How to Raise or Lower a Bust Dart

Altering a sewing pattern to position bust darts correctly is actually very easy to do and will make the world of difference to the fit of your handmade garments. In this handy tutorial video I show you just how easy it is to raise or lower a bust dart so you can position them in exactly the right place. The point of the bust dart should be pointing to your bust apex and a general rule of thumb is that it should finish about 1" away from the bust apex for a smaller bust and up to 2 and a half inches away for a fuller bust. I hope this video will give you the confidence to alter sewing patterns in this way and achieve a great fit from your pattern.
I use the following sewing tools in this video:
► The Palmer Pletsch Complete Guide to Fitting book: www.sewessential.co.uk/the-pa...
► Sew Easy Quilters Ruler: www.sewessential.co.uk/sew-ea...
► Olfa Self Healing Cutting Mat: www.sewessential.co.uk/olfa-s...
► Burda Tissue Paper: www.sewessential.co.uk/burda-...
► Sew Essential www.sewessential.co.uk
► Blog www.sewessential.co.uk/blog
Carefree Melody by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: www.twinmusicom.org/song/302/c...
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org

[@maureenflaherty9708]

This is super helpful after many years of "fudging" things. Thank you!!

[@emmasanders1234]

This is fantastically clear and helpful - thank you. 👍

[@elizabethwalters8790]

So helpful and informative.. Many thanks again Lucy and SE. Just love all of your videos…you give me so much confidence and have taught me so much 👍👏💕

[@alexaelliott2598]

That’s made a complicated job easy.. it’s really one of the most useful tips I have seen. Thank you.

[@robintate998]

Just found this!! and WOW what a awesome explanation!! I've been needing this for every cause I am full busted and your channel is one of the best on You Tube!!! Thanks Lucy👍🤗❤

[@nicolegooding7724]

Loved the demonstration of how a dart creates room.

[@SewEssential]

So glad you liked it, I really loved it when I saw it too.

[@jounderhill6913]

Thank you! You made this simple and easy to follow! 😁

[@sewlittletime]

Thank you for this tutorial Lucy...it worked perfectly for me and can't believe how simple it was xx

[@gemmasremchevich6719]

That's absolutely simply amazing. Never seen this before. Thank you sooo much. X

[@cherylp.3347]

Wow, that was amazing. How clever. I thought it would be a lot more difficult, that I’d need to redraw a bunch of tricky lines. Thanks so much. This is something I hadn’t considered I’d need to do but I definitely need to lower them.( oh yes and the paper circle demonstration was brilliant, I understand now)

[@elsafischer3247]

Thank you for your tutorials I love your work

[@wandagoncalves3049]

Oh my, thank you, I had no idea it would be that easy.

[@SewEssential]

So glad it was useful to you.

[@nanilu8791]

Great, thank you!

[@johnweymouth9668]

Excellent video.....simple, clear and sew easy to understand..thank you

[@aseret01666]

This was extremely useful - I will use your demonstration on my Ashton top. Thank you!

[@dawnrising22]

Always the best tutorials xx

[@annholmes9650]

Brilliant, thank you!

[@shoniewright2878]

Thank you for this easy straight forward tutorial, this way is much simpler than many I've seen.

[@SewEssential]

So pleased to hear it was helpful.

[@carolynrogers1510]

Excellent explanation Lucy, I love the palmer Pletch books.

[@pennyhanson2598]

Thank you for showing us! So much simpler than the way I tried to do a similar thing recently - should have checked KZbin first! Kind regards from Penny 😊

[@tmrnz]

Fabulous! Thank you !

[@sharonmackenzie1207]

Thank you so much!!! It’s not as hard as you think! Will definitely try that next time!!! 😀

[@BritInvLvr]

Brilliant!

[@ceciliaborglin7828]

Thank you!!

