Reply To: Joan Dress Waistline

[the_professors_assistantKeymaster]

If I were you, I would pick the size that best fits your measurements. Only cut out pieces of the bodice in muslin or junk fabric and baste these pieces together. Don’t worry about sleeves. Try it on and see where the waistline falls. (Remember that the bottom will eventually be 5/8″ shorter due to seam allowance with the skirt of the dress.) If it’s too short, go ahead and use some of the leftover tissue paper that your pattern was printed on and tape an inch or so to the bottom of the bodice pieces, (adding to the length), until the waistline is where you want it.  Make sure that you maintain the integrity and shape of the original pattern pieces.  So if it has zigzag shape at the bottom original pattern, your adjusted one also has that same shape.  Hope this helps.