Ingrid - How to Lengthen or Shorten Bodice Panels

We love the fun angular style lines across each bodice panel in our Ingrid dress.  It’s a little more interesting than your standard waist seam and gives it plenty of hack potential too.

Ingrid is drafted for a 5’5” – 5’7” height so if you don’t fall into this height range you may like to lengthen or shorten the bodice panels so the proportions are right for you. 

The lower waist seam is designed to sit on the high hip. Not sure where to find this? The high hip is the midpoint between your natural waist and low hip.

Susan is 5” (152cm) and shortened her bodice panels by 3cm. Nicola is 5’6” and didn’t alter the bodice length.

We have added lengthen and shorten lines to the pattern to ensure you add or reduce length in the correct position.  It is important that you lengthen where we have indicated so the stepped skirt panels insert correctly when you come to putting the rest of the dress together.  Below we explain in more detail how to amend the length correctly. 

How to Lengthen the Bodice Panels

Cut out your pattern pieces

Cut along the lengthen/shorten line

Place a piece of paper underneath the bodice.

Draw a straight line running down from the c/front edge

I am increasing the bodice length by 2cm so will add this through all of the bodice panels.

Following the c/front edge spread the lower panel down by how much you want to increase your length.

Stick into place

Using a ruler or set square blend you side seam

Cut out and notch your pattern pieces

Repeat the same amendments and lengthen the back bodice panel.

Repeat the same amendments and lengthen the left front bodice panel

Lay the left front bodice side seam on top of the left back bodice side seam to ensure the side seams match

Carefully fold back the right back bodice hemline

Lay the right front bodice side seam on top of the right back bodice to ensure the side seams match

How to Shorten the Bodice Panels

Cut out your pattern pieces

Cut along the lengthen/shorten line

Place a piece of paper underneath the bodice.

Draw a straight line running down from the c/front edge

Also draw a parallel line above the lengthen/shorten line by how much you want to shorten the bodice by

I am shortened the bodice length by 2cm so will repeat this on all of the bodice panels.

Following the c/front edge overlap the lower panel up by how much you want to increase your length.

Stick into place

Using a ruler or set square blend you side seam

Cut out and notch your pattern pieces

Repeat the same amendments and shorten the back panel

Repeat the same amendments and shorten the left front panel

Lay the left front bodice side seam on top of the left back bodice side seam to ensure the side seams match

Carefully fold back the right back bodice hemline

Lay the right front bodice side seam on top of the right back bodice to ensure the side seams match

We’re so excited to see all your Ingrid makes. As always, any questions as you sew, please get in touch.

Susan x