Slash-and-Spread Your Pattern to Add Fullness

It's the easiest way to add fullness to a fitted garment pattern.

Did you know you can slash and spread your pattern to add fullness and shape?

Well, a COPY of your pattern, I mean.  Don't EVER cut into your block pattern!!!!!!!!

Slashing and spreading is a technique you'll use for skirts and dresses, blouses - even sleeves!

Here's how it works:

Trace a copy of your block and cut it out.  Then, you'll draw lines in the areas where you want to add fullness.  (In the video, I demonstrate adding fullness at the hem of a skirt, without adding it at the waist).

Cut along the lines and spread the pieces apart (over another piece of paper), and re-trace the new shape - that's your new pattern!!

There's more info about slashing and spreading the skirt on this page.  I also have a page about using this method to create a full sleeve, with the fullness at the bottom only, the top only, or throughout the sleeve. 

Get out your quarter scales and start practicing!

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More Tips and Techniques Videos

• Why Do I Need a Dress Block? Can't I just re-design a purchased pattern?
• Why Do I Need Darts? They're so UGLY !!
• Using Your Quarter Scale Patterns
• Turning Your Darts into Styling Details
• Slashing and Spreading your Pattern to Add Fullness
• Customizing your Body Form
• Using Basic Pattern Techniques
• What does it mean to "true" your pattern?
• Don't Make MY Mistakes! Do a Proper Muslin Fitting
• The Difference Between Fit Ease and Style Ease
• Flat Pattern vs. draping
• What Are Style Lines?
• Do You Have Trouble Fitting The Bust?
• Where Do You Find Design Inspiration?
• Even the Greatest Style Falls Flat if it's Out of Proportion
• Do You Speak the "Language of Patterns"?
• The Difference Between Sewing Ease and Style or Fit Ease
• Sewing Gifts for Your Friends - or For You!
• How Collars Work
• Patternmaking Tools to Get You Started
• Style vs Fashion - Do You Know the Difference?
• More on How to Use Quarter Scale Patterns
• More on Pattern Manipulations to Move Darts and Add Fullness

Return to Clothing Patterns 101 Home Page

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Tips and Techniques!

Watch videos that demonstrate the techniques you will use to design your patterns. And get tips to make the process easier!

Videos are added periodically, so keep checking back!

• More on Pattern Manipulations to Move Darts and Add Fullness
• More on Using Quarter Scale Patterns
• Style vs Fashion - Do You Know the Difference?
• Patternmaking Tools to Get You Started
• How Collars Work
• Sewing Gifts for Your Friends - or for You!
• The Difference Between Sewing Ease and Style or Fit Ease
  
• Do You Speak the "Language of Patterns"?
• Even the Greatest Style Falls Flat if it's Out of Proportion
• Where Do You Find Design Inspiration?
• Do You Have Trouble Fitting The Bust?
• What are Style Lines?
• Flat Pattern vs. draping
• The Difference Between Fit Ease and Style Ease
• Don't Make MY Mistakes! Do a Proper Muslin Fitting
  
• What Does It Mean to "True Your Pattern?"
• Using Basic Pattern Techniques 
• Customize your Body Form
• Slashing and Spreading your Pattern to add Fullness
• Turning your Darts into Styling Details
• Using your Quarter Scale Patterns
• Why Do I Need Darts? They're so UGLY!
• Why Do I Need a Dress Block? Can't I just re-design a purchased pattern?

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