Solving the Pattern Fitting Puzzle, Part Two
Learning to fit sewing patterns is definitely a sewing necessity. If clothing you’ve made or purchased doesn’t fit, you’re not going to wear it. Well, we can’t have that happen! So, in this new Sewing With Nancy episode, Solving the Pattern Fitting Puzzle Part Two, you’ll learn that fitting patterns doesn’t need to be puzzling.
The common sense approach that I prefer takes the mystery out of the pattern-fitting puzzle. In Solving the Pattern Fitting Puzzle Part Two, I’ll continue where we left off after part one, and show you additional fitting tips. By the end of this program, you’ll have the confidence you need to fit and then sew patterns with ease.
I’ll share my Sleeve Fitting Changes, including measuring and altering sleeve width and length.
Then, I’ll cover Shoulder Fitting Changes, including narrow shoulders, sloping shoulders, and square shoulders.
Next I’ll move on to Back Fitting Changes—including swayback and rounded back.
I’ll finish up Solving the Pattern Fitting Puzzle Part Two with Skirt Fitting Changes including waistline and hipline.
Check out last week’s post on Solving the Pattern Fitting Puzzle Part One, where I cover the pattern fitting basics; bust, waist, and hip adjustments, along with my Right Size Measurement Fitting Chart (below).
You’ll find all my pattern fitting techniques within my book, Confident Sewing Collection.
Bonus: You can practice these skills using my mini-pattern pieces, which you can download for free.
Watch Solving the Pattern Fitting Puzzle Part One and Part Two on Sewing With Nancy online.
To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.
For a chance to win a Solving the Pattern Fitting Puzzle DVD from Nancy’s Notions, please leave a comment below sharing your pattern fitting puzzler.
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Lori Githens
When I was younger, I never understood the fitting hoopla, cause everything fit. Now that I’m older, I’m finding that nothing fits and I never learned how to fit. Pivot and slide sure makes sense to me.
Joyce
I am puzzled about everything there is about fitting a pattern. I have always just made the item according to the pattern, if it didn’t fit, I didn’t wear it. Because of that, I have kind of gotten away from garment sewing. I would love to start it up again.
Linda E in AZ
My puzzle is trying to minimize the look of my hips that are much larger than my narrow upper body.
thanks!
KayZee
My main “fitting puzzler” is pants fitting.
Cyndi
I have never taken the time to properly fit anything I sew for myself. This book sounds like a great resources!
Thank you for the give away
Pat
Could you please show us how to fit a pants pattern. I always end u p with bunching of material between my legs. Thanks for your help.
Carol
My pattern fitting puzzle is how to get pants to fit in the waist. To be big enough for my hips, patterns are too large in my waist. I’m not sure how to make the pattern fit without making my hips look even bigger!
Esther
My problem is fitting pants,
I’ve lost some weight and nothing I have have fits.
Apparently my waist is lower and my pants all fit above my waist.
Ann Kowalczyk
When I was younger I made all my clothes. As I got older my body shape changed and the garments didn’t fit right. I tried reading books about fitting, but the instructions seemed complicated. Since I felt that I was wasting my time and money, I haven’t sewn garments for myself in many years.
Avis Cooper
Nancy, do you do a similar tutorial for making pants/slacks that fit? Your tutorials make so much sense and your instructions are easy to understand and follow — love the videos, they really help.
By the way, how are you doing healthwise? You are continually in my prayers; may your healing be complete.
Blessings to you, Avis
Marilyn
I don’t make many clothes anymore because nothing ever seems to fit. I don’t like the multiple sizes in one pattern.
Not much fits well off the rack either.
Susan Curtis
I haven’t done garment sewing since the ’70’s and like Joyce, back then I made up the patterns I liked and most of the time they fit me, if the didn’t fit they became my scrap fabric. I last attempted making matching Easter dresses for my daughter and I say 20 years ago and when my dress didn’t fit me I haven’t attempted to see for me since. I would love to learn to fit the patterns to me!!!
Betty Harden
My problem fitting puzzler is pants. If I make pants, I generally rip apart a pair that fits well and make a pattern out of them, but would love to know how to make things fit. Thanks for the opportunity to win this lovely DVD. Good health to you Nancy. We need you in our lives.
Vinci Greco
Look forward to your instructions….right now I am trying
to make a pair of jeans with elastic waistline.
I hope they fit because the fabric is so nice, I am about
halfway on them. I always sew the front and back together
and try them on. Any adjustments are then made. Should
be finished by New Years!!!!!
Vinci
LindaC
Very narrow shoulders combined with a large bust circumference. It makes for a strange fitting underarm.
Enid
I have large arms, square shoulders and narrow hips—watching your video has given me a lovely aha! light-bulbs-going-on moment. I can hardly wait to get down to my cutting table and start making all those jacket patterns fit!!! Thank you for the clarity of your explanations. Thank you for the lovely demonstrations and learning tools you provide us.
Amy Brant
Narrow shoulders, large bust. Underarms, back and back neck are always troublesome. I use your earlier Pattern Fitting book, but this new version might present the info more clearly.
