Choosing the Right Size in Sewing Patterns

[@roseconnolly2277]

Oh my, I have been sewing since high school (over 50 years ago) and have never noticed the finished measurement on the pattern. If I did see the measurements I assumed they matched the envelop but never checked. Who says you can't teach an old dog a new trick, lol. Thank you Catherine.

[@CatherineSews]

Right! I'm the same as you; I've been sewing for so long that I never read the fine print! It took me forever to notice those measurements!

[@christinacruden886]

Wish you were around when my 3 Daughters were teens to young Ladies. Bless you for helping the newer sewers. 🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦❤️

[@MsGorobin]

Catherine, your videos have taken my sewing to a whole new level. Thank you for your instruction. The content is spot on and your delivery is calm, clear and easy to understand. I have learned so much from you! 💞👌🏻🥂

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks so much for the lovely comment! I'm so pleased that you're finding channel helpful. 😊

[@AannshaJones]

I'd give you a double 👍👍 if I could. I am sewing my first top, a Butterick. I went with the size on the pattern envelope and it was huge! Luckily I'd made a test garment on a sheet. This time, I'll take your advice and use the one on the pattern front piece, which takes me down to a 16, which still gives me 2 inches of extra room (that I could take in if necessary). I'm so grateful you made this video!

[@carolisch9715]

I think one of the most important issue is the cup size the pattern is designed for (usually a B in the big companies). If you are bigger, or smaller, than a B, you purchase by your high bust measurements and do a full (or small) bust adjustment also known as an FBA or a SBA.

[@dcwatashi]

Joy Bernhardt always talks about the high bust measurement and other KZbin tutorials say it’s not necessary but I think it is

[@JasonMoodie]

I just gave the measuring properly and finding size on patters. Nice!

[@CatherineSews]

Lol, not sure what you meant here. Maybe this was after a Friday night glass of Chardonnay? But I'm getting a positive vibe, so thank you my friend!

[@trish3580]

This was HUGELY helpful! I'd make an educated guess before when I had an actual waist (now bust and waist are equal :( ) and then redo the pattern again when not quite fitting-totally unsatisfying. This video is a game changer! Quick question though: shoulders - no matter what sizes I make the shoulders are always too tight and if the next size up, the shoulders fall off my actual shoulders. Said another way if I try to hug myself the garment prevents me from doing that...what should I do? I always use non-stretch fabric (cotton/linen/silk/wool) I couldn't find a video of yours for that...yet. TIA

[@SamYoung-o4t]

Thank you, Catherine! I also have to factor in a full bust adjustment when choosing my pattern size as most of the big brands only pattern for a B Cup and I'm a couple of sizes bigger than that. I use my upper bust measurement, check the size for that then do the FBA so my shoulders and armscyses fit better. I will now add the measuring the pattern in for selection then FBA. Thank you so much.

[@evelynr7069]

This is a great video. But I was wondering why you don't mention cup size which can be determined by subtracting full bust from high bust measurements and doing a full bust adjustment if the difference is more than 2.5 inches but also then choosing your pattern based on the high bust measurement . I know that you yourself dont need that explanation but was wondering if you find doing it that way too complicated for your students? And how do you help them get a good fit at neck and shoulders just by measuring the full bust area on their pattern if they are more than a B cup?

[@jenniferjames346]

Thank you!!! Every pattern seems to be way too big on me when I use the recommended sizes. This will help a lot!

[@debbiewhite3270]

Ty. That made so much sense to me. I appreciate ur videos.

[@netimp3027]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

[@CatherineSews]

You're so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@terriholm1878]

Catherine, you’re an awesome teacher! Love watching your videos! Thank you!

[@Maplecook]

Back here to support you!!

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks MC! Always great to know you have my back. I've got yours too and can't wait for your next video!

[@tracybarnes6608]

Thank you Catherine, I’m new to your channel and finding these tips so helpful.

[@CatherineSews]

Great! Happy to have you on board, Tracy!

Thank you for sharing, your video is very good, I love it. Nice to meet you. Wish you happiness and success in life.💛💚🧡💖

[@vickiewilliams3259]

This video was so helpful. I've been putting off sewing a pair of jeans just because I can't face trying to figure out the size and making the necessary adjustments. Maybe now I'll get on it....

[@CatherineSews]

Oh, yes! Making jeans can be very daunting. I really hope this video helps you. Another thing you can do to make sure you get not only the right size but also the fit or shape that you like is to take a pair of jeans that you love, and lay them down on top of the pattern pieces to compare at key points like the thigh, hip and waist. Let me know how it goes!

[@MomLittleton]

This video was a life saver! Thank you so much for your explanation!

[@KetoXOXO]

Thanks for sharing ,its really very helpful.I always confused and get wrong sizes.Thanks for teaching me

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks for checking out my channel, and good luck with yours! It looks like a fun way to do Keto.

[@alynneredmon9560]

What a lifesaver, you have saved me and many sewers a lot of frustration,time and fabric. Love your videos.

[@gailmartinez830]

You just popped up ,,very well explained I joined and saved this looking foward to your videos

[@megadylanthomas]

Lol, I thought that circle was just decoration (bust point) That would have been helpful to know in the past!

[@amandajenn-h3o]

Catherine you are such an inspiration… I love your tutorials, I have learnt so much more with your easy to understand instructions. You are simply fabulous at teaching. Your calming nature, extra diagrams and visuals you include in the videos are most helpful. Your students are very lucky to have you - and so are we 😊 xx

[@Sandra-r9v3u]

Ease for a size 10 is different from the ease in a size 20. It all hinges on the movement of the body as you stand, sit etc. When a size 20 sits down, she needs at least 3 and a half inches!!!!

