Sewing Darts: A Step-by-Step Guide

Happy Saturday,

I just love a well-fitting outfit. A dart takes a flat material and helps it take shape to fit an individual. A dart is a triangle that meets at a point. Usually, you see darts at the busts, but you will also see them in skirts and pants. I am showing you today is for a skirt.

When you have a pattern that calls for a dart, transfer the dart onto the material first.

You will need –

• Tracing paper
• Tracing wheel
• Scissors
• Presser (optional)
• Tailor’s Ham or use a rolled up towel

The tracing paper comes in several colors, pick the one that will be the easiest to see on your fabric. Take the tracing paper and open it for the marking side. Insert the paper to the wrong side of the fabric. Lay your fabric on a hard surface and take your tracing wheel and firmly trace the dart markings. Once the tracing is done, pull out the fabric and check to if it transfer the dart to the fabric. If not do it again.

Tip –

• Snip the bottom of the triangle. It makes it much easier to line up the bottom of the triangle.

Take the bottom of the dart and match them together and pin the top, middle and bottom. Once everything is lined up, stitch on the markings from the bottom of the dart up to the center. Stitch just barely past the center and tie a knot. You can tie a knot manually or with your machine.

This to me is the most important part, which is the pressing. Take your iron and press only the dart flat. Next take a wood presser and push down on the dart. This will help firm the crease.

Next press the dart according to the direction it will be in the finished garment. Normally you will press vertical darts to the center front or center back and horizontal darts you press down.

Tip

• You a tailor’s ham, this will help give the dart more shape.
• You can also use rolled up towels to help with the shaping.

I hope this helps in how to sew a dart. I love hearing from my readers. Do you have any tips or hacks that use when sewing darts. I love reading the comments and of course it helps everyone.

Happy Saturday,

Valerie