How to Sew Darts in Clothing

Darts allow you to shape a flat piece of fabric so that it will conform to the body's contours.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Tailor's Chalks
• Tracing Wheels
• Dressmaker Pins
• Threads
• Ironing Boards
• Dressmaker Shears
• Fabric-marking Pens
• Fabrics
• Dressmaker's Carbon
• Needles
• Irons
• Sewing Patterns

1. 

   Transfer the markings from your sewing pattern onto the fabric. See "How to Cut Out and Mark Pattern Pieces on Fabric" for instructions.

2. 

   Place the right sides of the fabric piece together and fold the dart at the center. The dart sewing lines and any other markings should line up evenly.

3. 

   Pin-baste the dart into place.

4. 

   Stitch the dart along the marked sewing lines. Stitch from the widest end of the dart to the point.

5. Cut the top and bottom threads so that each has a tail of approximately 4 to 5 inches.

6. 

   Knot the threads so that the knot lies against the very top point of the dart.

7. Avoid pulling threads tightly. This will cause fabric to pucker.

8. 

   Position the dart as it was when you sewed it - with the fold at the center of the dart.

9. Press with an iron from the widest part of the dart to the point.

10. Stop your iron at the point so as not to crease the rest of your fabric.

11. Lay the fabric piece onto your ironing board so that the right side of the garment faces down.

12. Press the dart toward the center of the garment. Again, iron no farther than the point of the dart.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow any instructions given in the pattern for sewing darts into your garment.

• Baste the dart into place by inserting dressmaker pins through both layers of fabric so that the pins are at right angles to the fold. Place pins 2 to 3 inches apart. Adjust the fabric and re-pin as desired before stitching permanently.