...how to alter a boned bodice dress...

...W.I.P. Wednesday...

...Scout's girlfriend wants to wear this dress to the 'Snowball'...isn't that the cutest name ever...it's s semi formal dance at the high school...but the dress is a little too...er...ummmm...busty...if you know what I mean...

...so we set about altering it...

...on the inside seam...open the seam on both of the center boned seams...these bones are a flexible plastic...

...there's a little bit of padding too...just move that out of the way...or do like I did and snip the threads holding it in place and take it completely out...I'll put it back later...but it's sort of in the way to keep moving it around...

...this will reveal the seam that goes up the center bust...pull it through the opening in the lining...

...open this seam carefully with a seam ripper...I know the pad is still there...but save yourself a little trouble and go ahead and snip it now...

...trim the seam...see the pad is gone now...

...sew your new seam...

...just merge your new seam into the old one at the top and bottom...

...replace the padding...by stitching it by hand to the top of the seam and just tacking it in a couple of place along the seam...seam pressed open of course...just like it was attached when you took it out...these little pads had a clear right and left side too so make sure they go back in the right way...

...ok...now we're done with the visible external seam...it's time to deal with the inside lining seams...since we took about an inch out of the seam we'll need to shorten the boning...just pull it out of the seam...

...and snip off a little bit...

...then stitch one side of the boning in place...

...pin the boned seam in place and stitch neatly by hand...

...and you'll all done...

...an inside view...

...and the finished less busty bodice...

...what have you been sewing lately?...

~Have a lovely day!...