At Twig + Tale®, we believe that everyone deserves clothing that fits well, feels comfortable, and reflects their personal style. Every body is unique – in size, shape, ability, and needs – and your wardrobe should celebrate and support that uniqueness rather than forcing you to adapt to ill-fitting, uncomfortable garments.
Whether you're sewing for yourself, a family member, or a dear friend, handmade garments offer a beautiful opportunity to personalise fit and style. You can adjust for mobility differences, accommodate medical devices, modify for sensory preferences, or simply ensure that every seam and closure works exactly as you need it to.
Our collection of adaptive sewing resources is designed to support you in this journey. From pattern modifications for wheelchair users to techniques for post-mastectomy comfort, from easy-dressing adaptations to inclusive fitting methods – these tutorials and guides are our way of ensuring that everyone can experience the joy and confidence that comes from wearing clothes that fit and function well.
Adaptive sewing tutorials
Front and Back Rise Adjustments for Pants for Full-time Wheelchair Users - Customise the rise of pants and shorts patterns to be comfortable when worn primarily in a seated position.
Adaptability to Over Head Patterns: Side and Shoulder Openings - Customise your top with a side, shoulder, or underarm opening that works best for your specific needs and preferences, and works with snap domes, hook and loop tape, or buttons and buttonholes.
Adaptability to Over Head Patterns: Sensory Overlap Back Opening - For those with mobility restrictions, create a top that opens entirely in the back for ease of dressing.
Add a Split Back to Coats - A quick way to add versatility and comfort to a longer style coat which will be worn in both standing and seated positions is to add a back split.
How to Create a Cut-out Back Coat for Fulltime Wheelchair Users - For wheelchair users, standard coats can present movement and mobility challenges. This alteration for Pixie Coats and Grove Coats will especially suit full-time wheelchair users who want to stay warm and wear a fabulous coat while still enjoying comfort and functionality (pictured below).
Post-mastectomy sewing resources
How to lower an armhole for swelling or sensitivity - Use with set-in or raglan sleeves to create more ease in the underarm area. This adjustment is particularly useful for those with swelling or general sensitivity under the arm.
How to do a forward shoulder adjustment on a garment with a set-in sleeve - Use this adjustment to refine the shoulder seam placement for a better fit. This can be especially helpful to accommodate post-mastectomy changes in posture.
How to do a forward shoulder adjustment on a garment with a raglan sleeve - As above, but for a raglan sleeve.
How to do a Small Bust Adjustment on a garment with bust darts - A useful adjustment for a "flat" side that is not completely flat. For example, the Plains Dress pictured below used an SBA on one side to get a balanced fit.
The following Twig + Tale patterns include pre-adjusted pattern pieces for post-mastectomy/flat-front. Pattern pieces are for a flat front on either one or both sides, and includes a custom tutorial with specific fitting resources.
Scenic Top - a simple, woven, scoop-neck top with four different sleeve options
Vista Top - a woven, v-neck top with billowy statement sleeves
Fable Dress - a button-front dress with princess seam bodice and gathered skirt
Plains Dress - a classic, pull-over shift dress with an optional curved front pocket
Other patterns that are suitable for adaptive needs
Meadow Skirt and Fernway Culottes - include an option for a knit sensory waistband for extra softness and flexibility.
Lorien Skirt - features a comfortable elastic waist with lacing details to accommodate abdominal changes due to natural cycles or medical conditions.
Skirt Hikes - use them to hold skirts up for ease of walking, or to keep long skirts clear of wheelchair wheels, as pictured below. (Note: Kitti made four skirt hikes - two for the front and two for the back - and found they made it much easier to wear a long skirt in a wheelchair).
~ Lovely images by Lolie Yergeau, Rebecca Buttermore, and Kitti Kaboodle ~
