Ease (sewing)

In sewing and patternmaking, ease is the amount of room a garment allows the wearer beyond the measurements of their body. There are two types of ease, wearing ease and design ease. Wearing ease is the amount of room added so that one can engage in daily activities, such as sitting or moving. According to one source, wearing ease is 2 1/2" at the bust, 1" as the waist, and 3" at the hip. A second source notes that ready to wear ease is 2" at the bust, 1" at the waist, and 2" through the hips. Design, or fashion, ease is connected with a designer creating a particular look, and extends beyond wearing ease.^: 63 The amount of ease allowance leads to specific categories: close-fitting, fitted, semi-fitted, loose-fitting, and very loose-fitting.^: 119

Clothing worn during the day tends to need mrore ease than evening garments, because of the range of activities that might take place. For evening garments, the activity determines how much ease will be needed.^: 7

Ease is most important for woven garments cut on the straight or crossgrain, because fabric in this orientation has little or no stretch. This is in contrast to woven garments cut on the bias and knit garments, both of which can stretch to accommodate movement.

The goal is for garments to fit smoothly, regardless of the amount of ease. The lengthwise grain of the fabric should be perpendicular to the floor, while the cross grain should be parallel to the floor.

A sloper pattern or block pattern is a simple pattern with very little or no ease made for the purpose of fitting the body accurately, from which more finished or stylized patterns may be developed.