You have taken detailed body measurements to ensure a perfect fit from your commercial pattern, but what do you do with them? Follow these clear instructions on using those measurements to check and, if necessary, adjust your pattern to your individual size.
Depending on which part of the pattern you are checking you need to add the minimum ease to the body measurement before you begin working, this is especially important for the bust, waist, hip, abdomen and upper arm measurements. Remember that the measurements you take are often full circumference and the pattern you are checking is usually only a half pattern, so the measurement plus ease will need to be halved. Length measurements don't need to be altered, simply checked against the pattern at the correct position.
Essential Wearing Ease
Bust + 5cm-8cm (2in-3in)
Waist + 2.5cm-4cm (1in-1½in)
Hip + 2.5cm-6.5cm (1 in-2½in)
Upperarm + 3.5cm-5cm (1.5in-2in)
The bodice
Bust measurement plus minimum ease halved (working with a half pattern only). At the bust level, measure from the centre front to the side seam stitching line, then continue to measure on the pattern back
