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 just isn't working any more.
Every adjustment you try seems to make the fit even worse. You're so tired of struggling with trial and error fitting methods that you're on the verge of giving up.
➤ You're spending precious sewing time searching for fitting solutions.
You find yourself going in circles. In spite of all the fitting books on the shelf, the YouTube tutorials you've watched and the in-person fitting workshops you've attended, you just can't figure out how to make your garments fit.
➤ You just don't get how to "read the wrinkles".
The wrinkle language is completely foreign to you. You understand that the wrinkles are supposed to point to the fitting issue but understanding how to eliminate them is still a mystery.
➤ "Fast and Easy" and "Fit as You Sew" techniques are hit and miss.
You don't know where to start, what changes are required or how to make the fitting adjustments to the pattern.
It's Clear.
You're ready for the next step...
Fitting Essentials will give you the step by step framework, knowledge, inspiration and support you need to confidently create garments that fit.
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.
I can't wait to guide you through Fitting Essentials.
Like you, I used to be able to sew up a pattern right out of the envelope but as my body changed over time, I no longer fit into a standard pattern size.
To solve my frustration I used my fashion design degree and years of experience in the fashion industry to develop the Fitting Essentials process that allowed me to finally achieve the fit I so desperately wanted.
If you're frustrated and fed up with spending your sewing time searching for fitting solutions and trying to understand the wrinkle language, don't hesitate to join this session of the course.
You'll gain the knowledge and skills you need to confidently create garments that fit.
I look forward to meeting you inside Fitting Essentials.
Alexandra
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.
There's Help Along the Way
Live Q&A Sessions with Alexandra
Get support and guidance you need through the Live group sessions each week for 8 weeks exclusively for Fitting Essentials course members.
All sessions are recorded so you'll never miss out on these valuable bonus training sessions.
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 Fitting Essentials Community Group
As a member of FITTING ESSENTIALS you'll get exclusive access to a private community group consisting of only you and your course mates.
You get an entire year to share your progress with, and gather insight from a group of friendly, knowledgeable and fun loving sewing enthusiasts that are working through the same project as you.
The Fitting Essentials Community Group is an extension of the In-House Patterns Studio course platform and is not associated with Facebook.
HERE'S WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU ENROLL
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.
Unfortunately, due to the number of students and the format of the class, it isn't possible to provide a personal fit consultation with individual members of the course.
However, the Fitting Essentials Community group will give you the opportunity to ask questions, share fitting photos and troubleshoot fitting issues alongside your classmates. Alexandra will then take the most commonly discussed issues from the forum and cover them in the bi-weekly Live Q&A Sessions.
That's right! We meet twice a week for 8 weeks in Live group sessions and every session is recorded so you can watch it at the most convenient time for you.
The Fitting Essentials Community Group is an exclusive and private group for course members only. The group is housed on the In-House Patterns website and does not use any aspect of Facebook.
You will have access to the Fitting Essentials Community for a total of one year from the start of the course. This community is where you will interact with your fellow course-mates. As a member run community, Alexandra won't be there to answer every single post so I encourage you to share your advice, questions, photos and insights about the course content with each other so that you can make the most of the knowledge and experience that will be represented there. Alexandra will be guiding you through the course content during the first 8 weeks and the remaining time in the community can be used to help you finalize your fitting project with the help of your course mates.
The community is also the place where Alexandra will communicate with you and share the information about our Live weekly Q&A sessions. Each week you will have the opportunity to post questions about the course so that Alexandra can clarify your path and guide you. You will be invited to a LIVE Q&A Session twice a week for 8 weeks.
All Q&A sessions will be recorded so even if you can't attend live, you can still get your questions answered and benefit from all the information I'll share.
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.
Fitting Essentials is a very comprehensive course and I don't want you to be overwhelmed by all the content I have to share.
The course modules will be posted one or two per week for the first 6 weeks and I'll spend an additional 2 weeks with you for a little added support. I deliver it this way so I can walk you through each of the modules and provide help and guidance along the way.
When our 8 weeks together is complete, you get continued access to the community group so you can interact and strategize with your fellow course mates. (Access to the Fitting Essentials Community will expire on September 9th, 2025.)
That being said, once all the modules are delivered, you will have access to the course for as long as you need it so you'll be able to watch and re-watch the videos as many times as you like.
The official start date of the course is September 16th, 2024, but just like any class, I've got a welcome message waiting for you inside that will tell you exactly what you'll need to do before the first module drops so don't hesitate to join!
Enrolment closes September 15th and won't open again for another year.
Absolutely!
- FITTING ESSENTIALS: HOW TO MAKE SEWING PATTERNS FIT YOU
The complete online course delivered over 6 weeks with lifetime access including all the course lesson videos, checklists, worksheets and guides.
- THE KAYLA SEWING PATTERN
The layered and multi-sized PDF pattern in two size ranges with High Bust measurements of 31" to 48" (79cm-122cm) and Full Bust measurements of 33" to 51" (84cm to 129cm). If you're within 2" or 5cm of these measurements this pattern will still work for you!
- LIVE Q&A SESSIONS WITH ALEXANDRA
Meet Alexandra weekly for LIVE Q&A sessions over 8 weeks to get clarification and guidance with your project. There are a total of 15 Live group sessions planned during our 8 weeks together. All LIVE sessions will be recorded so everyone will benefit.
- YOUR FITTING LANDSCAPE: HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR PERSONAL FITTING NEEDS
A guide to analysing your figure proportion, shape and symmetry so you can develop a strategic personal fitting plan.
- ACCESS TO THE FITTING ESSENTIALS COMMUNITY GROUP
The place to engage with your fellow course-mates to get support, ask questions, offer advice and share your photos. You get access for one year
Email [email protected] and I'll be happy to answer your questions.
Still Thinking About it?
