Alter sewing patterns like a pro and eliminate fitting issues one step at a time with confidence and skill.
You've been sewing for years but...
➤ Sewing a pattern straight out of the envelope no longer works.
You make adjustments, but instead of improving the fit, each change introduces new fitting issues.
➤ You're spending precious sewing time searching for fitting solutions.
Despite books, videos, and workshops, the information feels fragmented. You understand individual techniques, but not how they fit together into a clear process.
➤ How to "Read the Wrinkles" is unclear.
You know wrinkles contain information, but translating what you see into correct pattern changes remains difficult.
➤ "Fast and Easy" and "Fit as You Sew" techniques are hit and miss.
Without a defined starting point or order of adjustments, it’s hard to know what to change first and why.
It's Clear.
You’re ready to stop guessing and start working with a structured fitting method.
Fitting Essentials will give you the step by step framework, knowledge, and skills to confidently create garments that fit.
At In-House Patterns, fitting is taught as a system, not a collection of fitting fixes.
Fitting Essentials introduces a complete, step-by-step method for analyzing the body, evaluating patterns, and applying adjustments in a logical, repeatable order so that you can diagnose fitting issues independently with confidence.
This course is designed for experienced sewists who are ready to slow down, follow a process, and build lasting fitting skills.
When you implement the Fitting Essentials framework you'll be able to:
➤ Make a strategic sizing choice.
➤ Solve for the most obvious fitting issues before you sew.
➤ Stop relying solely on your ability to "read the wrinkles".
➤ Confidently create garments that fit.
Fitting Essentials was developed out of necessity and professional practice.
After years of sewing and working in the fashion industry, I experienced firsthand how unreliable standard pattern sizing becomes as bodies change. Trial-and-error fitting methods were inefficient and inconsistent, even with experience.
Using my background in fashion design and technical fitting, I developed the Fitting Essentials method to bring structure and logic to the fitting process. The goal was not quick fixes, but a repeatable system that makes it possible to assess fit, interpret what you see, and apply pattern adjustments in a clear order.
Fitting Essentials teaches that method in full. It is designed for experienced sewists who are ready to approach fitting with intention, consistency, and independence.
— Alexandra Morgan
What's Inside the Fitting Essentials Online Course
WELCOME
YOUR FITTING SUCCESS FOUNDATION
By the end of this module you'll have all your getting started information and begin to understand why most standard size sewing pattern don't fit you.
You'll discover the the fitting framework that will take you from a confused and frustrated home sewer to a confident and accomplished garment maker.
SIZING ANALYSIS
STRATEGICALLY CHOOSE YOUR PATTERN SIZE
By the end of this module you'll be able to choose your best pattern size to start with (from any size chart) and begin planning your pattern fitting adjustments.
You'll be able to:
Take the right body measurements, determine the optimal ease in the pattern and develop your personal fitting plan.
PATTERN ANALYSIS
DEVELOP YOUR PERSONAL FITTING PLAN
Understand exactly what is needed to adjust the pattern to fit your body measurements.
You'll be able to:
Prepare the sewing pattern for analysis, measure the pattern and calculate the optimal ease and outline all the fitting changes you'll need to make to the pattern.
INITIAL PATTERN ADJUSTMENTS
SOLVE THE MOST OBVIOUS FITTING ISSUES BEFORE YOU SEW
By the end of this module you'll have solved for the most commonly misdiagnosed fitting issues before you see your first sample.
You'll be able to:
Make your initial pattern adjustment plan, perform the initial pattern adjustments you need on your pattern and check and refine your altered pattern for trouble free sewing.
SAMPLE ANALYSIS
TAKE THE MYSTERY OUT OF READING THE WRINKLES
By the end of this module you'll have a sample of your garment and know exactly how to assess the fit all on your own.
You'll be able to:
Cut, sew and prepare for your fitting assessment, assess personal fit issues without a fitting buddy, understand how to Read the Wrinkles and have a step by step plan to Making Your Own Fit Assessment.
PATTERN REFINEMENT
ALTER THE SEWING PATTERN LIKE A PRO
By the end of this module you will have transferred all your fitting changes to the pattern and learned how to solve for a multitude of fitting issues in ways you won't find in any conventional fitting book.
You will be able to:
Transfer fitting changes from the sample to the pattern, manage pattern shape in unconventional ways and finalize your pattern for fitting success.
FITTING SUCCESS
CELEBRATE YOUR FITTING SUCCESS
By the end of this module you'll realize that you've learned HOW TO FIT. The knowledge and skills you've gained have given you the ability to recognize, assess and solve your own fitting issues.
You will have:
A pattern that fits you, the confidence to approach any fitting project using the Fitting Essentials process and the ability to begin creating style variations on your pattern.
