Darts take in fullness where it is not needed, allowing flat fabric to conform to three-dimensional body contours like the bust, waist, or hips. The tailor pinches a wedge-shaped fold on the wrong side of the fabric and stitches it down to a point. A standard dart has one wide end at a seam, while a contour dart is wide in the middle and tapered at both ends.
Heard on the job
Press the bust dart flat before you attach the side seams so it lays smooth against the body.
Insider tip
Always stitch from the wide base of the dart to the point, and leave a tail of thread to tie off rather than backstitching, which causes puckers.
Also heard as
- Darting