Tailoring & Fitting
French Curve
A French curve is a flat piece of plastic or metal with a set of curves borrowed from the body: a deep one for an armhole, a shallow one for a neckline, a long one for a hip. It lets you draw a smooth line through three or four measured points instead of joining them with a ruler and hoping. It is the tool that turns measurements into a pattern that fits a body rather than a box.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Material | Acrylic or aluminium |
| Curves | Armhole, neckline, hip, sleeve |
| Size | 25 - 40 cm |
| Markings | Some have a scale along the edge |
| Set | Often sold with a hip curve |
| Use | Drafting, grading, truing a seam |
Technical parameters
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Armhole | Deep curve, from shoulder to underarm |
| Neckline | Shallow curve, from shoulder to centre |
| Hip | Long, gentle curve for a hip line |
| Truing | Blend two seams so they match |
| Grain | Keep the curve aligned to the grain |
| Points | Always draw through the measured points |
Safety
A French curve is a flat template with no sharp edge, but an aluminium one has thin edges. Store it flat rather than leaning, and keep it away from heat so it does not warp, which would bend every line you draw with it.
What it is for
A flat drafting template with the curves a body actually has, for drawing armholes, necklines and hips.
Compatible fabrics
Compatible stitches
Working notes
- Draw through the measured points, not to the curve, and blend the ends.
- Use the deep curve for armholes and the shallow one for necklines.
- True the side seams so the front and back lengths match at the join.
- Store it flat; a warped curve draws a warped seam.
Related tools
Dress Form
An adjustable torso for fitting and pinning without a body inside it. The difference between guessing at a fit and seeing it.
Measuring Tape
A flexible dual-scale tape. The tool that starts every project and checks every fit.
Tracing Wheel
A spiked wheel that transfers pattern markings through to the fabric below by pressing, not by drawing.