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CREATE ANY SIZE: PATTERN GRADING

FOR SEWERS

with
Kathleen Cheetham
Supplies & Resources

SUPPLIES
Cardboard grid to protect table
Permanent markers in different colors
Micro/ extra-fine tip permanent felt pen (Sharpie
or other), in black and red
Old business cards, index cards or card stock
Highlighter
Paper scissors
Pattern weights
Clear grading ruler
French curve
Kraft paper
Kathleen uses Rainbow brand Colored Kraft
Duo-Finish in light blue; available at teacher
and classroom supply stores or online at
mpmschoolsupplies.com
Transparent tape
Pattern awl
Pattern paper, resilient for tracing patterns
Needle wheel

SUGGESTED READING
Grading Workbook by Connie Amaden-Crawford
(Fashion Patterns By Coni, 2011)
Master Patterns and Grading for Women's
Outsizes by Gerry Cooklin (Wiley-Blackwell, 1995)
Pattern Grading for Women's Clothes by Gerry
Cooklin (Wiley-Blackwell, 1991)
Pattern Grading for Children's Clothes by Gerry
Cooklin (Wiley-Blackwell, 1991)
Pattern Grading for Men's Clothes by Gerry
Cooklin (Wiley-Blackwell, 1991)
The Entrepreneurs Guide to Sewn Product
Manufacturing by Kathleen Fasanella (Apparel
Technical Services, 1998)
Concepts of Pattern Grading by Carolyn L Moore,
Kathy K Mullet & Margaret Prevatt Young (Fairchild
Books, second edition 2008)
Grading Techniques for Fashion Design by Jeanne
Price & Bernard Zamkoff (Fairchild Publications,
second edition 1996)
CONTINUED >

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Craftsy.com

Sympoz Inc. d/b/a Craftsy is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by or in any way officially connected with any of the products featured in this video. All product and company names, logos,
brands, or other trademarks or images featured or referred to in this video are the property of their respective trademark holders. The use in this video of the products and any protected intellectual
property is used for illustrative purposes, and no commercial claim to their use, or suggestion of sponsorship, affiliation or endorsement, is made by Sympoz Inc. d/b/a Craftsy.

CREATE ANY SIZE: PATTERN GRADING


FOR SEWERS

with
Kathleen Cheetham
Supplies & Resources

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Grade (noun)

The total increase or decrease in circumference between each size, e.g., 2" between size 12 and 14; or the incremental growth/decrease at each cardinal point
on a pattern piece.

Grade (verb)

To proportionally increase or decrease the size of a pattern.

Total or overall grade

The total increase or decrease in circumference between each size. For example, 2" between size 12 and 14.

Allocated grade

The portion of the total grade to be applied to one pattern piece.

Incremental grade

The growth/decrease at each cardinal point on a pattern piece.

Nest or graded nest

A set of graded pattern pieces stacked, illustrating the difference in each size.
You will also see graded nests in multi-size patterns.

Cardinal points

The places on a pattern piece where we will insert or take away room to increase/decrease its size.

Grade rule library

Also called Grade Rule Table or Chart; a list of cardinal points along with their
grade increments for each pattern piece.

Base size

Also called the master pattern; the original (usually middle) pattern size that is
graded up and down to create the full size range

Production pattern

A master pattern which has been graded for all of its sizes.

True up or truing

Checking the graded pattern pieces to ensure they fit accurately together at
their connecting seams.

Size run

The sizes in a specific style, such as 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

Machine grading

Mechanically moving a pattern to grade. When this method is used, the pattern
is clamped into the grading machine and a knob is turned to set the grading
increment.

Computer grading

The base pattern is first digitized, then grade rules are applied using software to
create the new sizes.

Manual/hand grading

Grading on paper using ruler and pencil.

Cut and spread grading

Manually grading by cutting the pattern apart along cardinal points, then either
spreading to grade up or overlapping to grade down.

Pattern shifting

Grading the pattern by shifting it back and forth, up and down along an X and Y axis.

