Fitting Sewing Patterns

Learn how to adjust sewing patterns for a better fit with our beginner-friendly fitting tips. From bust, waist and hip adjustments to length tweaks and common fitting fixes, explore our step-by-step blog tutorials to help you customise sewing patterns to your body.

Online Workshop

Fit bodices with confidence!

Learn to diagnose and fix common bodice fitting issues with this confidence-building online workshop.
  • Set yourself up for fitting success
  • Identify + fix fitting issues across the upper body
  • Learn technical skills for altering patterns
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Selecting your sewing pattern size:

Flat lay featuring a Tilly and the Buttons sewing pattern with tape measure and scissors. With the title text 'how to select your sewing pattern size'.

How to Select Your Sewing Pattern Size
Choosing Your Tilly and the Buttons Size Band

Choosing Your Tilly and the Buttons Size Band
How to Lengthen or Shorten a Sewing Pattern

How to Lengthen or Shorten a Sewing Pattern
How to Combine Pattern Sizes

How to Combine Pattern Sizes

Key Skills:

Tips for Tracing Sewing Patterns

Tips for Tracing Sewing Patterns
Five Tools for Drafting, Tracing and Adjusting Sewing Patterns

Five Tools for Drafting, Tracing and Adjusting Sewing Patterns
A close up of a woman wearing a calico toile of the Noa pinafore sewing pattern, over a white t shirt. With the title text 'When, Why + How to Make a Toile or Muslin'

When, Why + How to Make a Toile or Muslin
Tools for Marking Sewing Lines and Seam Allowances

Tools for Marking Sewing Lines and Seam Allowances

Bust Adjustments:

How to move a bust dart on a sewing pattern. Diagram shows bust dart on bodice moved vertically and horizontally..

How to Move a Bust Dart on a Sewing Pattern
How to do a full bust adjustment on a darted bodice. Model wears blue swirly pattern Lyra shirt dress.

How to Do a Bust Adjustment on a Darted Bodice (FBA & SBA)
Full Bust Adjustment on a Dartless Bodice

Full Bust Adjustment on a Dartless Bodice
How to make a Full Bust Adjustment (FBA) on a princess seam bodice

How to make a Full Bust Adjustment (FBA) on a princess seam bodice
How to do bust adjustments on a pleated bodice

How to do bust adjustments on a pleated bodice
How to do a Full Bust Adjustment For Knit Fabrics

How to do a Full Bust Adjustment For Knit Fabrics
How to do a full bust adjustment on a raglan seam bodice

How to do a full bust adjustment on a raglan seam bodice

Other Common Fitting Adjustments:

Common Trouser Fitting Adjustments

Common Trouser Fitting Adjustments
How to Do Narrow and Wide Shoulder Adjustments

How to Do Narrow and Wide Shoulder Adjustments
Seven Tips for Sewing Maternity Clothes

Seven Tips for Sewing Maternity Clothes
How To Do A Full Tummy Adjustment on Trousers or Shorts

How To Do A Full Tummy Adjustment on Trousers or Shorts
Five Ways to Fix a Gaping Neckline

Five Ways to Fix a Gaping Neckline
How to do a full bum adjustment on a skirt with darts

How to do a full bum adjustment on a skirt with darts

Put your new fitting skills to work

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