Sure Fit Designs
Dress Kit Resources
From drawing your first bodice to designing the garment of your dreams — every step, beautifully guided.
A thoughtfully curated library of Dress Kit & Fitting Resources covering every stage of your pattern fitting journey. Click any title to watch on YouTube.
General Information
Getting Started
Bodice Fitting Course — A Quick Introduction & Overview Introduction — Contents of the Dress Kit What I Didn't Know…But Wish I Had! Videos Differences Between the Dress Kit and Shirt Kit Sure-Fit Designs Dress Master Patterns Sloper – General Info
Understanding Ease
Ease Allowance in the Dress Kit Dress Kit Pattern Ease Allowances Sure-Fit Designs Moulage vs. Sloper — Understanding the Differences
Measurements
Measuring Solo — Without a Sewing Buddy Where's My Waist? A General Discussion How to Identify & Measure Your Shoulder Length How to Measure for a Bodice Pattern General Instructions Fine Tuning Patterns With These Additional Measurements How to Extend the Measurement Range for the Dress Kit
Tools & Templates
Pattern Accuracy & Fitting
Drawing & Designing
Bodice Drawing Series
Drawing Dress Kit Bodice, Pt. 1 — CF, Neck Curve & Shoulder Drawing Dress Kit Bodice, Pt. 2 — Armscye & Dart Drawing Dress Kit Bodice, Pt. 3 — Waist Level & Waist Dart Drawing the Sleeve Cap on the Dress Kit Bodice Pattern Drawing the Sleeveless Armhole
Adjust-A-Bust Template
Adjust-A-Bust Template Flexibility — No More FBA Adjust-A-Bust Template — How to Make the Dart Smaller or Larger 'Perfecting' (Truing) the Bust Dart Extension Point Adjust-A-Bust Template — Positioning for a Lower Bust Level
Shoulder & Side Seam
Shortening/Lengthening the Shoulder Line — Effect on the Armscye Curve Drawing the Bodice Side Seam — Explanation
Sewing Construction
Fabric Choice, Layout & Cutting, Pt. 1 How to Sew and Press Darts, Pt. 2 Sewing Shoulder & Side Seams, Pt. 3 How to Set in the Sleeve, Pt. 4 Staystitching, Pressing & Fit Evaluation, Pt. 5
Pattern Truing & Notches
How to Draw the Matching Notches 5 Bodice Pattern Drawing Mistakes & How to Avoid Them Truing & Perfecting the Sewing Pattern Before Beginning to Sew
Princess Seams & Dart Manipulation
Fitting Refinements & Minor Tune-Ups
General Fit Troubleshooting
HELP! My Pattern Doesn't Fit! — Variables for Accurate Pattern Fit Refining Pattern Fit — Minor Tune-Ups Sizing Up for More Wearing Ease & Comfort
Bust & Neckline
Truing & Perfecting a Bodice Sewing Pattern Beyond E-Cup: Large Bust Solutions Reading the Wrinkles—Do You Need a Bigger Bust Dart? How To: Narrow Shoulder to Full Bust—Dress Bodice Refinement How To Adjust a Tight Bodice Neck How to Fix a Gaping V-Neck
Shoulder Adjustments
“V” Shoulder Point…No No No! How to Fix Your Pattern Adding a Shoulder Dart: Method 1 Adding a Shoulder Dart: Method 2 Tip 7: What's the Best Order for Shoulder Adjustments? How to Adjust for a Forward-Thrusting Shoulder Line and Shoulder Joint Forward-Thrusted Shoulder: Identification & Tune-Up Forward Shoulder Sleeve Cap Refinement How to Adjust for a Square Shoulder—Sewing Pattern Alteration How to Adjust for an Asymmetrical Shoulder Alteration
Sleeve & Armhole
Sleeve Facts: All Their Quirkiness Increasing Forward Sleeve Pitch Large Upper Arm Pattern Tune-Up Very Large Upper Arm Tune Up Sleeves and All Their Quirkiness How to Remove the Elbow Dart—Dress Kit Sleeve Tutorial How to Shorten a Sleeve Pattern Reducing Sleeve Cap Ease How to Identify & Adjust a Gaping Armhole with Sleeve
Waist, Skirt & Hip
Muffin Top — Waist Dart Tips & 10 Style Camouflage Tips Dealing with the Skirt Dart How to Reduce Skirt Waist Ease Skirt Front—Dividing the Dart in Half & Repositioning Center Front How to Adjust for an Asymmetrical Hip-Waist Alteration How to Make a Large Abdomen Sewing Pattern Alteration/Tune-Up How to: Large Buttocks Alteration for Skirts
Body Shape Variations
Designing & Inspiration
Basic Blouse Designing 101 Designing with the Dress Kit Sloper—Blouse Examples Tutorial: Designing a Blouse—Planning a Sewing Project How to Draw & Design the Kimberly Blouse Tutorial: Asymmetrical & Symmetrical Bodice Designing How to Add a Facing to a Sewing Pattern How to Design the Basic Sheath Dress Dress Designing—Where Did the Dart Go? The Beloved T-Shirt Gets Better T-Shirt Fit — Do I Use the Sure Fit Designs Dress Kit or Shirt Kit? Wrap It Up — Tips & Techniques for the Crossover Wrap Front Decorative V-Notch for Sleeve Hem
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Shop Getting Started Essentials