I worked closely with Threads Contributing Editor Kenneth D. King as he wrote a comprehensive book on fitting. His goal in putting together Kenneth D. King’s Smart Fitting Solutions (The Taunton Press, 2018) was to teach the reader how to accurately identify key fit issues before jumping into making pattern adjustments.

Kenneth recommends a helpful method for diagnosing fit challenges: photographing yourself in ready-to-wear garments from your wardrobe. These clothes send messages, usually in the form of wrinkles, that can help identify how your shape differs from standard sizes. As an unexpected bonus, the photographs may reveal your personal style.

Editor’s Note: This article highlights some of Kenneth’s foolproof techniques for fitting any figure. For his complete explanation of how to read the wrinkles, decipher the message, and fix the fit, you can purchase Kenneth’s book at the TauntonStore.com.

We took candid photos of several volunteers…