Alexandra | Garment Fitting & Pattern Making

This is new. This is a refresh worth a look. I’ve been wanting to revisit The Perfect Fit Guide for a while and now it’s done. This Guide is for You if… ◆ You have been sewing for years and your usual fitting approach has stopped producing the results it used to. ◆ You have made the adjustments, sewn the muslins, and read the books and you are ready for something more structured than another collection of fitting tips. ◆ You want to understand why an adjustment works, not just what to do or how to do it. ◆ You are ready to approach fitting as a methodology, not a collection of isolated fixes. The link is in my bio 🔗

Just some hem stitches and it’s done! @victoriafrocktails 4ply silk from @galafabrics = pure luxury

Here’s a question I get asked all the time. “How do you read the balance lines?” Slide 1 This is an example of the Lila sewing pattern which I’ve sewn up as is-no adjustments at all. (I wouldn’t recommend this just to be clear.) • The horizontal balance lines are sloping up on my left side. • The CF vertical balance line is being pulled one way above the waist and the opposite way below the waist. • The waist level is too low on the right which also affects the high hip and hip line position. Since I have not made any adjustments to the pattern to accommodate my personal body measurements (other than choosing my size based on the bust, waist and hip girth) the fitting issues are quite pronounced. Slide 2 This is an example of the garment after I’ve made strategic initial pattern adjustments to accommodate my body proportions and shape. I have not yet adjusted the pattern for asymmetry. • The horizontal balance lines are still sloping up on my left side which is also pulling my CF vertical balance line toward the left at the hem. Since I have made several adjustments to the pattern before making this sample, I have eliminated the most obvious fitting issues related to length, contour, width and girth. As a result I am left with far fewer fitting issues to contend with. Slide 3 This is an example of the garment after I’ve refined the fit by working toward balanced horizontal and vertical balance lines. • The horizontal and vertical balance lines are level and perpendicular to the floor. When you use balance lines to help you fit, you can see what area of the garment needs adjusting. Your focus is on their position and level. When balance is achieved, the wrinkles disappear. This is #FittingEssentials

Still choosing your pattern size solely by bust girth? Consider your cup size first. Compare it to the pattern’s cup size. Calculate the change needed. Choose your size. This way you’ll avoid a garment that becomes too big or too small after your pattern adjustment. . This is #FittingEssentials.

A simple way to think about pattern fitting and what dot-to-dot pictures taught me. Credit: DotToDot.net #garmentfitting #patternfitting #patternmaking #sewingeducation #advancedsewing

The Most Overlooked Causes of Poor Fit When your fitting adjustments aren’t working, the problem might not be how much you’re adjusting—but what you’re ignoring. In this video, I’m sharing four common mistakes that make fitting more difficult, not less Mastering fit starts with knowing where to look—and in what order. Need a structured place to begin? Download the Perfect Fit Guide—it’s free and will walk you through the process I teach. /the-perfect-fit-guide

Garment balance is the key to fitting any garment. . Visualizing the horizontal and vertical balance of your body relative to those of the garment can simplify fitting beyond your wildest dreams. . Adding those balance lines to your dress form can make fitting even easier. . Do you use the fitting grid when fitting your sewing projects? #fittingessentials #sewingforfit #ArtOfBalance #FittingGrid

Is perfectionism your superpower? . #sewing #fitting #perfection #skilldevelopment #inhousepatternsstudio

The results are in! Real talk on the value of dress forms and a special announcement if you have one! Link in bio… Do you own a custom dress forms?

2 days, 2 sewn garments from my sewing project planner. The joy of a productive sewing weekend! . Did you get your copy of the planner yet? . #sasunnyknittop @stylearc . #TheCustomStretchKnitSkirtBlock. #inhousepatternsstudio

Perfectionism isn’t all bad! You’ve got to own the positives! #inhousepatternsstudio #fitting #perfection #perfectionism

Perfectionism can be a superpower. It’s not about being flawless—it’s about striving for improvement. With every well thought out adjustment, you’re building skills and creating garments that you’re truly proud of. Perfectionism isn’t about getting it right the first time—it’s about learning to make it a little bit better every time. 💬 What’s one way perfectionism has helped you improve your fitting? Share in the comments! #GarmentFitting #PerfectionismAsPower #SewingMotivation #SewBetterFitBetter #ProgressNotPerfection #InHousePatternsStudio #InHousePatterns