| If you have made your own
paper pattern to fit your measurements then you should not have to adjust
your pattern, however, when you've purchased a pattern in the style you
want, and of the size nearest to your own, you still may need to alter the
pattern. Most printed patterns have lines and instructions on them
indicating where to shorten or lengthen a pattern.
Let's say you are making a dress. With your
body proportions, you have long arms and when you hold the sleeve pattern up to your shoulder
seam, it is obvious that the sleeve is much too short. To adjust for
this, it is
sometimes possible to add some fabric to the hem of the sleeve pattern,
however, in most cases you DO NOT want to just add extra inches of fabric
at the bottom of your sleeve hem to make up the difference. Doing
this would throw off the "fit" or "balance" of the style, and it is better
to make the alteration within the body of the style, not the hem.
Example: if your sleeve,
dress, skirt, or pants pattern is too short by 2", alter it on the
lines indicated on the pattern piece, not just by adding 2" to the hem
line of your pattern. |
