SS stands for side seam, the primary vertical stitch line that joins the front and back panels of a garment. It runs from the underarm down to the hem on shirts or dresses, and from the waistband to the ankle on trousers. Tailors and patternmakers use this seam to adjust the overall fit and silhouette of the piece.
Take in the SS by half an inch on both sides to give the waist more definition.
When altering a garment, always check if the SS has topstitching or flat-felled construction, as this makes taking it in much more labor-intensive.
Related terms
Seam allowance
The extra fabric between the stitching line and the raw edge of a cut piece.
CB
Center back, the vertical line running down the exact middle of the back of a garment.
CF
Center front, the vertical line running down the exact middle of the front of a garment.
Sloper
A basic, custom-fitted pattern block used as a foundation for designing garments.