Patterns

Sewing lovers, let's dive into the world of pattern blocks! As you may know, many pattern companies offer basic fitting shells for women to use as a foundation for their future sewing projects or even for designing their own garments.

A shell pattern is different than a sloper, although you could use this pattern as a starting point to create a sloper. You will often hear about designers creating slopers. Creating a sloper involves fitting the pattern closely to your body and removing all ease and seam allowances. This is done so that the designer can build in the intended ease in their designs. But beware, this process takes time and effort, and it may actually be more efficient to create a sloper from your measurements instead. Slopers are a 2D version of the 3D body.

Still, there's hope! Beginners can find success without creating a sloper by using a fitting shell to create a simple block. Fitting shells allow for some fitting ease and the seam allowances aren't removed. Fitting shells can help you understand your unique shape and will help you practice fitting yourself, without confusing or complex designs to work around. You'll be able to use the final shell to compare them to patterns, or you may even want to begin designing new looks off of them.

A pro tip: try using gingham fabric as it has both horizontal and vertical lines, making it easier to spot any distortions compared to using an unprinted muslin cloth. Without further ado, let's take a look at some more basic shell sewing patterns available on the market. It's interesting to see how they've changed with the different decades.