Two meanings for the word “ease” as far as sewing is concerned:
– The ease is the extra amount of fabric placed in every pattern piece in addition to the measurements of the body itself. When ease is minimal (for a close-fitting garment), it is nonetheless essential for the body to be able to move inside the finished garment. Adding more ease also allows more volume to be created depending on the style of garment you wish to make.
– The ease is an excess of fabric that can be found in some pieces of a garment. When a piece has ease, that implies that its edge is longer than the edge of the corresponding piece that will be sewn with it. Ease is typical on set-in sleeves for example: the length of the head of the sleeve, between the notches, is longer than the corresponding measurement on the armhole. You will have to absorb the ease when sewing the two pieces together (one can use the gathering threads method to do so).
Ease is essential to create the volume needed for body movement on close fitted pieces.
Please note that, on our patterns, the ease is always marked.