Laura Singer has put together a photo tutorial to show how she modified my "Swing" Dress pattern to work for a nursing mother.

One of my long-time customers and forum members has a lovely sewing blog that she fills with beautiful photos as well as helpful tips and tricks. She has been putting together a Regency Era bodiced petticoat from my instructions and posting detailed photos as she goes.

So, you've made your first outfit from one of my patterns. It went together without a hitch...until you put it on and stepped in front of a mirror. "Wait a minute!" you exclaimed. "This waistline is way too high! This sleeve just doesn't hit me where I thought it would! How am I supposed to be comfortable in this?" All of us are built differently. Even if we fit into a standard "size" on the pattern chart, we may find that the final results are less than flattering because we failed to take into account one or more unique features of our own body type. This page is here to help you identify those features and modify any pattern to better suit your figure type.

If you are usually a size 0 or 2 in off-the-rack sizes and have a petite frame (particularly if you are narrow through the shoulders with a measurement of less than 15" from shoulder to shoulder), you will need to make some adjustments to your bodice pattern pieces to obtain a perfect fit.

No matter how well designed a pattern may be, it cannot fit each individual perfectly. Each human body has its own quirks, and each person has different fitting needs. You may find that you need to enlarge a pattern beyond the sizes available on the sheet, or you might need to shrink it. Perhaps you would like to reduce a woman's pattern to fit a little girl. Or maybe you found an out-of-print pattern you'd love to make ... but the sizes are too small for you. Anything is possible once you know how to resize a pattern!

Understitching creates a beautiful, professional finish to linings and button plackets. Here's a video to show you how to do it!

There are so many fun ways you can alter your gown bodice to make it uniquely your style! Below I've illustrated two additional ways to change the look of your gown. The first method creates a fitted bodice with darts under the bustline. The second gives you a more "fan"-shaped bodice with the gathers in the center. I strongly recommend that you play around with a muslin bodice or two first until you achieve the exact fit and look you want. You might want to try different neckline treatments while you are at it (I've done a bodice with a "V" neckline and darts).

Flat-felled seams make a beautiful finish. They were common in the Regency era and are called for in my chemise pattern. Here's a video to walk you through the seam!

This tutorial is here to walk you through all the steps of taking that pattern and modifying it to make your own Regency bodiced petticoat.

Modifying my Regency Gown Pattern is extremely simple. I've shown in my Diary of a Dress how to add a train, make an overskirt and add other fancy embellishments to a ballgown. The purpose of this section is to demonstrate how the bodice can easily be changed to button up the front rather than down the back (especially nice for nursing mothers!). I'll also include instructions on how to modify the skirt front for expectant moms.

Here is yet another modification you can make to my basic Regency Gown Pattern. This section will show you how the bodice can be changed to include a drop-front (or “apron front”) panel. This is a fantastic feature for nursing moms, and I can tell you that I absolutely love nursing my daughter in this

This is a project I undertook in Fall of 2000, creating a unique wedding gown for a customer. Through this diary, you will learn how to modify the original Regency Gown Pattern to add a train, make "window" sleeves, add a bodice inset, and more!

Question: Can I create a pattern from a favorite dress, blouse, or skirt without taking the original apart?Answer: It can be done -- and it only takes patience and a few tools!

If you're new to invisible zippers (used in my 1910s Tea Gown and 1940s Swing Dress patterns), then this is an invaluable help. Step-by-step photo instructions will get you there, thanks to the "Sew? I Knit!" blog. Click HERE for the full tutorial. Enjoy!