Ease Guide

How much ease should you add? Select your garment type and fit preference to get recommended ease amounts for bust, waist, and hip.

Garment type

Fit preference

Close-fit

Minimal ease — moves with the body, very form-fitting

Fitted

Skims the body with just enough room to move

Semi-fitted

Some room at bust/hip, relaxed through the body

Loose

Clearly larger than body, billowy or relaxed silhouette

Very loose

Oversized, draped, maximum design ease

Recommended ease — Blouse / Top / Semi-fitted

Bust ease

4″(10.2 cm)

Waist ease

3″(7.6 cm)

Hip ease

4″(10.2 cm)

Add these amounts to your body measurements to get your finished garment measurements. Choose a pattern size that matches those finished measurements.

Full ease reference table (all fits)

Fit	Bust	Waist	Hip
Close-fit	2″	1″	2″
Fitted	3″	2″	3″
Semi-fitted	4″	3″	4″
Loose	6″	5″	6″
Very loose	10″	8″	10″

Ease amounts are industry guidelines based on ASTM standards. Your preferred ease may vary — always compare against finished garment measurements on the pattern envelope.