Scaling Down Clothing Sewing Patterns

What is a sewing pattern?

A sewing pattern is a template that shows you how to cut and sew fabric to create a garment. It includes instructions on how to assemble the garment, as well as a diagram of the finished product.

Why would I need to scale down a sewing pattern?

There are several reasons why you might need to scale down a sewing pattern. For example, you might:

• Want to make a garment for a child or a petite adult.
• Need to adjust the pattern to fit your body measurements.
• Want to create a custom-sized garment.

How do I scale down a sewing pattern?

There are two main ways to scale down a sewing pattern: the percentage method and the grid method.

The percentage method

The percentage method is the simplest way to scale down a sewing pattern. To use this method, you will need to:

1. Measure the desired finished garment size.
2. Calculate the percentage that the desired finished garment size is smaller than the original pattern size.
3. Multiply all of the measurements on the pattern by the percentage that you calculated in step 2.

For example, if you want to make a garment for a child who is 25% smaller than the original pattern size, you would multiply all of the measurements on the pattern by 0.75.

The grid method

The grid method is a more accurate way to scale down a sewing pattern. To use this method, you will need to:

1. Draw a grid on the pattern. The grid should be made up of squares that are 1 inch by 1 inch.
2. Measure the desired finished garment size.
3. Draw a new grid on a piece of paper. The new grid should be made up of squares that are the same size as the squares on the original grid, but scaled down to the desired finished garment size.
4. Transfer the pattern pieces from the original grid to the new grid.

Tips for scaling down sewing patterns

Here are a few tips for scaling down sewing patterns:

• Always test the scaled-down pattern on a piece of scrap fabric before cutting into your good fabric.
• Be careful not to scale down the pattern too much. If you scale down the pattern too much, the garment will be too small to wear.
• If you are scaling down the pattern for a child, be sure to add extra length to the sleeves and hem. Children grow quickly, so it is better to make the garment a little too big than a little too small.