For more information on our Chest Projection Sizes or Gender Inclusive Terminology, scroll down to read all about it.
Pattern Sizing and Fitting Information
Size Chart - Tops and Dresses
Size Chart - Skirts and Pants
A New Size Chart - Inclusive Language Edition
Traditionally dressmakers and home sewers alike have used “bust” and “cup sizes” to refer to the projection of the chest in female designated clothing.
These terms are incredibly inaccurate, and problematic for a few reasons.
Cup Sizes in bras and Cup Sizes in a sewing garment are not the same thing and this often causes people to sew the wrong size. Sewing is hard enough as it is without these confusing and misleading terms.
People wear clothes not genders and the use of the word “bust” can be triggering for those with gender dysmorphia. It is also difficult to create clothing that can be worn by any gender if feminine descriptors are used.
For these reasons I have chosen to change this language in my own patterns as far as is practical.
Understanding the New Terminology
At The Craefty Witch cup sizes are referred to as projections or “P” for short. For example, traditionally a 5cm (2”) projection would be called a B Cup but in my patterns a 5cm projection is P5.
Likewise a D Cup would be a P10 for its 10cm (4”) projection.
This is especially important to us as there are no industry size standards and while this is the general guideline for garment “cup” sizing, not all pattern companies, designers or manufacturers follow this. It’s up to the designers discretion.
X
Finally, we have X. When creating our The Craefty Witch I wanted to empahsis accessibility and inclusion as the core values of my business. The X chest is my way of inviting all sewists of all gender presentations and all body types to come and try my patterns if they like them. This is a safe space and you are absolutely welcome and wanted here.
I could have use P0, but I wanted it to be clearer than that. So I took the X from 'Mx. ' which is a gender-neutral honorific for those who don't wish to be identified by gender and put it in the size pattern so that you would know that you have a place here.
Further Information
For further information I recommend reading the Timeless Templates Blog. It is a wonderful and in depth look at bust sizing in garment sewing aided by great visuals and photos.
You can find the blog here
The Curvy Sewing Collective Also has a brilliant blog which gives a size inclusive explanation of pattern cup sizes including a list of pattern companies with the drafted cup sizes for each.
You can read their blog here
