Sewing Patterns: Finding the Right Size for You from Udemy

Selecting a size in a sewing pattern can be confusing and frustrating. In this class you will learn how to select the right size in a sewing pattern for your body so you can get closer to that perfect fit before you even cut your pattern. I will teach you all about the different aspects where to measure your body, how to shop for sewing patterns, and how to select the perfect size for you.

You will learn about:

The history of sewing patterns and ready to wear sizing
Tips for accurate body measurements
A step by step guide on where and how to get key measurements on your body
What ease is and how it affects sewing patterns
Learn how woven and knit fabrics differ in sewing patterns
Learn how to check for stretch recovery and stretch percentage in your pattern and how it applies to sewing patterns
Learn how to use size charts on sewing patterns and tips on how to select your size if you measurements are not on the chart
Learn my tips for selecting sizes in PDF sewing patterns
Learn how to measure every part of sewing pattern pieces
Learn when you should select the "wrong" size
Learn to go start to finish from the size chart to measuring the pattern to a final size selection
Learn to copy sewing patterns using a light box
Learn why about sample garments and sizing

Why should you take this class?

Anyone learning to sew garments will interact with sewing patterns. Selecting the right size in a sewing pattern can be confusing and size charts are not enough alone to make a selection on size. By the end of this course you will be confident that you can select the right size in any sewing pattern so you can sew garments that fit better on you.

Why learn from me?

I have been sewing and creating in textile arts for over 25 years and teaching sewing for over 5 years. I learned as a small child from my grandmother. Sewing has been passed down as a skill in my family for several generations.

I continued my learning by taking classes from instructors around the world, including classes with Hand and Lock in London. I have worked in custom bridal, special occasion, and historical costuming. I have won several awards for my costumes.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to use the size charts on sewing patterns to select the right size that works for your body.
Learn to measure sewing patterns to an accurate picture of how a pattern will fit on your body before you even cut it out.
Learn the history sewing patterns and modern sizing and why sizing is not standardized.

Learn to use a light box to copy your patterns so you will never lose the original.
Learn why you should make sample fitting garments.
Discover what and how ease is used in sewing patterns and how ease affects fit and size selection.

How to use the size charts on sewing patterns to select the right size that works for your body.
Learn to measure sewing patterns to an accurate picture of how a pattern will fit on your body before you even cut it out.
Learn the history sewing patterns and modern sizing and why sizing is not standardized.
Learn to use a light box to copy your patterns so you will never lose the original.
Learn why you should make sample fitting garments.
Discover what and how ease is used in sewing patterns and how ease affects fit and size selection.

Syllabus

Introduction

About the Instructor

Course Resources

Course Downloads

Career center

Learners who complete Sewing Patterns: Finding the Right Size for You will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Custom Seamstress

A Custom Seamstress creates bespoke garments tailored precisely to an individual's specifications, often working in custom apparel, bridal, or special occasion wear. This highly personalized role requires exceptional skill in translating client measurements into a perfectly fitting garment. For a Custom Seamstress, this course offers invaluable insights into the intricacies of pattern selection and modification. You will learn to take accurate body measurements and apply them to select the ideal pattern size, even understanding when to intentionally choose a "wrong" size for a better fit. The course also teaches you to measure pattern pieces to predict fit before cutting and how fabric properties like stretch affect the final garment, enabling you to deliver truly custom, flattering results.

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Pattern Maker

A Pattern Maker is instrumental in translating design concepts into wearable garments by creating the master templates from which clothing is cut. This precise role requires an in-depth understanding of body dimensions and how fabric drapes. This course, "Sewing Patterns: Finding the Right Size for You," helps build a strong foundation for a Pattern Maker by demystifying the complexities of sizing. You will learn about key body measurements, the history of sizing, and the critical concept of ease, which directly influences a garment's fit and comfort. Understanding how to measure patterns accurately and how different fabrics like wovens and knits behave helps ensure the patterns you create will produce the intended fit for various body types. This course is particularly relevant for those aspiring to create patterns that truly flatter and function for the wearer.

