Hi beautiful Merpeople! Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Amii and this is my first time blogging for M4M! I started sewing only to alter my daughter’s dance costumes, which led me to open a custom dance costume business. When I entered the pdf pattern world, Made for Mermaids was my first pdf pattern company and I have been hooked ever since. Making clothes that actually fit me has increased my confidence immensely! 

Let’s get to why you are here:

How do you adjust for height?

Made for Mermaids patterns are drafted for the height of 5’5” and a side length of 8”. Why is that important? This is a baseline of measurement so that you can make adjustments for the perfect fit for your garment. What is side length? Side length is the measurement from the armpit to your natural waist. 

 

Tips on measuring side length

• Having someone else measuring your side length is the best!
• Measure your upper bust and waist so you can see where to measure your side length.
• Using a clip when measuring yourself is really helpful!
• For more details on measuring yourself, check out our blog post here. 

I am 5’4” and I have a side length of 8”.  As a general rule, for every inch above or below 5’5”, you add or subtract ½”. You may notice that M4M does not have predetermined cut lines to add or subtract length. Everyone’s body is different and may need to add or subtract length in different areas. For example, in my case, I need to subtract ½” in length. Since my side length is equivalent to the pattern’s side length, the ½” needs to be taken off the hip area. This adjustment is normal for me. I used the Tess curved hem t-shirt as the perfect example for this adjustment. Buying RTW curved hem t-shirts is a nightmare! The length is usually too long and the curve hem hits me in an unflattering spot. 

 

Simple steps to adding or subtracting length

1. Draw a straight line on the paper pattern piece where you want to add or subtract length (based on where you need the length)
2. Add or subtract the necessary length from that line.
3. Smooth out any gaps or excess from adding or subtracting the length on your paper pattern piece. 

 

Adjusting sewing patterns is key for the best fitting garments for YOUR body! When I found out where to actually make the correct adjustment for my body, it made a huge difference in my sewing. I hope this helps! Thanks for reading ❤️

Looking for helpful blogs on other height adjustments?

• Pants Fitting 101

• How to Adjust Pants for Height

• How to Shorten a Pattern

• Grading 101

Happy Sewing!

~Amii