[@felfelcc428]

Does finished garment measurements include ease?

[@peggyannlittle9405]

So helpful! When fabric and patterns are so expensive now, it's reassuring to have a better idea of one's approximate size. Thank you.

[@CatherineSews]

Isn't that a game changer!? Using the finished garment measurements makes a world of difference! Thanks for watching.

[@lindascott6968]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@carolcreations26]

Great information. Thanks Catherine.

[@lauriepayseur5897]

Omg! I’ve always been scared of patterns. You make it seem so easy. Thanks so much! Do you have one on how to take your own measurements?

[@CatherineSews]

Pattern do make sewing easier! I think this video is my most important one yet because it is a GAME CHANGER!

[@marymoore3585]

So why pay all that money for a pattern, if they don't ever fit and you have to do all the work? If you can see their crummy print job, AND you already know what to do, i guess they're ok. I though store bought patterns would save time and frustration, but I ironed it like youre supposed to, and I still can't see . I wasted my money, when I could have made my own pattern and not wasted money or fabric. These pattern companies suck.

[@CatherineSews]

Hi Mary, I can definitely see your frustration! I'm surprised you can't see the printing on the pattern. I haven't had that problem. In this video, I'm not saying that commercial patterns don't ever fit you. I'm saying that to choose the right size, you need to use the finished garment measurements that are usually printed on the main front pieces. But if you can't read that printing, that's not going to help you. If the pattern is so poorly printed that you can't read it, I wonder if the fabric store would let you return it?

[@c2442l]

Do they let you take the pattern pieces out to see the finished garment sizes before purchasing the patterns? It seems like they should put the finished garment sizes on the pattern envelope.

[@CatherineSews]

No, I wish they did!!

[@lindamcdonald3151]

hi Catherine,i have a question i have a pattern here Simplicity s9702 it has a lot of ease,like mysize waist is 43 and bust is 44 and hips 42, size 20 for bust ,waist the same , because of the ease , i realy think i should go the 8 for waist because the finished garment size is still very high for ease it said 59 inches ,my question , do you think i would be going down to much in size for the waist ?

[@lovejohandmade]

The problem is that you can’t see the finished garment measurements until you open the pattern which you can’t do in the shop and you definitely can’t do online! And I’m midsize so usually fall between the two different pattern envelopes. I don’t know why they don;t make more of an overlap between the sizes they offer (eg if they did 8-16 and 14-22, so if you’re between 14 and 16, you’ll be ok).

[@cathtaylor2771]

Just found your channel, new subscriber here. Thankyou x

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks Cath! It's great to have you on board!

[@kt9105]

Best information I have received. You should publish a sewing book.

[@dcwatashi]

I hope you see my comment because this video is one year old. I was given a PDF pattern of a pair of pajama shorts. The front seem like a good size for me but the back is actually 2 inches wider across the hips than I need I’m working off of a pair of similar shorts that’s why I know I don’t need that extra 2 inches From what I’ve seen regarding how to alter a pattern piece for the blouse front where they actually slice it sort of down the middle that’s kind of what I was doing with these pattern pieces One person said I should take the 2 inches off of the side seam but I don’t think that’s the right way to do it. So I cut the pattern piece in half and moved it over to get rid of the excess 2 inches. Does that make sense? So now the hip measurement equals the fitted garment accounting for the half inch seam allowance on each side I did not alter the length of the crotch yet that I can easily do after I baste them together

[@azblondi2730]

I went to my local thrift shop and bought about ten packets of McCalls, Simplicity, and Buttermilk patterns( they were .30 cents each) of basic clothing. I got home, to realize the patterns were mostly sizes large- x-large. I wear an actual size of around 8. Whenever you measure your bust area, is that with a bra on or not?

[@CatherineSews]

Good for you for taking this on, and for starting with thrifted patterns! Take your bust measurement with your bra on, since you'll be wearing a bra with the finished garment. Also, see if the front pattern pieces show the finished garment measurements because they can be really helpful. I explain more about that in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4DZenmhnLGob5I

[@laurajackson6860]

Thank you so much for this information!

[@blessedgirl26]

This was so helpful! Thank you!

[@janeroberts4200]

How do you cut out a multi sized pattern while preserving the pattern?

[@evelynr7069]

Many people trace the pattern on the size line they have chosen.

[@SBL1932]

Really good information

[@sarahjocker5059]

Hello Catherine I just starting to watch your You tube channel fantastic, but I am having a problem trying to grade a pattern for my sister. I have a pattern V9321 my sister measurements is bust 35 waist 32 Hip 38.5 . How do I grade from a 14 to 18 on the pattern from vogue my sisters waist comes under a size 18 on pattern and the rest is size 14 really difficult can you help me please xx

[@CatherineSews]

Hi Sarah, it sounds like you’ll need to grade the pattern up to an 18 but then reduce the waist to her measurement. Did you see my video on grading patterns?

[@sarahjocker5059]

@@CatherineSews yes I did but I still find it a little confused because the bust and hip measurements are perfect but but my sister's waist on the vogue pattern says 18. So basically grade out from bust to hip I think 🤔

[@CatherineSews]

@@sarahjocker5059 yes, I think you’ve got it. If you’re using the finished garment measurements that are printed on the front pattern pieces, and you’re allowing for some ease, then yes, just increase the waist at the side seams to for her measurements.

[@sarahjocker5059]

@@CatherineSews thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly much appreciated 👍🏽 I look forward to seeing you and your KZbin channel ❤️❤️

[@sanari789]

Thank you