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Bridal Seamstress

A Bridal Seamstress specializes in the meticulous fitting, alteration, and creation of wedding gowns and special occasion attire, where achieving a perfect, flattering fit is absolutely critical. This role demands exceptional attention to detail and a profound understanding of garment construction and body mechanics. For a Bridal Seamstress, this course provides an unparalleled foundation in pattern assessment and size selection. You will learn to take incredibly accurate body measurements, understand the nuances of pattern size charts, and apply the concept of ease to ensure comfort and silhouette. The skills gained in measuring actual pattern pieces and understanding fabric stretch will enable you to confidently customize gowns for every unique body, ensuring a flawless look for momentous occasions.

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Technical Designer Apparel

A Technical Designer Apparel bridges the gap between design and production, ensuring garments are aesthetic, manufacturable, and fit well. This role heavily focuses on the technical aspects of fit, construction, and sizing specifications. This course provides a robust understanding of how fit is achieved through accurate body measurements, understanding ease, and evaluating fabric properties like stretch and recovery. Learning to measure pattern pieces precisely and adjusting for various body types, even selecting the "wrong" size for a better outcome, is invaluable. For an aspiring Technical Designer Apparel, this course provides a practical toolkit to analyze and refine patterns, ensuring consistency and quality in garment fit across production lines.

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Garment Fitter

A Garment Fitter specializes in assessing and perfecting the fit of clothing on individuals, often in custom tailoring, bridal, or theatrical settings. This role demands a keen eye for proportion, a deep understanding of body mechanics, and the ability to articulate adjustments. This course, "Sewing Patterns: Finding the Right Size for You," helps build this foundational knowledge by teaching you to take accurate body measurements and critically evaluate pattern ease. You will learn to measure sewing patterns to predict how a garment will fit on the body, crucial for identifying areas needing alteration before cutting fabric. Understanding the nuances of size charts and how various fabrics behave will enhance your ability to achieve that sought-after perfect fit when advising clients.

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Tailor

A Tailor specializes in altering, repairing, and custom-making garments to achieve an impeccable fit for clients. This craft demands precision, an understanding of garment construction, and the ability to modify existing patterns or create new ones for a bespoke finish. The "Sewing Patterns: Finding the Right Size for You" course provides a fundamental understanding vital for a Tailor. You will learn to take accurate body measurements, interpret pattern size charts, and understand the critical concept of ease, which guides how garments sit on the body. This knowledge allows you to meticulously measure pattern pieces to anticipate fit, informing your decisions on alterations and ensuring garments are perfectly adapted to individual body shapes, enhancing your reputation for precision.

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Sample Maker

A Sample Maker creates prototype garments from patterns to test fit, construction, and overall design before mass production. This role is crucial in the apparel industry for identifying and resolving fit issues early in the development cycle. This course is directly relevant for a Sample Maker as it explicitly teaches "why you should make sample garments" and provides the foundational skills to execute this task effectively. You will learn to accurately measure pattern pieces, understand the impact of ease on fit, and evaluate fabric properties like stretch and recovery. These skills are essential for constructing samples that accurately reflect the designer's vision and for assessing how well a pattern translates to a three-dimensional garment on different bodies.

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Costume Designer

A Costume Designer creates compelling wardrobes for characters in theatre, film, or other performances, often requiring custom-fitted garments that convey specific historical periods or artistic visions. Precision in fit is paramount for both aesthetics and performer comfort. This course will significantly aid an aspiring Costume Designer by providing a deep understanding of how to select and manipulate sewing patterns for precise fit. You will learn about the history of sizing, accurate body measurements, and the crucial role of ease in achieving desired silhouettes. The ability to measure pattern pieces, understand fabric stretch, and recognize why sample garments are essential will help you ensure your designs translate seamlessly from concept to a perfectly fitted, award-winning costume.

