One of the great things about sewing is the opportunity to make garments that fit our unique shape. Discover our range of stylish skirt patterns over on Simple Sew and follow our top tips below for picking the right size, altering for your body and getting a great fit with your skirt.
Simple Sew Lottie Blouse Top and Skirt Pattern
- First things first, get an accurate waist measurement by tying a piece of elastic around your middle and then wiggle it into place at your narrowest point. This is the most comfortable part of your midriff allowing the best range of movement.
- Divide your body into sections. Consider choosing a different size across the back than the front if you have a fuller derrière! Choose a design with princess seams for even more control over where you need to add or subtract width for the perfect fit.
- Don’t be afraid to grade across sizes. We recommend picking a size based on your hip measurement and then adjusting for your waist and thighs after this. Remember to double check your side seams end up the same length if making adjustments to the front and back pieces before you cut out.
- Larger rears can also cause the garment to ride up and create an uneven hem. You need more height at the centre back to accommodate your curves. Across the centre of the buttocks, draw a line at a right angle to the grain. Slash open the line leaving the side seam allowance uncut to act as a hinge then add extra wiggle room. The centre back seam will only be slightly curved so you’ll still be able to add a zipper here.
- Play around with the size of the darts as ones that taper sharply aren’t always flattering on larger waists. Consider omitting them entirely and redistributing the width at the side seam instead.
*Article originally published in Love Sewing magazine