for your blouse. If you are making a blazer and love to wear them layered over sweaters, make sure there is enough ease to accommodate the thickness of the sweater. To check that there is enough ease in a garment, bend your elbows and reach your arms in front of you to give an imaginary hug. If the garment is too tight, it will strain at the seams and eventually tear. You should be able to bend and reach easily without the garment holding you back. Personal taste is an important factor, too. Do you like fitted tops or blousy silhouettes? If you don’t feel comfortable when the waistline is fitted against your body, add more ease to make it suit your preferences. If you like your clothing to look relaxed, choose a size up or add more ease. That’s the beauty of sewing your own clothing—you can customize the garment ease and final fit!
Positive ease in a blouse
Patterns from different eras