Lori M
Thank you for the wonderful videos on Patterns Fitting, I know they are not full details, but they have it the mark for me that I know that investing in your Solving the Fitting Puzzle is what I have been looking for…..Thank you for the giveaway……
Gayle
narrow shoulders, full bust adjustment, short waisted. I’m determined to learn to sew clothes that fit me, but so intimidated by the learning curve!
Jan
I, too, have been sewing for a looong time. I used to be able to come close with fitting patterns, but not any more. Children’s patterns seem to run large – meaning I make a smaller pattern and sometimes add inches to length. Adult patterns seem to run small – meaning I can’t even come close to the size I wear from store bought clothing. Very frustrating. In fact, I rarely sew clothing any more unless it’s a Halloween costume or something that doesn’t require much in the way of fitting.
Bev M
I now have a tummy, where there was no bulge before. Guess I will need to learn to alter for it, since my exercises have not worked so far
Barbara J
Like many of the other commenters, I could use help fitting pants. It’s a hard one to do by oneself but I’m positive a video from you would be a huge help!
Renea
I always have problems fitting my shoulders. Thanks for the great giveaway.
Lillian K
I always have had problems with fitting (especially with the newer patterns that have multiple sizes). This book and DVD would be most helpful.
Starla
I’ve had problems with sleeves — too tight at the top and above the elbow, way too wide at the wrist.
Kate
I HATE fitting pants…nothing seems to work. I’m tired of trying to fit underarms also I’m larger in the upper arm.
Hope you are doing much better Nancy, my prayers to you & your family
Mary Rames
Although I do sew about 90% of my clothing, this pattern fitting video is an amazing simplistic approach to many fitting issues. In fact, my husband…who is now sewing…watched your second video and exclaimed, “I got it! Great tutorial!” I do have issues with my full bust, narrow shoulders, and now a rounded upper back…likely from many years of sewing. Thank you for the opportunity to win this series! All the best to you Nancy 🙂
Anne Z
As a self taught seamstress, this information is fabulous. I frequently have difficulty fitting the shoulders properly.
Lorij
Because I’m only 63 1/2 inches tall and have been since age 12 and, I’ve been making most of my clothes many, many years. I’m proportioned fairly well but I’m flat where most women have pones at the upper hip/thigh area. Bought clothes always have to be altered because they are made for folk with roundness in that area.
I too take issue with those having trouble making slacks.
Judy Forkner
Like many others, I gave up on sewing garments because my body changed & nothing I made fit correctly anymore. My 1st problem was adjusting the darts in the bust because my bustline was lower & larger than a standard pattern. Then I developed a belly & that just made things way too difficult. Now I just make quilts & don’t have to worry about them fitting!
Karin C
No matter what I adjust or cut differently, I always seem to have the shoulders falling off my shoulders, and the neckline (usually a sweetheart or squared off) is gaping open. I mean, really, how hard can it be? Obviously, harder than it *should* be!
Ell
Fitting pants is often a challenge. They have different problems depending on style.
Pamela Smith
FITTING! To me it’s hardest part of sewing. Thank you so much for all the helpful information. I am anxious to give your tips a try.
VictoriaC
Is anyone else having difficulty with the videos? There is no Play arrow as usual; the photos seem to be just that, with the Pinterest symbol in the upper left corner.
Nancy Zieman
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. There was a slight oversight to link the image to the video. I had my webmaster work on it and am told the video should work now.
Darlene Stevens
I love garment sewing. My biggest fitting problem is pants. The secret of great fitting pants continues to elude me.
Robin Granger
The smallest part of me is my shoulders then I just fill out as I go down. I have tried to watch the Part Two video and it will not start. Thank you for all the information and time you spend doing this for all us.
Bev Hancox
Great tutorials, I’m looking forward to better fitting clothes. I’ve just lost some weight and need to revamp my wardrobe – some new sewn and some altered where possible (I’ve been putting a lot of elastic in pant waists!). Thanks
LoriAnne Gamble
This info will come in handy, could use more of it. Thanks
Kimberly
I just ordered your book and sat down and read the whole thing. I would hug you if I could!!!! I’m new at making clothes, thank you. Can you do a video on pant altering patterns?
Tammy Carney
I am very confused about page 57 when fitting the sleeve and bust. Only need to add 1 1/2″” to sleeve and 5 1/2″ to bust. No extensions needed for sleeve, but for the front & back only. How does this work to even out the extensions as noted in the book?
Nancy Zieman
Tammy, could you send a photo of your pattern so that we can show you how to make the changes? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll get back to you.
Nancy Zieman
Hi Tammy, For fitting questions, please email Nancy’s Notions Sewing Advisors or call them at 1-800-595-6878.
Orsi
I have a DDD cup bust as I have 6″ difference between my high bust and my bust measurements.
This require such a huge adjustment that I can not get it right with the slash methods, so I hoped this method teach me how to adjust , but I still have no idea.
Also because of the size of my bust , I prefer princess seam patterns ( armcyle or shoulder) , as a dart would be huge for me. I bought the book specifically to learn how to do it on such pattern , but there is nothing about that in the book. The only related is to increase the dart size by increasing the length. Except there is no dart on a princess seam. Should I slide to increase length? Or pivot to increase width? And on which pieces? On the middle or in the side piece. I was so happy when I see the spin was seam mini pattern , except there is still no explanation in what to do.