Pattern Grading Basics
Pattern Grading Basics
Pattern Grading Basics
THREADS
Pattern-Grading
Basics
How to scale from the size you have to the size you need
By Co n n i e C raw f o r d
Gr ad i n g to o ls
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You can grade patterns for any garment style and type, but
its easiest to learn hand grading using a basic bodice pattern.
Grading a pant or a skirt is different from grading a bodice.
Although the circumference of a pant or skirt pattern increases
between the sizes the same amount as for a bodice, the growth
increments are distributed differently.
To learn the hand-grading method in this article, choose any
basic bodice pattern with darts; it may have waist darts or bust
darts, or both. Start with any size pattern you wish; you can
grade it to any size needed.
Author and educator Connie Crawford designs sewing patterns
and teaches around the country. Her Grading Workbook,
Second Edition (Amaden-Crawford LLC, 2013), is available
at FashionPatterns.com.
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16
16
16
16
Half grade
1
4 inch
16
front
front
16
16
16
16
Full
grade
1
2 inch
This shows how a patterns growth increments, adding up to the grade, are distributed.
Set up a workspace
Youll need a clear plastic grading ruler, a large piece of plain white paper taped to a flat work surface, a pattern, masking or
painters tape, and a marker or pencil. You can use a full-size pattern or a half-size pattern as shown.
On a large piece of paper, draw a line
2 inches from the lengthwise edge.
Mark it grainline. Draw another line
several inches from the papers righthand edge and perpendicular to the
grainline; mark it cross-grain. Both
lines are referred to as 0 position, and
where they intersect is referred to as
the 0/0 position.
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Cross-grain
(0 position)
Grading ruler
Grainline
(0 position)
Tape hinge
Grade a pattern
The 2-inch grade shown illustrates how to move a master pattern
under a grading ruler to increase the pattern at specific locations
(see the facing page). The ruler remains stationary while the pattern moves counterclockwise around the 0/0 position to the different growth intervals. Professionals use the terms up/down and
in/out to indicate the patterns movements around 0/0; we have
used left/right and above/below for clarity. When you flip the
ruler back on its hinge, hold the pattern firmly so it doesnt shift.
Flip back
the ruler.
Mark the
center neck
and a short
section of
the neckline
curve on the
paper.
0/0 position
Flip the
ruler back
over the
pattern. Keep
the pattern
positioned on
1
16 to the right
of the 0 crossgrain. Move
the pattern
1
8 inch above
the rulers 0
grainline. Flip
back the ruler
and mark the
mid-shoulder
area.
Mark the
shoulder/
neckline
corner.
1
16 inch above
grainline
Keep the pattern 116 to the right of the 0 cross-grain. Move the
pattern 14 inch above the rulers 0 grainline. Flip the ruler back
and mark the shoulder/armhole position.
Shoulder/armhole
Move the
pattern 116
inch to the left
of the rulers
0 cross-grain.
At the same
time, keep the
pattern 14 inch
above the 0
grainline. Flip
the ruler back
and mark the
mid-armscye
area and the
armscye notch.
Mark mid-armscye.
4 inch above
grainline
16 left of
0 cross-grain
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continued
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45
Shift the pattern 18 inch to the left of the 0 crossgrain. Also, move the pattern 12 inch above the 0
grainline. Flip the ruler back and mark the underarm/
side-seam position.
1
2 inch above
grainline
81to
left of
8 inch
out0 cross-grain
from grainline
Keep the
pattern 14
inch left of the 0
cross-grain. Shift
it back to 18 inch
above the rulers
0 grainline. Flip
the ruler back and
mark the waist
dart notches. If
your pattern has
shirring, pleats,
or tucks in lieu
of a waist dart,
mark them.
Waist dart
8 inch above
0 grainline
4 inch left of
0 cross-grain
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Photos: Sloan Howard. Illustrations: (p. 42) Bonnie Hofkin 2014; (p. 44) Rosann Berry.
10
1
8 inch left of
0 cross-grain
Mark dart
points.
1
8 inch above
0 grainline
On 0 grainline
Center-front
waist
11
4 inch left of
0 cross-grain
Shift the pattern around the graded copy on the paper between the
previously marked intervals and fill in the pattern edges.
Grading Tools
Purchasing a grading machine, such as the Dario Grade-O Meter ($450 to $595), is an expensive proposition. If you intend to
grade patterns frequently, however, it can be worth the cost, and you can find them on eBay or at SouthStarSupply.com. A
grading machine makes moving a pattern between the growth intervals easier. This article teaches you how to use a grading
ruler only (available at FashionPatterns.com), but the technique is essentially the same when using a grading machine.
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