The Key to Choosing the Right Sewing Pattern Size for You
By Veronica Hollingsworth
Many an aspiring sewer has perused pattern catalogs at the fabric store, selected their pattern, and assumed that the number size on the envelope corresponds to the size they wear in ready-made clothing. Yet, when their outfit is done, the item slides off their shoulders or wears like a straight-jacket. How can you avoid this fate?
In order to purchase the right size pattern, you must have your own measurements in hand to guide you, so plan ahead. Before heading out to the fabric store, grab your cloth or plastic measuring tape and make note of the following:
-Your high bust (the measurement around your ribcage, right beneath your armpits but above your bust point)
-Your bust point (the largest measurement around your chest, at the bust apex)
-Your waist measurement
-Your hip measurement
-Your back length measurement
It’s best to have all these measurements to make an educated guess on how the pattern will fit you based on the measurements printed on the back of the pattern envelope. It will also tell you what alterations to the pattern pieces you will need to make.
However, if you only have one measurement to go buy, use your high bust measurement to determine which size to buy. The high bust measurement correlates to how well the pattern will fit you across the shoulders, and thus getting this number right is critical to a successful finished garment. If your high bust measurement falls between sizes, go up if your bone structure is large-boned, or go down if you’re finer-boned.
It is difficult at best to alter the fit of a garment or pattern across the shoulders, so if you start out with this measurement right, you’re guaranteed a good fit. The rest of the measurements can be altered for more easily. It’s easier to add length to the back, or inches to the waist or hip, than it is to add width to a shoulder or add length to an armscye and make the corresponding change to the sleeve pattern.
Your high bust measurement also tends to stay the same over the years, even in times of normal weight fluctuation. Going by your high bust measurement ensures that the article of clothing will hang well off your frame, even if you’ve gained weight. Don’t be scared off if the other measurements on your pattern indicate that the bust would be too small, or that the waist would be too large. As stated previously, those are relatively easy alterations to make. Research doing a Full Bust Adjustment if you consistently find that the fabric pulls across your bust, or if you’re a C or larger in bra sizes. Most commercial patterns are drafted for a B cup. You can learn how to add inches to the side seams to ensure the clothing fits across hips and waist. Learn how to adjust for petite or tall figures by adding length to the pattern in the right places.
If you go by your high bust measurement when picking patterns, these alterations will be as difficult as it gets, and you won’t have to delve into actual pattern drafting (unless you feel like it) to make your custom-made clothes fit. Now you can go to the fabric store, knowing exactly what size patterns to get to make the wardrobe of your dreams.
If you liked the article you just read and you need dynamic copy, SEO articles, blogs, or writing and editing services for your website or print publication, head on over to http://www.enlightenedwriting.weebly.com and get in touch with Veronica. She'd love to hear from you!
By Veronica Hollingsworth
Many an aspiring sewer has perused pattern catalogs at the fabric store, selected their pattern, and assumed that the number size on the envelope corresponds to the size they wear in ready-made clothing. Yet, when their outfit is done, the item slides off their shoulders or wears like a straight-jacket. How can you avoid this fate?
In order to purchase the right size pattern, you must have your own measurements in hand to guide you, so plan ahead. Before heading out to the fabric store, grab your cloth or plastic measuring tape and make note of the following:
-Your high bust (the measurement around your ribcage, right beneath your armpits but above your bust point)
-Your bust point (the largest measurement around your chest, at the bust apex)
-Your waist measurement
-Your hip measurement
-Your back length measurement
It’s best to have all these measurements to make an educated guess on how the pattern will fit you based on the measurements printed on the back of the pattern envelope. It will also tell you what alterations to the pattern pieces you will need to make.
However, if you only have one measurement to go buy, use your high bust measurement to determine which size to buy. The high bust measurement correlates to how well the pattern will fit you across the shoulders, and thus getting this number right is critical to a successful finished garment. If your high bust measurement falls between sizes, go up if your bone structure is large-boned, or go down if you’re finer-boned.
It is difficult at best to alter the fit of a garment or pattern across the shoulders, so if you start out with this measurement right, you’re guaranteed a good fit. The rest of the measurements can be altered for more easily. It’s easier to add length to the back, or inches to the waist or hip, than it is to add width to a shoulder or add length to an armscye and make the corresponding change to the sleeve pattern.
Your high bust measurement also tends to stay the same over the years, even in times of normal weight fluctuation. Going by your high bust measurement ensures that the article of clothing will hang well off your frame, even if you’ve gained weight. Don’t be scared off if the other measurements on your pattern indicate that the bust would be too small, or that the waist would be too large. As stated previously, those are relatively easy alterations to make. Research doing a Full Bust Adjustment if you consistently find that the fabric pulls across your bust, or if you’re a C or larger in bra sizes. Most commercial patterns are drafted for a B cup. You can learn how to add inches to the side seams to ensure the clothing fits across hips and waist. Learn how to adjust for petite or tall figures by adding length to the pattern in the right places.
If you go by your high bust measurement when picking patterns, these alterations will be as difficult as it gets, and you won’t have to delve into actual pattern drafting (unless you feel like it) to make your custom-made clothes fit. Now you can go to the fabric store, knowing exactly what size patterns to get to make the wardrobe of your dreams.
If you liked the article you just read and you need dynamic copy, SEO articles, blogs, or writing and editing services for your website or print publication, head on over to http://www.enlightenedwriting.weebly.com and get in touch with Veronica. She'd love to hear from you!