I have long been intending
to try this technique from an article by Marcy Tilton in the
October/November 2006 issue of Vogue Patterns magazine. It's quite easy to do: the side dart on the bodice is eliminated by closing it up and transferring it to the neckline, as you can see from the illustrations I've copied from the article. Measure that resulting space and divide it as you wish into a series of darts of whatever length you want. I used the same pattern as Marcy, Today's Fit by Sandra Betzina Vogue 8151 and made eleven darts total, ½ inch wide at the neckline and varying from 4 inches to 7 inches long. (This great basic pattern is out of print but, of course, you can still find it on online.)
In the example in the magazine, the darts are stitched on the outside, making them more prominent. I stitched mine on the inside, like a traditional dart, so they aren't so obvious. The next time, I will probably do them on the outside, since they are supposed to be a decorative feature. If anyone would like the complete article with detailed instructions, just email me and I will be happy to copy it and send it to you.