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Fashion Designer

While a Fashion Designer is primarily focused on creative vision and aesthetic, a deep understanding of how garments are constructed and, critically, how they fit the human body, is essential for translating designs into tangible, wearable clothing. This course helps a Fashion Designer by grounding creative concepts in practical knowledge of sizing and fit. You will learn the history of pattern sizing, the importance of accurate body measurements, and how ease affects the drape and comfort of a garment. Understanding how fabric properties influence fit and how to interpret pattern pieces ensures your designs are not only beautiful but also functional and well-proportioned for various body types, leading to successful and marketable collections.

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Apparel Product Developer

An Apparel Product Developer oversees the entire lifecycle of a garment, from initial concept through design, sourcing, and production, ensuring that the final product meets commercial and quality standards. This course helps the Apparel Product Developer gain a critical understanding of garment fit and sizing, which are fundamental to product success. You will learn about the history of sizing, accurate body measurements, and the critical role of ease in garment construction. Understanding how woven and knit fabrics differ, and how stretch affects patterns, provides valuable insight for material selection and pattern approval. This technical knowledge informs decisions on pattern development, grading, and quality control, ensuring consistent and desirable fit across product lines.

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Quality Control Inspector Apparel

A Quality Control Inspector Apparel ensures that finished garments meet specified standards for construction, materials, and fit before they reach the consumer. This role requires a meticulous eye and a thorough understanding of garment specifications. This course provides useful knowledge for a Quality Control Inspector Apparel. You will learn the historical context of sizing, how to take accurate body measurements, and how to measure real sewing pattern pieces. Understanding the concept of ease and how fabric properties like stretch affect the final garment helps in identifying discrepancies between intended fit and actual product. This foundational knowledge may help in assessing whether a garment adheres to its pattern and design specifications during inspection.

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Textile Artist

A Textile Artist creates works of art using fabric, fiber, and other textile materials, often exploring innovative forms, textures, and wearable art. While primarily creative, an understanding of how fabrics behave and how patterns are constructed can open new avenues for artistic expression. This course may be useful for a Textile Artist by deepening their understanding of fabric properties, such as stretch, recovery, and how they interact with patterns. Learning about body measurements and ease may inform the creation of sculptural or wearable textile pieces, allowing for more intentional shaping and fit. The knowledge of copying patterns using a light box could also be adapted for transferring complex designs onto fabric or for creating multi-layered textile art.

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Wardrobe Consultant

A Wardrobe Consultant advises clients on their clothing choices, helping them build a wardrobe that reflects their personal style, flatters their body type, and meets their lifestyle needs. A key aspect of this role is ensuring garments fit well. This course may be useful for a Wardrobe Consultant by providing a deeper understanding of garment fit. You will learn about accurate body measurements, the history of sizing, and how ease influences how clothing sits on the body. This knowledge can enhance your ability to confidently guide clients on selecting clothing that truly flatters them, explaining why certain styles or sizes work best. Understanding fabric properties may also help in advising on comfort and drape, ultimately building client confidence in their clothing choices.

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Retail Buyer Apparel

A Retail Buyer Apparel is responsible for selecting and purchasing clothing lines for stores, predicting trends, and ensuring products meet customer demand and quality standards. An understanding of how garments fit and are sized is crucial for making informed purchasing decisions and managing returns. This course may be useful for a Retail Buyer Apparel by providing foundational knowledge in garment sizing and fit. You will learn about how to use size charts, accurate body measurements, and the lack of standardization in sizing across brands. This knowledge can help you better evaluate product samples, understand customer feedback on fit, and make more strategic buying decisions that lead to greater customer satisfaction and reduced returns in your apparel category.

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Fashion Illustrator

A Fashion Illustrator creates visual representations of clothing designs, often for concept development, marketing, or editorial purposes. While artistic skill is primary, an accurate depiction of how garments drape and fit the body enhances the realism and practicality of the illustration. This course may be useful for a Fashion Illustrator by offering insights into the technical aspects of garment fit. You will learn about body measurements, the concept of ease, and how different fabrics like wovens and knits affect garment drape. This understanding can help you render clothing more accurately, ensuring that your illustrations reflect realistic proportions, construction, and how fabrics interact with the human form. This detailed knowledge can elevate the technical precision of your fashion artwork.

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