Plus-Sized Sewing Fitting & Techniques 5-Class Set

Cute clothes come in all sizes. Learn to sew beautiful plus-size clothing with the experts as you master skills including fitting and design, bust adjustments, and waist and hip measurements.

For a more detailed summary of each class included in this set, see the “Classes Included” tab below.

NOTE: After purchase, all individual classes within this set will be made available in your Craftsy account. You will be able to enjoy your purchased classes within your library anytime without losing access.

Plus-Size Pattern Fitting & Design (6h 18m)
Who says you can’t be plus-size and fashionable? Learn how to make stylish clothes that fit and flatter your body. Barbara Deckert draws on years of custom dressmaking and her own experience as a large woman. She teaches this class with honesty, warmth and humor. As you work along with Barbara, you’ll pick up dozens of techniques and design tips about pattern adjustment, fitting and construction. Her techniques apply to any garment, for any size person, male or female. But this class focuses on the unique figure variations and clothing needs of the plus-size woman. It’s about time!

Important Pattern Information: The sewing pattern on which this class is based — Vogue 8815 — is not included with your purchase and may be out of print — check with online retailers. This class is rich in essential sewing techniques, so if the pattern is out of print, we encourage you to look for an alternative pattern with similar style details. You might also be able to find the original pattern through a private reseller.

Full Bust Adjustment for Any Pattern (1h 42m)
Embrace your shape! Adjust any pattern to fit and flatter your figure.

Busts come in all different shapes and sizes, and your pattern should work with your body, not the other way around. Body-positive sewing expert Jenny Rushmore helps you conquer a successful full bust adjustment (FBA) — the most common fitting challenge — and confidently work with any type of pattern. Understand what types of patterns need an FBA and how to approach the FBA for styles with single bust darts, bust and waist darts, no darts, princess seams and more. Learn how to refine post-FBA dart placement and manage extra-large FBAs. With Jenny’s step-by-step guidance, you’ll master the FBA for any style and cup size to perfectly fit your natural curves.

Plus-Size Pant Fitting (2h 09m)
Flatter your curves as you learn to fit plus-size pant patterns alongside designer and instructor Kathleen Cheetham. Start with how to select the perfect pattern size and extend it if needed. Take the next step toward a fabulous fit by adjusting your pattern’s crotch depth and making alterations to complement the curves of your hips. Move on to personalizing your pattern’s fit through the outer, inner and upper thighs. Then, find out how to read wrinkles in your muslin and make tummy adjustments using the slash-and-pivot technique. Take your fitting skills even further as Kathleen teaches you to adjust for a perfect fit through the seat. Plus, find out how to adjust waist darts, convert multiple darts into a yoke and use a stretch band instead of a waistband.

Custom Fitting: Waist & Hips (2h 31m)
Join patternmaking pro Kathleen Cheetham as she takes you step-by-step through measuring and making flat pattern adjustments for comfortable, flattering pants and skirts. Learn to slash and pivot patterns for a smooth fit in the abdomen. Adjust patterns for hips that are low, high, narrow, wide, asymmetrical or anything in-between. Use accessible techniques to customize patterns for your thighs, and make adjustments for a perfect fit in the seat area. You’ll even learn how to adjust patterns for swayback posture. Finally, Kathleen will help you refine darts or add extras for a waistline designed with you in mind. Make every pair of pants and skirt you sew a wardrobe staple with custom fitting techniques!

Create Any Size: Pattern Grading for Sewers (2h 58m)
Increase or decrease the size of any pattern while staying true to the fit, proportions and design details of the original. Find out how as you work through four included practice patterns with sewing expert Kathleen Cheetham’s simplified methods. Master the basics as you grade down a multi-size bodice pattern, including the armscye, neckline and darts. Then, grade up a multi-size pants pattern with tips for grading the crotch point, adjusting darts and working with pockets and waistbands. Take your skills further as you grade down a single-size, sleeveless top pattern. Grade up a single-size skirt pattern using the cut-and-spread method that’s the basis of all grading. Next, learn to grade darts, seams, notches, facings and collars on single-size patterns. Plus, see how to grade sleeves with confidence. Discover grading and never pass up a promising pattern for lack of the right size!

Barbara Deckert
Barbara Deckert wrote the book Sewing for Plus Sizes to help her well-padded friends create the beautiful, fashionable,and properly fitted clothes they deserve. Barbara learned fine sewing techniques more than 45 years ago from a professional custom dressmaker. For 25 years, she has created custom bridal, evening and career wear at Barbara Deckert Couture in Elkridge, Md.

Jenny Rushmore
Jenny Rushmore is the founder and designer behind Cashmerette Patterns, the first pattern line specifically designed for curves. She’s also co-founder of the Curvy Sewing Collective, a group promoting body positivity in sewing, and is an instructor in sustainable business practices at Harvard University. Sewing has helped her along her own journey to body acceptance, as she loves inspiring others to transform their wardrobes to fit their shapes and reflect their personalities.

Kathleen Cheetham
Kathleen Cheetham teaches workshops and sells her pattern line at sewing consumer and trade shows throughout the U.S. and Canada. She also runs a custom tailoring shop for women and teaches classes on fitting and design. Her articles have regularly appeared in Threads magazine, and her line of patterns has been featured in Sew News, Threads, Australian Stitches, and Sewing World UK. She is the author of Perfect Plus: Sew a Mix-and-Match Wardrobe for Plus and Petite-Plus Sizes.

Each class in this set comes with a helpful downloadable PDF that will add to the fun and success of each class. In total, you will gain access to 5 PDFs containing  67 pages of content, which you can view online anytime or print out to reference.