SIZING AND FITTING
According to the size chart and finished measurements, my body shape fell between a size 8 and 10. I made a toile using some cotton fabric I had to hand – and made the size 8. As suspected, it was a bit tight on the hips, and the bust darts were too high for my shape. I also wanted more coverage on the straps and side seams to cover my bra for a work top.
I consider myself a confident beginner, and my skills self- taught. I have learned most of my skills watching other people on YouTube – I am a visual learner!
I put on the toile and looked in the mirror to check where I needed adjustments. With a fabric pen I made a mark where I wanted to start grading out to make room for my hips – measured the strap width (and my bra strap width) as well as how much I wanted to take out of the strap length. I also drew on where I thought the bust darts should be, then wrote down the measurements.
Comparing that to the pattern I noted where I needed to adjust. Grading out at the hips was easy, drawing a line from 8 to 10.