How to adjust a sewing pattern to fit

How to adjust a sewing pattern to fit

New to sewing and dressmaking? Find out how to adjust a pattern to fit your measurements perfectly. Learn the ropes with our top tips!

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Published: November 28, 2018 at 10:00 am

Welcome to our Sewing School series of essential dressmaking guides for beginners. In this virtual workshop we'll show you how to:

  1. Alter a pattern to fit your measurements
  2. How to make a toile, and
  3. How to adjust the length and bust of a sewing pattern.

Let's begin! In case you missed it: Last week we showed you how to take your body measurements accurately. If you need to, check out that post before you begin resizing your sewing pattern.

Understanding size charts on sewing patterns

You'll see that size charts are printed on the pattern envelope or instructions of your sewing pattern and vary from brand to brand. This is our standard chart that we use in Simply Sewing magazine but you must always measure yourself and check the chart on the pattern to find your size.

Sewing pattern size chart

"What if my measurements don't all fit into the same pattern size?"

How to alter a sewing pattern

Once you’ve taken your measurements, choose the size from the size chart on the pattern that is closest to your own measurements. If you’re between two sizes, it’s best to go for the larger size so you can adjust your garment to make it smaller if you need to.

However, people rarely fit exactly into the bust, waist and hip measurements on pattern size charts, so it can be tricky to choose which size to cut. Luckily, as most dressmaking patterns are multisized, you can combine the sizes to achieve a fit that will suit your body shape.

  • If there are darts on your pattern, fold them closed and pin into place.
  • Using a different coloured pen or highlighter, draw a line from the end of your chosen bust size line to the end of your chosen waist size line.
  • Repeat to connect your chosen hip size line to your chosen waist size line.
  • If the pattern line is straight, you can connect it with a straight line. However, if the line is curved then follow the shape of the curve of the pattern to connect them. You can buy a curved ruler called a French curve that will help with this if you prefer.
  • Once you’ve drawn in your new lines, unpin the darts to make the pattern lie flat. Remember to remark any notches or other pattern markings you may have cut off.

How to make a toile

A toile, also called a muslin, is a test garment made in cheap fabric such as calico that you can use to test the size and fit of a pattern before you cut into your actual garment fabric. Although this may seem time-consuming, it really is well worth the effort and will actually save you time and money by getting the fit just right at this stage.

You don’t have to stitch in the zip or make a proper hem as these can be pinned, but you will see straight away if you need to make any adjustments. You can use any fabric you like – old sheets are perfect, but do bear in mind that you’ll get a more realistic idea of the finished fit if you choose a similar fabric in terms of weight and stretch to the one you’ll eventually be using to make your final garment.

You will need:

  • Sewing Pattern
  • Fabric
  • Calico
  • Scissors (or rotary cutter)
  • Ruler
  • Pins
  • Pencil (pens or highlighter pens)
  • Tape
  • Tape measure

Step 1

Cut out the pattern and fabric in the usual way, but stitch it together using a longer stitch length than normal so it’s easier to unpick if you want to make any changes.

Step 2

Cut the seam allowance off hems, sleeves and necklines if you want to see where they’ll finish without the need to hem.

Step 3

Once it’s made, try it on – you can then pin it for a better fit, or draw any changes on it.

Step 4

If there are areas which are too tight, cut the fabric and open it out to add extra space.

Step 5

If it’s too loose, pin it to fit.

Step 6

Mark any changes you’ve made on the toile, then transfer these to your paper pattern.

Step 7

You’re then ready to make your real garment from your chosen fabric, knowing that it will fit you perfectly.

How to adjust the length of a sewing pattern

Making your garment longer or shorter is one of the simplest adjustments to make to a pattern. Many patterns have two sets of horizontal lines marked on them, labelled ‘lengthen or shorten here’, so it’s easy to see where to do this.

If your pattern doesn’t have these, you can draw your own set of lengthen or shorten lines onto your pattern where you want to make this adjustment.

How to lengthen a sewing pattern

Step 1

Measure yourself (or ideally make a toile) to work out how much longer you will need your pattern piece to be.

Step 2

Cut along the lengthen/shorten line to separate the pattern piece.

Step 3

On a separate piece of paper, draw a strip a little wider than the width you want to add to the pattern and slightly longer then the cut line.

Step 4

Stick this strip of paper beneath the pattern pieces between the lines to lengthen the pattern piece by exactly the amount you need. Redraw the side seams so they merge from one cut pattern piece to the other gradually, if they weren’t straight lines originally.

