How to Design with French Darts

[@1wholovestrees]

Thank you, thank you! You made it so easy. I never knew how to make a curved french dart and now I can rotate it back. I’ve been avoiding the pattern simply because I couldn’t rotate the curved dart. Now I can!!!

[@JSternDesigns]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching

[@cherylberry5982]

I love this tip, no pun intended. This is so handy.

[@JSternDesigns]

Thanks! :))))

[@victoriahannah1633]

Thank you for this. I can’t wait to try this out. I’m finishing up a dress and then I guess I’ll start packing up the sewing things to head back to Virginia. Have a nice trip.

[@JSternDesigns]

My pleasure! Thanks for fitting along with me... Safe trip home! ...I'm having a blast in Houston, today is pants fitting so I'm having super fun! Thanks for fitting along with me

[@JuliaSophia52]

I love curved French darts, but can’t find many videos with instructions. Thank you.

[@aimster2084]

Same! Did you ever find a tutorial? I want to learn to draft curved french darts.

[@JSternDesigns]

My Pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@JSternDesigns]

This tutorial shows you how to "draft" a French dart. You draw curved lines where you want the french dart to be positioned... They usually start close to the waistline along the side seam and curve up toward the apex. Then cut the curved line and cut one of the dart legs on your bust dart. Rotate the bust dart closed to open the french dart. Hope this helps and Thanks for watching!

[@Andrea-atwa]

Again learned a new design element! Very well and comprehensibly explained! Thank you! 🥰🇨🇭

[@JSternDesigns]

You’re welcome 😊 Thank you for designing along we me!

[@JG-fl2ph]

Outstanding content. Thx for doing these videos.

[@ThatisSewSilvia]

You are genius. Still, my darts are either too low or pointy or both. I just can’t seem to make my muslin to look good, even though I move and make and do… Frustrating. 😢 Thank you for the great lessons, though! ❤

[@JSternDesigns]

Are you are measuring from your shoulder to your apex.. Then compare the pattern from the shoulder to the tip of the dart. Move raise or lower the dart so that the tip of the dart is slightly lower than your apex (A-C Cups 1/2", D+ Cups 5/8" -3/4" ish)... If you have a large bust with a big bust dart, try curving the dart legs in a little bit .. this allows for a big bite at the side seam and allows you to taper quickly to the tip. ... I think I'll do a tutorial on this ...stay tuned! Thanks for fitting along with me

[@ThatisSewSilvia]

@@JSternDesignsthe apex was the problem. They were too low and too far away from mine. ❤ P.s. just seen the last video. My darts on the block were also curved but on the outside, convex ones. 😊

[@cathygibbs7246]

Clever girl. 😊

[@JSternDesigns]

Thanks!

[@sharonscott8358]

I've never heard of French darts. What would be the reason for using them? Does it give a better shape? I have a large bust. Thank you

[@JSternDesigns]

"French Dart" is a dart that starts near the waistline and angles up toward the apex. It's used to fit and style a garment (I feel like they have a 50s vibe). The actual shape of the garment isn't affected by rotating the dart from a bust or waist dart to a french dart. I think the thing that gives a large bust the best shape is not a dart ... Princess seams offer the most fitting adjustment potential. I have this topic on my list of upcoming tutorials! Stay Tuned! and thank you for fitting along with me

[@aimster2084]

I would LOVE to learn how to draft a curved French dart that is a sort of 'S' shape. I've seen a few garments with this and the fit is divine. I just can't get it to work, I don't understand how to determine where and how my curves should be. Can you help?

[@JSternDesigns]

That sounds very cool... Let me play with it when I get back from Houston. I love playing with darts and I haven't tried an S shape yet... Stay tuned! Thanks for fitting along with me