam and pivoting?

[@suek7086]

This is the easiest explanations I’ve seen. Thanks.

[@TandZAptLife]

Hi Hannah, I just subscribed to you. Thank you for showing me this!

[@superc1070]

You’re welcome. I’m glad it could help you

[@superc1070]

You’re welcome. I’m glad it could help you

[@ZeldaSews]

I subscribed! 😊😊😊

[@irrobat8010]

I just took your class and you were fantastic! I feel confident to begin sewing! Thanks Hannah 😊

[@zoogott]

Thank you for explaining so easy 🥰

[@published1789]

Thank you. Just struggled through sizing on a similar pattern (the dress expansion to the Zadie Jumpsuit pattern) and ended up cutting it back up to make a skirt -- wish I'd seen this as I think it would have helped a lot. BTW, I looked for your next video on ice dyeing but could not find it on KZbin.

[@dmkash]

Love your demonstration!! I've always been so scared to try an FBA, but now I feel like I shouldn't have been. Would this be the same sort of procedure for a knit fabric, as well?

[@debbiesnyder4778]

I love this thank you so much. You make it look so easy. I do have a question about pattern sizing and finished garment measurements. Sometimes they are so different. Which do you use for your full bust adjustment?

[@Cangus5555]

Brilliant - thank you.

[@juanitasews5782]

Hi... Thanks for sharing. You did the adjustment for side to side, but what about above and below the bust.

[@ModistraSews]

You can move it down the length you need

[@bethm5580]

awesome, thanks so much!

[@Sally-ih6ls]

Saw this on Nancy zieman video

[@rondag9765]

For those of us who have not had the pleasure of seeing Ms. Zieman’s video on this method, I’m grateful that Modistra Sews shared her explanation of the method.

[@rominascandalo1809]

Thank you!!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@fit2sew]

Does this method add the extra length that you need in the centre front?

[@ModistraSews]

i slide it down the length i need to accommodate the additional volume

[@Cambrilsbirds]

Can you use this method on a top With darts ?

[@pinsandneedlesx8825]

Ahh man how come your video didnt show up when i search for the adjustment. It was wierd i went looking into tiktok as nowadays that’s popular and found your video

[@superc1070]

I have more of a following on TikTok. My KZbin channel is newer. Maybe that is why

[@pinsandneedlesx8825]

@@superc1070 thank you so much for making these, i am 4” difference too. I am a D cup and never understood why the clothes didn’t fit. I would always size up and the neckline and shoulder would become a mess

[@jojospin]

Why do you add width to the back at the bust level and not just the front pieces? The bust is in front

[@martamonarca9020]

Nancy Zimmerman's method???

[@ModistraSews]

Yes. Her method is a great option to know

[@Bandaid17]

Zieman. If you look for Zimmerman you wont find her on KZbin. She had a series of PBS shows. Sewing with Nancy. Great info even today for all sewers and quilters. Sadly passed away several years ago.

[@ellenfrazer7581]

🌞🌞🌞

[@Toni_Snark]

Y'all, we loved Nancy, but why is everyone harping on this? Nowhere does this lady claim she came up with this technique and it's not trademarked.