Factors affecting good fit and causes for poor fitting
The goal of any pattern alteration is to form the pattern fit better, but before you alter, you want to decide what you mean by good fit. In making this judgment, there are four main factors to consider: appearance, comfort, design and fabric.
For an honest appearance, all darts and seams must fall within the proper places, as shown below. The garment should have a smooth look, with no pulls or wrinkles, no sagging or baggy areas.
Comfort, is extremely important. the foremost attractive garment in your wardrobe will never be worn unless it feels good once you wear it. Some garments though less comfortable than others are still worn, as people tend to form more notice of current fashion trends than of the sensible aspects of clothing; but it's sense to form sure that you simply can sit, bend, walk and reach in any garment without straining its seams or feeling restricted.
The design of a garment could also be supported either an in depth fit or a loose fit. it's important in touch in mind the design the designer was aiming for once you fit individual garments. the images and illustrations within the pattern catalogue and on the pattern envelop you select are often valuable guides.
In addition, certain features of a garment indicate close fit: a silhouette that defines the shape and, within it, such details as a waist seam; darts and curved seams; shaped inserts, and infrequently bias cut sections.
A loose fit is usually signaled by such design devices as a silhouette that camouflages the small print of the figure beneath; within the silhouette, fullness controlled softly by gathers, shirring, release tucks or unpressed pleats instead of by darts and fitted seams. Some parts of a garment could also be close fitting and other parts soft and loose. The classic shirt dress, made with a gathered or pleated skirt is an example. Even on the loose fitting garments, some parts of the garment could also be fitted to the body, as is that the waistband on a full, skirt , or the shoulder seam on a smock.
Fabric is crucial to good fit – recommendations on the pattern envelope are to be taken seriously. Styles for ‘stretch knits only’ are counting on some stretch within the fabric. Those calling for thick fabrics are usually designed a touch larger to accommodate the bulk; an equivalent style during a thinner fabric would probably be too big.
When fabric types are interchangeable – soft or crisp, for instance – remember that the design will look different consistent with the one used. Also note the clinging tendency of some fabrics; these define body shape albeit a garment is loose fitting.