The first step toward making a well-fitting dress is a pattern that fits properly. If you are careful to choose a style and the size best suited to your figure, you may not have to make any alterations in your pattern. But most women have some figure irregularity which requires that some change be made, either in the pattern or the dress, for a perfect fit.

The best way to make changes is to alter the pattern, since it is impossible to make some alterations as well once the dress is cut and basted together. Originally published in the 1940s by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, this booklet deals with the problems of altering a pattern -- how to measure the figure and take corresponding pattern measurements, and how to alter the pattern pieces to correspond to your measurements.

Contents Covered:

Know Your Measurement
Buy the Right Size Pattern
Measure the Pattern Pieces
Does the Pattern Need to Be Altered?
How to Alter Patterns
Shoulders of pattern too wide or too narrow
Bust and chest of pattern too small
Front of blouse pattern too short
Pattern too small at elbow
Skirt pattern too short in back
Collar pattern too long around outer edge
and so much more!

Format: PDF Digital Reprint, e-Facsimile
No. of Pages: 40
Page Size: A4 (210mm × 297mm)
Download Size: 8.4 MB