Full Busted? Sew Clothes That Fit!

Created specially for full-busted women—who must often buy oversized clothing simply so they can button the front—this interactive DVD demonstrates how ladies can sew their own clothes for a custom fit and teaches which size patterns will best fit the neck, upper chest, and shoulder areas. Easy to play and pause during alterations, the DVD first explores full-bust fitting basics, listing the tools needed for preparing a pattern, altering a darted front, pin-fitting fabric, and lowering a bust dart. The presentation then tackles style challenges, such as cut-on sleeves and tops and skirts with a twist. Further design techniques reveal how to transfer darts into pleats and move darts virtually anywhere, while video of everyday women displays the final products. Helping to ease both fit frustrations and wallet woes, these cost-efficient garments—including both the side-panel jacket and the princess jacket—offer full-busted women unique style solutions they can't find in any store.

Marta Alto is a teacher, writer, and researcher at Palmer/Pletsch Publishing, the author of 21st Century Sewing, and the coauthor of The Serger Idea Book and Sewing Ultrasuede. Pati Palmer is the CEO of Palmer/Pletsch Publishing, a designer and consultant for the McCall Pattern Company, and a coauthor of Sewing with Sergers. They are the coauthors of Fit for Real People, Jackets for Real People, and Pants for Real People. They both live in Portland, Oregon.