Need bodice advice, please.

[lucysmam]

Dd1 wants a cinderella dress.

Because of bowel problems her tum is out of proportion with the rest of her so I've bought the adult pattern which I can adapt easier than the children's which is a good 10" too small in the biggest waist size.

It calls for boning in the bodice but I'm wondering if I could skip the boning so it's not quite so stiff for her to wear? It's years since I've made a proper bodice & I'm not sure whether it's absolutely necessary in there.

Tia

[lucysmam]

Anyone?

I'm also thinking about attaching the bodice to the skirt so it's all one piece if anyone has any thoughts about that

[lucysmam]

Help meeeeeeeee! Please

[MinesAPintOfTea]

Can you get a different dress pattern? The boning is likely to be important in the structure of that dress, but that doesn't mean you cant make any similar dresses without boning

[Orangeanddemons]

You only need boning if it's strapless. The bones are what hold it up. You could put very slim straps on and avoid using boning that way.

[lucysmam]

Thank you, it has small cap sleeves under the shoulder frill so should be ok. I just wasn't sure if the bones were absolutely necessary.

I have a dress I could trace a pattern from if need be but really cba to faff about with that.

[Orangeanddemons]

As long as the sleeves sit firmly over the shoulder and aren't off the shoulder it should be ok

[lucysmam]

I'll make the bodice out of an old sheet to see where they fall & adjust them if I need to. Thanks Orange

[lucysmam]

Hmmm, I don't think I can do this one . Think it's going to fry my brain altering it!

[Orangeanddemons]

If you need to make it larger over the stomach. Do the following:

Slash the bodice pieces where the tummy starts to need more room.

For each pattern piece do the following. Slash the piece you have cut off into 3. Lay the pieces next to the bodice piece as if you haven't cut them, then open them out at the bottom.If possible make the two side pieces touch the pattern piece, but spread them out equally. They will dip in the middle. This means you have now put more room around the bottom evenly. Repeat for each piece.

Sorry if that is a bit hard to understand. It's a mini pattern cutting tutorial,and really you need to see it!

[lucysmam]

Orange! You are a star, I had forgotten all about altering patterns that way. I've had a loooooong break between when I last made anything and starting on costumes for the girls.

I will start again today.

[lucysmam]

I'm back with another one - would it be a lot of faffing to make the costume as a dress rather than skirt and bodice?