The biggest complaint I hear from women over a size 22 is that shoulders on most modern patterns are way too wide for their size. I do not recommend this! This method often creates a very bad fit, particularly in the shoulder area. In your typical commercial pattern, the computer splits up the half inch and adds 1/3 of it at each place where the pattern has been split. To size up to the 14, slash the bodice front like this:

If you want to enlarge the bodice, first trace the bodice piece onto Swedish interfacing or sturdy tracing paper, so you have a piece you can slash for resizing.

Tracing paper (available by the roll from architectural supply stores)įirst, let's start with a bodice front.

Swedish interfacing (available at Birch Street Clothing) or heavy-duty pattern paper (like vellum) From there, you will be able to do all the rest of the sizes! The Tools of the Tradeīefore you begin, I recommend that you have the following tools at hand:Ĭardboard cutting surface with one-inch grid (available at any fabric store)įrench curve(s) - plastic curves to help you trace your armholes, necklines and other curves (you can get these from Sew True) Throughout this section, I will assume you are starting from a size 12 and will show you how to size down one size (to a 10) and up one size (to a 14). I'm here to show you how it is done so that you will never be limited by pre-printed pattern pieces again!The method for shrinking or enlarging the pattern pieces is similar for each piece. Anything is possible once you know how to resize a pattern! And it isn't hard at all - it just takes a bit of time and work. Or maybe you found an out-of-print pattern you'd love to make. Perhaps you would like to reduce a woman's pattern to fit a little girl. You may find that you need to enlarge a pattern beyond the sizes available on the sheet, or you might need to shrink it. Each human body has its own quirks, and each person has different fitting needs.

No matter how well designed a pattern may be, it cannot fit each individual perfectly.

How to resize pattern in pepakura