Inside Fitting Essentials you'll get the perfect fitting project, the Kayla shirt pattern.
I've specifically designed the pattern for this course so that you can follow along with me as I demonstrate each of the steps in the fitting process.
As we move through all the lessons, you'll take the Kayla Shirt from it's standard size to your size following the roadmap to the perfect fit that I've laid out for you.
Your Fitting Landscape: How to Assess Your Fitting Needs
This bonus gives you the best possible starting point for understanding your personal fitting needs. You'll determine your personal fitting grid and define your proportion, shape and symmetry so you're prepared to develop a strategic fitting plan for your unique silhouette. You'll finally understand why most standard sewing patterns don't fit you.
The Basic Sleeve Draft
This bonus gives you the step by step instruction to drafting a sleeve for your individual armhole size. I'll show you how to measure the armhole and prepare your draft calculations, walk you through each step of the drafting process, and also show you how to refine the draft so that it fits into your armhole perfectly
QUESTIONS SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS ASK
BEFORE ENROLLING IN FITTING ESSENTIALS
The Kayla sewing pattern comes in two fit-friendly views. Each view has a two-piece collar, back yoke and front button placket. View A has a darted bodice and three quarter length sleeves while View B has princess seams and short sleeves. The sleeves are completely interchangeable between the two views.
The Kayla pattern is available in two size groupings:
SIZES 2 - 14 [B CUP]
BUST: 33 - 40 1/2" (84 - 103 cm)
WAIST: 25 1/2 - 33" (65 - 84 cm)
HIP: 35 1/2 - 43" (90 - 109 cm)
SIZES 12 - 24 [C CUP]
BUST: 39 - 51" (99 - 129 cm)
WAIST: 33 - 44" (84 - 112 cm)
HIP: 43 - 54" (107 - 137 cm)
[You get both size ranges inside the course]
* If your measurements are within 2" (5 cm) of these measurements, this pattern is still the perfect project. I'll be showing you how to adjust this pattern for your cup size and circumference. You can see the complete sizing guide HERE.
In short, YES.
I have specifically designed this pattern in a way that will help you achieve the best possible fit using the principals and methods I teach inside the course. Without the special features that I've incorporated in the pattern you will likely struggle more than you need to.
However, once you understand the methods and processes of making a pattern fit you as I show inside the course, you will definitely be able to apply the principles to other sewing patterns without these special features. Following along with the Kayla sewing pattern will help you learn HOW to fit. Once you have internalized the process you can apply it to any pattern you choose.
That being said, I realize that the gender and sizing may not include everyone, so what I suggest is that you use this project as a learning tool and perhaps follow through with the course lessons while making the garment for a friend or family member. While this isn't the most optimal solution for learning how to "fit yourself" I know from experience that learning how to fit on another person is just as valuable and gives you even greater insight into assessing fit.
As a beginner you will definitely find this class challenging but I would never discourage anyone from striving to improve their fitting skills, so the answer to this question depends on you.
Here is what you need to know:
The course is aimed at experienced sewers who have some experience altering patterns for fit but want to learn a more detailed approach to fitting. This means you must understand the basic terminology and concepts of garment fitting.
Garment sewing techniques are not covered in the course so you must already understand how to sew using guidance from the pattern's sewing instruction booklet.
The course covers in detail how to adjust sewing patterns to fit your measurements, proportion and shape, but you must also be willing to spend time assessing and solving fitting issues using a sample garment.
This course focuses on showing you a detailed step by step process to fitting a woven shirt pattern. The process is not "quick and easy" but you'll learn more about fitting than you ever thought you could.
This course is going to show you HOW to fit, by yourself, from start to finish. It's the complete process I have used successfully to fit my own garments and one I've been developing over the last 15 years while working with experienced home sewists like you.
You'll learn how to analyze the style, the sizing and the pattern itself so that you can replicate the style and silhouette of the pattern on your body. You'll then perform the initial pattern adjustments virtually everyone needs to align the pattern to your body measurements and proportions before you even make a sample. I'll show you how to check and refine your pattern so that you can stitch up a fitting sample quickly and easily.
I'll show you how to prepare your sample for a fitting session in a way that will make assessing the fit straight forward and do-able without the help of a fitting buddy. We'll discuss how to "read the wrinkles", but you'll soon see that relying on this wrinkle language isn't as important as you think.
I'll also show you how to take your fitting changes back to your pattern and work through the potential fitting issues that you may encounter. This course will give you the confidence and skills to recognize, assess and solve your own fitting issues with a straightforward process you can use on any sewing project.
You'll find that the differences are profound.
Email [email protected] and I'll be happy to answer your questions.
Still Thinking About it?