Step 5

Remember to adjust any other relevant pattern pieces in the same way. For example, if you lengthen the bodice front then you’ll need to lengthen the bodice back by exactly the same amount. You can now use your pattern to cut out the fabric in the usual way.

How to shorten a sewing pattern

Step 1

Measure yourself to work out how much shorter you will need your pattern piece to be.

Step 2

Cut along the lengthen/shorten line to separate the pattern piece.

Step 3

Overlap one piece on top of the other by the amount you want to shorten it, then stick into place.

Step 4

Redraw the side seams so they merge or curve gradually, and your pattern will be ready to use. Remember to shorten any other relevant pattern pieces by the same amount too.

How to adjust the bust of a sewing pattern

Most patterns are designed to fit an ‘average’ bust size – which is a B cup (according to the pattern manufacturers!). So, if your cup size is smaller or larger than this you’ll need to adjust your pattern for a perfect fit. If you choose a pattern size which matches your bust measurement, then the garment may not fit properly on the upper chest and shoulders. If the garment you are making has quite a loose fit then this may not matter, but if it’s a closely fitted item then you’ll need to make some adjustments.

Use your bust measurement and your high bust measurement and work out what the difference between them is. If it’s more than 6.5cm (2½in) you’ll need to make a full bust adjustment. If it’s less than 4cm (1½in) then you’ll need to make a small bust adjustment.

How to alter a pattern for a Full Bust Adjustment (FBA)

Step 1

Choose the pattern size that matches your high bust measurement and trace around it and cut it out (so you can keep keep the original pattern uncut). The difference between your bust measurement and high bust measurement is the amount you need to add to your pattern, but you need to half this difference for each side of the garment so they add to the same for both sides once cut. For example, if the difference is 3cm then you’ll need to add 1.5cm to the pattern piece as it will most likely be cut on the fold.


Tip:  You can use any paper for tracing patterns, though it’s easier if you can see through it to be sure you trace all the lines and markings.


Step 2

Mark your bust point on the pattern piece (by either measuring or holding the pattern pieces against yourself) and draw three lines out from this point.

A = down to the waist, or hem, parallel to the centre front.
B = to the lower third of the armhole curve.
C = to the side seam, through the centre of the bust dart
D = from line A at right angles to the centre front, about a third of the way above the waist or hem. <FIG 1>

Step 3

Starting at the bottom edge, cut up line A then along line B, stopping just before the end so you have a small hinge in the paper.

Step 4

Starting at the side seam, cut along line C, stopping just before the end again to make a small hinge.

Step 5

Carefully lay your cut pieces onto a new piece of pattern paper to draw your new pattern. Tape the centre front seams to the paper to hold it in place. Spread the pieces apart at line A by half your calculated difference between your high bust and bust. This is shown by arrows on the diagram. As the paper pieces are hinged then lines B and C will open up as well to form spaces between them for the new bust dart. <FIG 2>

How to do a bust adjustement

Step 6

Cut along line D and move it down so it lines up with the waist or hem, as this will have moved downwards.

Step 7

Pin or tape these moved pieces to the pattern paper beneath to hold them securely in place.

Step 8

Draw around your moved pattern pieces, extending the centre front too so it lines up with the waist or hem. <Fig 3>

Drawing the new bust dart

Step 1

Now you need to draw the new bust dart. Draw a line from the bust point to the side seam through the centre of the section you’ve opened up when you separated line C.

Step 2

Mark a point 2cm (34in) in from the bust point along this line for the new dart apex.

Step 3

Draw the dart legs from this new dart apex to the side seams where the original dart legs started. <Fig 4>

How to adjust the bust on a sewing pattern

Step 4

Redraw the side seams so they are joined at the centre line between the dart legs. <Fig 5>

Step 5

You can now remove your cut pattern pieces to reveal the newly adjusted pattern piece below. Cut around this and use it to make your garment.

How to alter a sewing pattern for a Small Bust Adjustment (SBA)

This is done in the same way as the FBA but in reverse.

Step 1

Draw the lines on your pattern and cut along them as in steps three and four of the FBA. But, instead of opening out lines A and B, overlap them to the right by half of the difference between your bust and high bust. Line C will overlap too when you straighten up line A. <Fig 6>

How to alter a sewing pattern to fit

Step 2

Cut along line D and move it up so it lines up with the waist or hem, as this will have moved upwards. Draw around your moved pattern pieces.

Step 3

Redraw the bust dart in the same way as for the FBA.

Step 4

Redraw the side seam by drawing a line from the under arm to the centre of the dart, then another from there to the waist. <Fig 7>