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CREATE ANY SIZE: PATTERN GRADING


FOR SEWERS

with
Kathleen Cheetham

Sewing

Charts
GARMENT SIZE CHART
BASE
SIZE

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

in.

cm

in.

cm

in.

cm

in.

cm

in.

cm

in.

cm

in.

cm

in.

cm

in.

cm

in.

cm

in.

cm

Bust

30

77

32

82

34

87

36

92

38

97

40

102

42

107

44

112

46

117

48

122

50

127

Waist

22

57

24

62

26

67

28

72

30

77

32

82

34

87

36

92

38

97

40

102

42

107

Hip

32

82

34

87

36

92

38

97

40

102

42

107

44

112

46

117

48

122

50

127

52

132

CONTINUED >
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CREATE ANY SIZE: PATTERN GRADING


FOR SEWERS

with
Kathleen Cheetham

Sewing

Charts
PATTERN GRADING CHART
CARDINAL
POINTS

FORMULA

1 SIZE
2" (5 CM) GRADE

2 SIZES
4" (10 CM) GRADE

Top/Blouse

Allocated Grade

inches

cm

inches

cm

Front & Back

of the full grade of


2" or 5 cm

1 and 6

of allocated grade
" or 1.25 cm

Midpoint of neckline to waist

1 8

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

2 and 7

Shoulder seam to waist

1 8

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

3 and 8

Lower armscye to waist

"

.62 cm

"

1.25 cm

Circumference check

4 8

/"

1.25 cm

1"

2.5 cm

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

PLACEMENT

4 and 9

Center front or center back to armscye

1 8

5 and 10

Center front or center back to side seam

1 8

CONTINUED >
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CREATE ANY SIZE: PATTERN GRADING


FOR SEWERS

with
Kathleen Cheetham

Sewing

Charts
CARDINAL
POINTS

FORMULA

Skirt Front & Back

Allocated Grade

11 and 16

Waist to hem: halfway between center front


and first dart

1 8

12 and 17

Waist to hem: halfway between first


and second dart

13 and 18

14 and 19
15 and 20

Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

1 SIZE
2" (5 CM) GRADE

2 SIZES
4" (10 CM) GRADE

inches

cm

inches

cm

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

1 8

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

Waist to hem: halfway between second dart


and side seam

"

.62 cm

"

1.25 cm

Hip line: center front or center back


to side seam

"

.62 cm

"

1.25 cm

Knee: center front or center back


to side seam

"

.62 cm

"

1.25 cm

PLACEMENT

Craftsy.com

CREATE ANY SIZE: PATTERN GRADING


FOR SEWERS

with
Kathleen Cheetham

Sewing

Charts
CARDINAL
POINTS

FORMULA

Sleeve

Allocated Grade

21

Midway under arm and center front notch


to hem

1 8

22

Midway center front notch


and shoulder notch to hem

1 8

23

Midway shoulder notch


and center back notch to hem

1 8

24

Midway center back notch


and under arm to hem

1 8

25

Section sleeve cap roughly in half


above notches

1 8

PLACEMENT

1 SIZE
2" (5 CM) GRADE

2 SIZES
4" (10 CM) GRADE

inches

cm

inches

cm

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

/"

.31 cm

"

.62 cm

CONTINUED >
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

Craftsy.com

CREATE ANY SIZE: PATTERN GRADING


FOR SEWERS

with
Kathleen Cheetham

Sewing

Charts
PATTERN GRADING CHART TEMPLATE
CARDINAL
POINTS

FORMULA

Top/Blouse

Allocated Grade

Front & Back

of the full grade of


2" or 5 cm

1 and 6

of allocated grade
" or 1.25 cm

2 and 7
3 and 8

PLACEMENT

1 SIZE
2" (5 CM) GRADE

2 SIZES
4" (10 CM) GRADE

inches

inches

cm

cm

"

cm

"

cm

Midpoint of neckline to waist

"

cm

"

cm

Shoulder seam to waist

"

cm

"

cm

Lower armscye to waist

"

cm

"

cm

Circumference check

/"

1.25 cm

4 8

1"

2.5 cm

4 and 9

Center front or center back to armscye

"

cm

"

cm

5 and 10

Center front or center back to side seam

"

cm

"

cm

CONTINUED >
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

Craftsy.com

CREATE ANY SIZE: PATTERN GRADING


FOR SEWERS

with
Kathleen Cheetham

Sewing

Charts
CARDINAL
POINTS

FORMULA

Skirt Front & Back

Allocated Grade

11 and 16

Waist to hem: halfway between center front


and first dart

"

cm

"

cm

12 and 17

Waist to hem: halfway between first


and second dart

"

cm

"

cm

13 and 18

Waist to hem: halfway between second dart


and side seam

"

cm

"

cm

14 and 19

Hip line: center front or center back


to side seam

"

cm

"

cm

15 and 20

Knee: center front or center back


to side seam

"

cm

"

