In this course you will:
Explore the fitting, style and design opportunities afforded by darts.
Focus on measurements, paper pattern adjustments and style decisions as you discover how darts function in our garments.
Become confident about adjusting your patterns for better fit, and find joy in your ability to change design details as you like.
Darts can be the starting point for creating a new look, or they can be the saving grace for fitting curves. Or both! Explore the way darts release fullness to accommodate our body’s curves, and progress to using darts — in all their forms — as design elements, for more satisfying, creative sewing.
Darts are everywhere, always — even when we don’t see them.This single fitting instrument — the dart — is also a versatile, shape-shifting design opportunity, offering creative options and asking only for accuracy in return. Explore the language of darts, their function in our clothing and what we can tell by the size of a dart. Learn to measure and establish the position and size of darts (see exactly how you can do this by yourself!), and how to adjust them for the most flattering fit and style. When properly fitted, they allow your hemlines to hang straight, eliminate drag lines, gaps at the front button closure – in short, allow you to make garments which look and feel terrific while you’re wearing them.
You’ll explore how to make appropriate dart adjustments to improve fit, starting with a wonderful lesson about buying your pattern in the correct size! Then see how to raise and lower darts, increase their size, add a dart when there isn’t a visible dart in sight and more. All changes you’ll make that will affect the fit and hang of your clothing.
For creative design options and a more satisfying silhouette, see how to split a dart for a more flattering look, move a dart from one part of a garment to another, how to turn a dart into a princess seamline, how to release a dart into pleats and ruffles and more. Fit and fashion, all in one, little dart!
All Start Anytime courses, are self-paced, and you can begin the moment you register, viewing the course anytime that is convenient for you. Many students watch it through one time first, and then go back to work alongside the instructor with their own project activities.
Save with bundles! This course is also available as part of the Absolutely Fabulous: Fitting the Upper Body Master's Series bundle.
