decreasing bust size on commercial pattern

[kathmod]

Hi, I'm looking for advice on how to decrease the bust size on a commercial sewing pattern.
The pattern is a 36 bust, but I'm a 34 bust.

[kjh9835]

You should look for SBA, small bust adjustment. I have a book with directions but the info is too long to with. I'm sure you can find it on a site or blog somewhere.

Kathy

[MartySews2]

The way that I decrease a bust size is to redraw the bust pattern piece on tissue paper taking in 1/2 inch on each side of the front pattern piece & on the back pattern piece which decreases the bust pattern piece by 2 inches. You will have the same pattern piece only in a smaller size.
Marty

[HeyJudee]

I'm not a sewer of clothes, but here's a SBA tutorial that I've found that might help.
http://blog.megannielsen.com/2012/04/how-to-do-a-small-bust-adjustment-sba/

[kathmod]

Thank you. I will have to practice with a pattern and see if I can do this.

[kaitlinnegan]

If you have a cup size smaller the B, you should do a small bust adjustment. Otherwise you can just cut to the smaller lines for the bust area, as Marty described.

Also, if the pattern is for a knit without darts, you might be able to get by with just making the width smaller even if you have a smaller cup size. Knits are pretty forgiving.

What is the pattern?

[kathmod]

I will post a pic soon.

[modmodgirl]

Great thread. I've got a few ?s about this too as I'm an intermediate sewer.

I have two shirt patterns ( they are the same style, company and pattern number) one size is a 34 bust, the other a 36 bust. I'm a 35. Which one should I use?

On the 34 inch bust pattern, the sleeve pattern is missing, but I have the sleeve pattern with the larger pattern.

Can I use the sleeve pattern from the larger pattern on the smaller pattern?

Thanks so much!

[MartySews2]

Hi ModMod Girl, have you measured yourself under your armpits around your chest to check your upper bust measurement? Another way to measure is shoulder to shoulder x 2 + depth of front to back? With that measurement, you can fit your shoulders. Then measure your full bust over the apex and around the back. At that point, you can do a full bust adjustment and tweak the pattern to cover your full bust. The sleeve cap will be slightly different from the larger pattern but you can measure the armhole opening and compare that measurement with the sleeve measurement to see if it will fit. Sometimes, it's just slightly different and you can adjust for that by taking small tucks in the pattern piece. Hope this helps you.
Marty