Ease
Definition
Ease is the difference between a garment's measurements and the body's measurements at the same point, the extra room that lets you move and gives the style its shape.
If your hip measures 100 cm (39 1/2 in) and the finished skirt measures 106 cm (41 3/4 in) at the hip, the skirt has 6 cm (2 1/4 in) of ease. Ease has two parts: wearing ease, the minimum you need to breathe, sit and reach, and design ease, the extra the designer adds for the look. Stretch fabrics can even have negative ease, where the garment is smaller than you.
Typical total ease at the bust for woven garments:
| Fit | Ease at the bust |
|---|---|
| Close-fitting | 5–8 cm (2–3 in) |
| Regular | 8–12 cm (3–4 3/4 in) |
| Relaxed | 12–20 cm (4 3/4–8 in) |
| Oversized | 20 cm (8 in) or more |
When choosing a size, compare your body measurements with the size chart, then check the finished garment measurements to see how much ease you will get. A size chart lists body measurements; the finished measurements include the ease. Sizing down because a garment "looks big" on paper usually removes ease the style depends on.
Sewly drafts every piece from your measurements and adds the ease that suits the garment and the fit you choose. For the full picture, read ease in sewing patterns.