Fit & patternmaking

The portion of a bodice draft that shapes the back torso pattern, incorporating the shoulder blade dart or ease, waist shaping, and armhole curve calculated from back body measurements.

The process of constructing a fitted torso pattern from a set of body measurements using drafting formulas and a straightedge, producing front and back pieces shaped with darts.

A bodice draft with the horizontal seam positioned just below the bust rather than at the natural waist, used for empire-waist dresses and tops.

The portion of a bodice draft that shapes the front torso pattern, incorporating the bust dart, waist dart, neckline, and armhole curve calculated from front body measurements.

A bodice draft in which the bust and waist darts are converted into a continuous curved seam running from the shoulder or armhole to the hem, replacing separate darts.

A dart originating at the shoulder seam and pointing toward the bust apex, used in bodice drafting as an alternative location to shape fabric over the bust.

A bust dart originating from the side seam near the underarm and pointing toward the bust apex, one of the most common dart placements in bodice drafting.

A dart originating at the waist edge of a bodice or skirt pattern and tapering toward the bust or hip, used to shape flat fabric to the body's curve.

The process of separating a design line, such as a shoulder or back panel, from a bodice block to create a yoke pattern piece, often absorbing dart shaping into its seam.