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Commercial sizes often grade 1 inch at bust, 1 inch at waist, and 1 inch at hip per size (total circumference). Divide by 4 for quarter-pattern adjustments.
Quarter pattern change = total grade increment / 4 per seamLength grades in smaller increments — often ⅜ to ½ inch per size at center front/back and slightly less at side seams.
Length grade ≠ width grade; apply at designated linesNested patterns show all sizes on one sheet; grading verifies distance between size lines matches intended grade rules.
Size n to n+1 distance = grade rule at that body pointUpdated: July 2026
Four size steps × 1 inch bust grade = 4 inches total circumference — 1 inch added at each quarter panel slash point.
Petite grading reduces torso length 1–1.5 inches without full width grade — separate length rules from circumference.
Between size 12 bust and size 10 waist — grade each point independently using split grade rules.
Armholes, neck, and shoulders use smaller grade increments than bust/waip — follow point-specific rules or fit suffers.
Measure body and compare to pattern size chart before grading. Pattern size 12 ≠ retail size 12 across brands.
Pattern grading scales a base size to larger or smaller sizes while preserving design proportions. Enter key body measurements and grade rules to compute incremental changes at bust, waist, hip, and length points for slash-and-spread or XY grading.