Pattern Drafting Tutorial – Contouring with Example • Elewa

*** EXAMPLE OF HOW TO USE CONTOURING AT 3:55 ***

I will be teaching you what contouring is used for and how to use the guidelines drawn onto your front and back bodice. Contouring is a concept that's sometimes hard to understand so I'll try to break it down as easily as possible so that you can understand.

Contouring is used to remove excess fabric that can occur from certain adjustments, such as lowering a neckline or armhole, which then avoids gaping.

I do go through this video pretty quickly to avoid it being 1000 minutes long, so if there isn't anything you're clear about, please, don't hesitate to comment below for clarification.

To use contour guidelines, where your new adjusted pattern crosses the lines, cut away the sections between and then close, so that the lines of the circles touch.

Contouring is something that can be very useful when making pattern adjustments, I personally love it when make strapless garments as they fit around the bust much better.

Be open to experimenting with different lengths to see how the guidelines can better suit your body.

Examples of tutorials where I have used contouring:

Basic bodice block tutorial

*** This video is best viewed in 1080p in fullscreen because of the thin lines of the pencil ***

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Follow my sewing journey:

[emilya]

I've been enjoying so many of your videos and I have to say, I am so impressed at how much you know about this, how young you are, and how long you've been sewing. And I'm so grateful that you've chosen to share this with us!

[LittleByLittleEnglish]

Y’all are brutal, this was a great video! Thank you for taking the time to make this!

[bolanlesmith]

Thank you for this tutorial. You have completely demystified the concept of contouring. Please do a tutorial on pattern grading. would be most appreciated

[KariBronson]

Could you do a follow up video showing what the garment looks like on with the contouring vs with none. Also thank you so much these videos are amazing and I feel way more confident drafting my own patterns now, as opposed to tailoring the fabric on my body. this will save me so much time!!

[franciscabonsel]

Thank you for your cheerful tutorial. True you - and many others- speak fast, but I found a solution which works for me . I first watch the clip to get the general drift. Then I replay and at crucial moments I stop it and make a screen shot (or if using a laptop I make a pict with my phone). That way I built my own tutorial "book".

[cequejecoutequoi]

Bonjour Elewa. Je viens juste de découvrir ce principe et je suis très contente de tomber sur ta vidéo qui montrent très bien comment mettre en pratique, le contouring. Thank you so much for this tutorial.
I do not speak English. I have not translated to let you appreciate how your tutorial impacts across borders. Merci Elewa.

[daniabraham]

I just started sewing(I'm teaching my self) and it's really amazing to see your tutorials and all.. Keep it up dear.. Much love

[gwensmale]

Please do more of these kind of videos please we are so many out there who struggles with fitting issues and fear because we feel we are failing. Thank you please 🙏

[gwensmale]

Wow 👌 wow wow your videos blew my mind. If I do all this I really hope I will have the fit I want 🙏

[maridiani]

I never understood contouring until today.. thanks for teaching.

[abbyohla]

Thank you much for this tutorial I found it extremely useful and it worked out perfectly xxx

[mrangelable]

You are very professional, I've seen only this video and I'm subscribed. 👍👍👍

[houseofcarlson]

Thanks for sharing this tutorial. Though you are so fast in teaching but it is better understood than the others.

[easywaytoreducefatandweigh]

Excellent, so easy to learn. Searched for a long time, as how much width of the darts. Thank you. Keep Rocking!

[nickschroeder]

wonderful, exactly what I was looking for, my question then is I am making a vest so I would like to not have the dart below the breast, can you show me how to fix the line at the bottom, I have done this many times but this is where I get "lost", I do not want to lose the length, just kind of confused by this, any help would be so appreciated, and thank you, needed to see this in "action"

[FutureFendiFsnista]

This video is great and super informative!

Just a question: would it be possible to make a contour block pattern with all the excess removed? Or would I have to do this each time I make a pattern with a contoured top?

[santamtamrakar]

Can we use waist contouring techinique in all dress designs like blouse too, ow do we have soecific designs to use contouring technique

[anamariaecheverria]

thank you so much! Your videos are very helpful

[centaur]

Gee thanks gf just came from a lecture regarding contouring and had not 1 continental clue of what was happening, thanks for clarifying.

[mofolukuesther]

Beautifully explained! But i have a question please, it seems you used Natalie bray pattern, did u tighten the shoulder dart before transferring to the bust? Or you just transferred the normal shoulder dart