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Sewing Pattern Tutorial: Full bust adjustment

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Tutorial: Full bust adjustment
Tutorial: Full bust adjustment

If your bust is larger than a B cup, you’ll probably find that sewing patterns fit too snug through the chest.  You can make a full bust adjustment to the pattern to make it fit.  Justine from Sew Country Chick shares a tutorial at The Sewing Rabbit showing how to do a full bust adjustment.  You may see this referred to on sewing message boards as simply FBA.  A full bust adjustment adds extra width to just the bust of the garment, maintaining original measurements on other parts of the bodice.  She shows how to do the adjustment on the Stepford Dress pattern, but this method works with any bodice.  Click the link below to go to her tutorial:

How to do a full bust adjustment, by Sew Country Chick

[photo from Sew Country Chick on The Sewing Rabbit]

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Comments

  1. With all the trouble to do a FBA, and with the number of tutorials online to do one, you’d think there’d be someone just making patterns with built-in FBAs for various sizes!!! I can dream.

  2. Thanks so much for sharing this! I’m anxious to give it a try. Anna – I agree. Why do the garment and pattern industries still assume a single cup size will fit everyone?

Have you read?

That Time a Thrift Store Employee Shamed Me – And Your Honest Responses

A few months ago, I wrote “That Time a Thrift Store Employee Yelled at Me – And Changed How I See Thrift Flips Forever

My inbox was flooded with messages from all of you, some agreeing, some furious, and many sharing your own thrifting wake-up calls. Today, I want to revisit the debate with your voices front and center.

The Incident That Started It All

If you missed the original article, here’s the gist: I was browsing my local thrift store for vintage linens (my weakness) when an employee called me out for being a “TikTok flipper.” She wasn’t wrong—I had repurposed thrifted finds before—but her frustration hit hard: “These used to be $2. Now they’re $20. because of people like you.”

Ouch.

I left that day with my fabric and a guilty conscience. But after hearing from hundreds of you, I realized this isn’t just about me—it’s a big, messy issue with valid points on both sides.

What You Told Me: The For & Against Thrift Flipping Debate

“Thrift Flipping is Gentrification – Period.”

From readers who sided with the thrift store employee:

“I work at a Salvation Army, and it’s INFURIATING to watch resellers clear out our plus-size section just to chop it up for ‘aesthetic’ crop tops. Those clothes were someone’s only affordable option.” – M., Ohio

“My mom raised three kids on thrift store clothes. Now? She can’t even afford to shop there. The ‘sustainable’ crowd priced out the people who actually need these stores.” – Anonymous

“If you want to upcycle, go to the ‘damaged’ bin. Leave the wearable stuff for people who can’t afford to be picky.” – R., Texas

“But Thrift Flipping Is Sustainable – Don’t Shame Creativity!”

From readers who pushed back:

“I’ve been flipping thrifted clothes for 15 years—long before TikTok. Thrift stores have always had resellers. Blame corporations, not crafters.” – L., Portland

“I’m a college student. Thrift flipping lets me afford ‘new’ clothes. Should I feel guilty for not being poor enough to ‘deserve’ thrift stores?” – Anonymous

“The real issue is overproduction. Fast fashion dumps 100B garments a year, but we’re fighting over who ‘deserves’ a $5 shirt?” – K., UK

And then there were the nuanced takes:

“I stopped flipping name-brand or plus-size items after reading your article. But I’ll still upcycle stained tablecloths or torn sheets—stuff nobody else would buy.” – J., Michigan

“Thrift stores themselves are the problem. They’re corporations now. My local shop is owned by a millionaire who jacks up prices, then blames ‘flippers’ for the backlash.” – Anonymous

Where Do We Go From Here?

After reading your messages, here’s where I’ve landed:

  1. Blame the system, not the stitchers.Thrift stores are becoming corporations. Fast fashion is the root issue. But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless.
  2. Be mindful. Ask Is this item still usable as-is? Could someone else need it more? If yes, maybe leave it.
  3. Get loud about the real villains. Petition thrift stores to cap prices. Boycott brands like Shein. Support actual charity shops.

Your Turn

This isn’t a black-and-white issue, and I’m not here to lecture. But after hearing from you, I’m convinced: we can thrift flip ethically—if we’re willing to adapt.

So tell me: Have you changed how you thrift since this debate started? Drop your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep this conversation going.