Moving Your Bodice Darts – Example 1

This is the first in a series of posts that will demonstrate the method of moving darts around the bodice block to different locations. This post is aimed at beginners.

Moving both darts to the waistline is very easy. Lets look at the slashing method.

1. Trace the bodice block marking in all the darts, the bust point and all other block markings such as notches.
2. If your darts are not connected at the bust point then connect them before you begin, all changes to bust dart locations must happen through the bust point (BP)
3. Slash up the center of the bust waist dart, right up to the bust point.
4. Fold in the shoulder bust dart and watch the waist bust dart open up to become a larger dart. Now the 2 darts are combined at the waist.
5. Trace around the new shape, marking in the new dart. Take the apex of the dart (point of the dart) back by 1.5 cm for sewing. If you sew a dart right up to the bust point it will look very pointy!
6. To complete the pattern shape, fold in the dart and cut the pattern with the dart folded in as it would be sewn to get the right shape at the dart mouth.

If you want to know more about darts, this detailed workbook will give you everything you need to know!

If you don’t already have my basic bodice block you can find it here:

Modeliste Creative – basic bodice  

Or if you would like a larger size range  we also have a couple of other bodice block options we recommend.

The regular Design Cut & Wear Bodice block, or the Bodice Block with the shoulder dart removed, or the Japanese Style Bunka Bodice Block

Or maybe the plus size bodice block. They are all suitable for this technique.

Hope this helps and I will be back soon with another technique.

Happy Pattern Making.

Nicola x