black petite maxi dress Women's Petite Black Scoop Back Maxi Dress

One of the joys of sewing ourown clothes is being able to make things just how we like. Often that means making things a little shorter or longer. If you are wanting to alter the length of a pattern piece that is not a simple square/rectangle you'll want to make the length adjustment somewhere in the middle of the pattern piece. Doing so ensures the hem line stays the same circumference and you maintain the overall design style of the garment. This tutorial shows you how to lengthen a pattern piece - we've used the Vali Dress as an example. You can see our Vali Dress pattern review here. If you lengthena pattern, don't forgetyou will likely need topurchase extra fabric. You will normally needtwice the added length extra in fabric. You will need: pattern piece(s) to be lengthened selotape or glue pattern paper or tracing paper we've used our Pattern Graph & Tracing Paper paper scissors ruler and marking pen Step 1. Determine how much you want to lengthen your pattern piece by and where you need to add the length.Some patterns will have lines already marked on the pattern piece to indicate ideal areas to lengthen or shorten. If not, make sure to select a point in your pattern that won't adverselyimpact the fit or style of the garment. Take into account key fit and style points such as hip, waist, bust, knees, elbows. For example if you have a long torso, you might need to add length above the waist line. Conversely if you want to make a dress/top longer and it fits well through the bust and waist - make sure you lengthen the pattern below the waist or hip line. If you are looking for a fantastic reference guide on fit alterations, we highly recommend Kenneth D King's Smart Fitting Solutions For our example, we want to lengthen the Vali Dress - we like the fit, but just want some extra length through the leg area. We've chosen to lengthen the pattern at a point below the pocket. The images below show step by step how to do this - we used our new Pattern Graph & Tracing paper. The 1cm grid on the paper makes it a breeze and ensures the pattern pieces are correctly aligned with each other. Step 2. Line up the centre front with the grid on the pattern paper. Mark your lengthen (or shorten) line at right angles to the centre front - orange line in image above

The voluminous A-line skirt adds architectural shape and soft movement, striking the perfect balance of playful and polished

Midi length that falls just below the knee

Get a sultry look in backless dresses from Windsor with open-back gowns, low-back dresses, and cocktail, party, or formal backless dresses!

The sheer detailing and intricate appliqus create a romantic, feminine look, while the natural waistline flows into a soft, airy skirt

The striking style showcases a fascinating scoop neckline coupled with cap sleeves as well as a mesh inset