Let’s talk about patternmaking rules for knit tops and woven tops, for example, blouses, dress bodices, tee-shirts, and other garments made for stretchable knit fabrics. 💜 Compared to what you saw in the previous post about jackets and coats, rules are a little different here when it comes to the base patterns.

Rules to Keep in Mind for Your Sewing Patterns

1. The side seams are always mirrored.
2. On a woven top, the side seam considers the dart when it’s closed.
3. On a knit top, the back armhole does not need to be lower than the front (the stretch in a knit allows for movement).
4. On a woven top, the shoulder slope is often less angled in the back to allow for the ease of movement of the shoulder blade.
5. On a woven top, the back armhole does not have to be lower than the front armhole, but it can be up to about 1/4”.
6. If the back armhole is too low on a blouse or tight fitted top, it will restrict movement when you reach your arms forward.

Gina Renee Designs’ patterns are always balanced! If you are using a Gina Renee pattern, you can skip these steps.

This information and more can be found in The Fitting Book. Order your book today through the link below.