Burda Style For people who sew

I’d be grateful for some advice, please.

I’m using the pattern to make five adult bridesmaids’ dresses (!) and have already encountered a problem with the first bridesmaid being typically pear-shaped. She’s a size 14 on her bust and waist, but with 41 inch hips, falls halfway between a size 16 and size 18. Let’s call it a size 17. My problem is that I’ve got to somehow fit the size 17 skirt onto the size 14 bodice (it attaches just under the bustline). The only way I can do it is by keeping the top of the skirt to a size 14 and tapering out the seams down towards the hipline, but in total, I’ve got to add 2 ¼ inches to the skirt. I thought I’d do it on the side seams, but that’s a lot to have to taper out over a fairly short distance. I can’t do it on the front and back panel seams, because the front panel and back panel have ‘common’ seams, which won’t match the side front and side back if I adjust them, if you see what I mean!

Sorry, I didn’t understand about attaching a link, so I hope this one works!

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://images.patternreview.com/sewing/patterns/burda/7470/7470.png&imgrefurl=http://sewing.patternreview.com/patterns/42290&h=733&w=500&sz=52&tbnid=E8EHd4FA_tdqIM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=63&prev=/search%3Fq%3DBurda%2Bpattern%2B7470%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=Burda+pattern+7470&usg=__IB4V_fTJ15p_LcRzqEA32bcQiSw=&docid=LMTTbEIQjMMweM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RTIJUbjIKqLV0QXF6YDwBw&ved=0CDQQ9QEwAQ&dur=6733

Jan 30, 2013, 02.55 PM by Katherine330

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  Jan 30, 2013, 08.40 PMby bjr99

  Do not cut the fabric. Trace off the pattern and make your alterations. Then make a muslin of the dress and have a fitting to see where you stand.

  You say that there is a 2 1/4 inch difference between the size 14 and 17. If you make the change on the side seams you will be changing each side seam edge by a total of 9/16 of an inch. Remember you have 4 seam edges. The front left and right and the back left and right. The amount of 9/16 isn’t a huge amount to taper in.

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    Jan 31, 2013, 10.24 AMby Katherine330

    Thanks for that. I feel more confident if you think 9/16 isn’t a huge amount to taper in. It’s just something I’ve not had to do before. Next step is to make a muslin.

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  Jan 31, 2013, 06.24 PMby bjr99

  The muslin will give you more information. Have the bridesmaid wear the undergarments she will be wearing at the wedding when you do the fitting. Let us know how this project is progressing.