Card 32 · Using Patterns
Get the length right.
It is easier to stitch a garment together before hemming. Skirt bottoms, trouser legs and sleeves need hemming, and may need to be longer or shorter than the pattern. Skirts can be any length: measure down from the waist.
- Sleeve length: shoulder to wrist.
- Skirt length: waist to knee.
- Trouser leg: waist to ankle.
Top tip: It’s easiest to pin a hem to the right length while it is being worn. Circular skirt hems can look wonky even when straight, so pin them on the person who will wear it.