[@kittyliu4900]

Wow thank you so much for sharing 🙏this is really what I have been looking for

[@kimdrew1005]

Wow!! love love love this. Your channel has taught me so much 😃

[@steachingbymaya]

Great tutorial, thanks! I Loved the darth dmonstration ❤.

[@texasproud8822]

Very clear instructions. Thanks

[@SewEssential]

Thank you, I try really hard to keep it simple and straightforward so we can all feel a bit braver when making alterations.

[@norakathleenbertoglio4414]

Thank you so much!

[@sewingmags3222]

Great tip - will be saving this vlog for future reference Many thanks 💐💐💐

[@SewEssential]

It's a pleasure, so glad it was helpful.

[@lorrainewhiting1267]

Brilliant that made it so clear thank you

[@SewEssential]

So pleased it was helpful to you.

[@Dee-Birdie]

Ty great info

[@louiselill1528]

Very easy explained thank you

[@SewEssential]

Thanks for the lovely feedback so glad you enjoyed it.

[@NannyZ3]

Thank you. Very useful 🧵

[@SewEssential]

So pleased to hear it, it makes me very happy to see so many people finding it useful.

[@MsHighpeaks]

Fantastic video thank you

[@SewEssential]

It's a pleasure, so glad you enjoyed it.

[@myriamcardona984]

Thanks. Hope it'll help me in my future projects. I just finished, with GREAT illusion a blouse for Xmas and it was a disaster! The dart was like two inches too high. I am really tall and very busty. So, I am confident that I will succeed next time.

[@sonyasew2]

Thanks

[@emmabrennan2382]

Thanks for the video, how did you know what size to make the box around the dart?

[@matknit321]

thank you very much can you do a full bust adjustment please?

[@dreamdancer84]

Thank you, what about if I needed to move the dart to the left or right, would that be using the same method too?

[@g1nger21]

Omg that’s so easy just looking for how to do this for a fitted shirt with a dart way to high 😀

[@SewEssential]

Glad it was helpful, happy fitting!

[@jaynefederici9140]

Thanks Lucy. Bust darts are always too high for me probably because patterns are drafted for people taller than me. I'm 5'4" going to do this tomorrow with the Ashton Top.

[@LuzMartinez-if1dw]

How do you measure your self to see where you have to move the dart to, love your videos and thank you 😊

[@SewEssential]

With some patterns you could pin the tissue together and try it against your body, otherwise I would make a toile then mark the bust apex so you can see how far you need to move it. Hope that makes sense and helps and thanks for the lovely feedback.

[@LuzMartinez-if1dw]

Thank you for you help💐

[@angelaearp733]

Hello, great video. Could you at some point do a video about a SBA. Most patterns cater for B cups. I have trouble with all my patterns being slightly to big on the bust line.

[@SewEssential]

You're in luck Angela, I actually did one a few weeks ago - you can see it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2jUhppuqpenrKM

[@laurak2742]

If I have to do an sba and move the bust dart, which should I do first?

[@SewEssential]

I would do the SBA first because it will alter the position of the bust dart, I did a video on that process too, you can find it here on our channel.

[@maryanntucker9929]

So great. Just tried it but now haven't I added 3/4 in to front panel of pattern and not back? Don't I need to add to back of dress 3/4 inch?

[@maryanntucker9929]

Oops. No I didn't! Never mind!

[@tracyfrost]

What top are you wearing?

[@SewEssential]

It's a Simplicity wrap dress I made recently you can find the blog post here with links to the pattern and fabric I used both still available on our website www.sewessential.co.uk/blog/sewing-wrap-dress-cup-sizes/

[@sallydingle321]

👌😁💝😘

[@SewEssential]

Thanks Sally!

[@pfarmer7589]

Useful but isn't marking the apex point really important and indicates where you should move the dart to? You mention it briefly at the end but how do you measure down from the shoulder what has dart got to do with the bust apex? Not everyone knows this!

[@sharonmackenzie1207]

Thank you so much!!! It’s not as hard as you think! Will definitely try that next time!!! 😀