cm

PLACEMENT

1 SIZE
2" (5 CM) GRADE

2 SIZES
4" (10 CM) GRADE

inches

inches

cm

cm

CONTINUED >
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

Craftsy.com

CREATE ANY SIZE: PATTERN GRADING


FOR SEWERS

with
Kathleen Cheetham

Sewing

Charts
CARDINAL
POINTS

FORMULA

Sleeve

Allocated Grade

21

Midway under arm and center front notch


to hem

"

cm

"

cm

22

Midway center front notch


and shoulder notch to hem

"

cm

"

cm

23

Midway shoulder notch


and center back notch to hem

"

cm

"

cm

24

Midway center back notch


and under arm to hem

"

cm

"

cm

25

Section sleeve cap roughly in half


above notches

"

cm

"

cm

Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

PLACEMENT

Craftsy.com

1 SIZE
2" (5 CM) GRADE

2 SIZES
4" (10 CM) GRADE

inches

inches

cm

cm

Blouse Practise Pattern Pieces


Back
BLOUSE BACK PRACTICE PATTERN

7
6
CB

Back

(cut one on fold)


SEAM ALLOWANCE 3/8 IN (1 CM)

SIZE 14

10

19

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

CB

10

TOTAL BLOUSE PRACTICE PATTERN

Grading a Blouse
Placement of Cardinal Points
7

6
CB

25

9
3
Sleeve

(cut two)
SEAM ALLOWANCE 3/8 IN (1 CM)

Back

SIZE 14

(cut one on fold)


SEAM ALLOWANCE 3/8 IN (1 CM)

CF

SIZE 14

Front

(cut two)
SEAM ALLOWANCE 3/8 IN (1 CM)

SIZE 14

Bust Point

21

22

23

24

10

19

14
CF
CB

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

11

Blouse Practise Pattern Pieces


Facings and Collar
BLOUSE FACINGS & COLLAR

SIZE 14
Back Facing

(cut one fabric, cut one interfacing)


SEAM ALLOWANCE 3/8 IN (1 CM)

SIZE 14
Front Facing

(cut two fabric, cut two interfacing)


SEAM ALLOWANCE 3/8 IN (1 CM)

CF

CB

Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

CF

SIZE 14

Collar

(cut two fabric, cut one interfacing)


SEAM ALLOWANCE 3/8 IN (1 CM)

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham

12

Front
BLOUSE FRONT
PRACTICE PATTERN

4
3
1

CF

Front

(cut two)
SEAM ALLOWANCE 3/8 IN (1 CM)

SIZE 14

Bust Point

14
CF
Create Any Size:
Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham

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13

SKIRT BACK PRACTICE PATTERN

Skirt Back
CB

Back
19

20

18

17

16

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

14

SKIRT FRONT PRACTICE PATTERN

Skirt Front
CF

Front
14

15

11

12

13

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

15

CB

TOTAL SKIRT
PRACTICE PATTERN

CB

SS

CF

SS

SS

CF

SS

CB

CB

CF

CB

Front

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

Back

14

19

15

20

11

12

13

18

17

16

16

SKIRT WAISTBAND PRACTICE PATTERN

CB

CB

SS

CF

SS

SS

CF

SS

CB

CB

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

17

Blouse Practise Pattern Pieces


Sleeve

SLEEVE PRACTICE PATTERN

25

Sleeve

(cut two)
SEAM ALLOWANCE 3/8 IN (1 CM)

SIZE 14

21

22

23

24

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

18

SLEEVELESS TOP BACK


PRACTICE PATTERN

CB

Sleeveless Top - Back


cut one on fold

CENTRE BACK - place on fold

SEAM ALLOWANCE 6 mm / 1/4 in

10

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

19

SLEEVELESS TOP FRONT


PRACTICE PATTERN
2

1
CF

Sleeveless Top - Front


cut one on fold
SEAM ALLOWANCE 6 mm / 1/4 in

3
CENTRE FRONT - place on fold

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

20

6
CB

TOTAL SLEEVELESS TOP


PRACTICE PATTERN
1

1
CF

CF

- Back
Top - Back
Sleeveless Top Sleeveless

- Front
Top - Front
Sleeveless Top Sleeveless
cut one on fold

cut one on fold

SEAM ALLOWANCE 6 mm / 1/4 in

SEAM ALLOWANCE 6 mm / 1/4 in

3
CENTRE FRONT - place on fold

CENTRE FRONT - place on fold

cut one on fold

cut one on fold

SEAM ALLOWANCE 6 mm / 1/4 in

SEAM ALLOWANCE 6 mm / 1/4 in

CENTRE BACK - place on fold

10

Create Any Size:


Pattern Grading
for Sewers
with Kathleen Cheetham
Craftsy and Sympoz Inc.

21

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