Your Guide to the In-House Patterns Video Tutorials

As the video tutorials pile up, watchers and readers are starting to ask, "where do I start?" Well, I've got the answer today. If you're new to the In-House Patterns community, here's your path to navigating the tutorials according to your area of interest. Watch the video for all the details and follow the links below.

✂️ FOR THE GARMENT SEWER

The Perfect Fit Guide

If you are an avid garment sewer and struggling with fitting your sewing projects, I want you to start by downloading your free copy of The Perfect Fit Guide. The guide will be sent directly to your inbox so that you can download and print it. The Perfect Fit Guide will be followed up with subsequent emails that will give you additional resources and worksheets to help with fitting your sewing projects.

Fitting Fundamentals

There are a few videos that are directly related to The Perfect Fit Guide so you’ll want to watch them first. You’ll find these videos under Fitting Fundamentals. This is a series of four videos that give you an introduction to several fitting methods and walk you through the fitting process based on what I presented in the guide.

To get started, watch these videos:

1.  Why Fitting is Difficult and How to Make it Easier

2. Three Fitting Methods to Improve Your Fitting

3. The First Fitting Session: How to Prepare Yourself and Your Garment for Fitting

4. How to Assess Fitting Issues: Some Guidelines to Follow

Quick Tips for Garments that Fit

Once you've watched these videos you can move on to a category I've call Quick Tips. Within this category you'll find a variety of videos that will help you fit specific areas of the body or give you simple tips to get you to a better fit faster. To get started, watch these videos next:

1. Four Things that Will Get You to a Better Fit Faster

2. How Patterns Work

3. Take a Walk

Fitting Pants

For more advanced garment sewers I've got the Fitting Pants video series. It's pretty common knowledge that pant fitting can be quite challenging, so I've put together some videos that hopefully will shed some light on the subject and make it all just a bit easier for you.

Watch the Fitting Pants video series using these links:

1. Fitting Pants: How to Get Started

2. Fitting Pants: The Tummy Adjustment

3. Fitting Pants: The Seat Adjustment

4. Fitting Pants: The Crotch Curve

When you've exhausted all of these videos, you're ready to move among the rest of the videos based on your area of interest.

📐 FOR BUDDING PATTERN MAKERS

Pattern Fundamentals

If you've moved beyond strictly sewing with commercial patterns and you're beginning to experiment with altering their design or drafting your own patterns, I've got you covered here too!

Start with the category called Pattern Fundamentals. If you're brand new to the idea of designing your own patterns, I recommend you begin with these videos:

1. How to Get Started With Pattern Making

2. What to Do With a Block Pattern

3. Five Essential Pattern Making Skills For Garment Makers

Pattern Making Practice

Once you've gained some understanding there, you're ready to start practicing your pattern making skills. To get you started, jump over to these videos that will run you through all the basics. Don't forget to download your free scaled block patterns so that you can practice along with all of the exercises!

1. Two Essential Skills for Successful Pattern Manipulation

2. How to True Darts and Manage Large Dart Volume

3. Three Ways to Manage the Back Shoulder Dart

4. How to Create and Balance a Flared Skirt

5. How to Pattern a Trumpet Sleeve

 For more advanced pattern makers the series on the bust circle will be very enlightening. I don't think anyone has covered this subject as extensively as I have in this series, so I'm sure you'll find something of value presented there.

Watch these videos from The Bust Circle video series:

1. The Bust Circle Defined

2. Neckline Contour Darts

3. Armhole Contour Darts

4. Strapless Contour Darts

Hopefully you'll find all of the videos on this page helpful or inspiring in some way. It is my heartfelt wish that the information I share will diminish the frustration, confusion and disappointment that often comes along with fitting and designing your own garments. My goal is to bring joy into each and every one of your sewing projects.

All My Best,
Alexandra