Think of the moment you wear an outfit you have sewn for the first time. Think of how happy, proud, and accomplished you feel, all because it fits and you love it.

Many women struggle with the standard sizing of commercial or indie sewing patterns, which often leads to fitting issues. This garment fitting guide will help you adjust sewing patterns to achieve the perfect fit you desire.

This fitting book has visual sketches and links to videos to help during each step of the 3-part fitting process.

Here’s How it Works:

A) Identify the Fitting Issue.

B) Pin, Cut, & Tape the Fitting Sample.

C) Correct the Sewing Pattern.

The Fitting Book covers the following categories for pattern alterations:

• Full Bust Adjustments (FBA) – bodice alterations for princess seams, darts, no darts
• Small Bust Adjustments (SBA) – bodice alterations for princess seams, darts, no darts
• Armscye and sleeve alterations
• Front width, back and shoulder pattern adjustments
• Neckline pattern corrections
• Basic skirt pattern alterations
• Dress alterations – Top/bodice adjustments and skirts
• Fitting pants – this is my specialty and what I am known for in the industry
• Demystifying draglines (my secret to understanding diagonal draglines in garment fitting)

You will learn about terminology, abbreviations, pattern tools, and patternmaking supplies. The Fitting Book shows how to use a hip curve, a French curve, and a clear ruler for patternmaking. The pattern corrections can be applied to womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, knit styles, and woven styles. The sketches and photos are in black and white. This is a fitting book primarily with sketches. It is not a pattern drafting book. Finally, you will learn about the customization scale in garment fitting and patternmaking.

I share my knowledge from fitting tens of thousands of garments while working in the garment industry since 2003. You will learn industry-expert fitting tips to achieve the customized fit you desire.

If you are one of my 58,000+ followers on Instagram and Facebook, you may have seen my short fitting videos. For all the fitting alterations in this book, there are corresponding simple videos to reference. There are QR codes that can be scanned with a smartphone which direct you to each fitting correction. The videos give you a quick visual of how to do each correction, so you never get stuck.

Stop wasting your time and money sewing clothes that don’t fit well.

It’s time to sew the clothes you love that fit.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Abbreviations, Terminology, & Tools Needed
• The Customization Process in Patternmaking
• Factors in Fitting
• Tips for Getting Started
• Using Patternmaking Rulers
• Checking the Balanceof Top or Bodice Patterns
• First Steps in Assessing the Fit
• Neckline Corrections
• Across Shoulder Corrections
• Across Front & Across Back Corrections
• Armhole & Raglan Sleeve Corrections
• Set-in Sleeve Topics & Corrections
• Bust Corrections
• Back Draglines & Hemline Corrections
• Skirts, Dresses, & Pants Corrections
• Fitting Pants
• Diagonal Draglines Demystified
• Congratulations!You Made It Fit!

About the Author

Gina Renee has been working in the garment industry since 2003, when she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City (NYC). Directly after graduating, she worked in high fashion in NYC, fitting beautiful gowns and tailored women's suits.After living in NYC for five years, she moved to California where she worked for two leading action sports clothing brands, creating snowboarding outerwear and surfing boardshorts.In 2012, Gina moved to Germany where she worked as a freelance patternmaker and started Gina Renee Designs, an Indie sewing pattern company. To view her sewing pattern collection and download her patterns, visit www.GinaReneeDesigns.com.She has lived in Switzerland since 2014, where she leads a talented team of patternmakers and developers at a well-known European sportswear brand.Her main task while working in the garment industry has always been to develop quality clothes that fit well. She has fitted tens of thousands of garments during her career. Gina has fitted numerous top performing athletes from several different nations. Several have won gold medals in international competitions while wearing garments she fitted for them. Gina has always loved the technical side of fitting, and her goal is to help you achieve the perfectly-fitting clothes you dream of.She is also the creator of The GRD Method(TM) in patternmaking. The GRD Method(TM) teaches you how to achieve a customized fit based on your body measurements. Her online course is called "Making a Moulage - The GRD Method(TM)," and it gives you a solid foundation to design clothes that fit well. More information can be found at www.GRDMethod.com.Gina grew up in Colorado and is a nature-girl by heart. She is happy to be living near nature once again in Switzerland. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, swimming, and cycling in the beautiful Swiss Alps. And let's not forget her most important hobby - sewing!