A Simple Beginner's Guide to How to Make a Dart in Sewing

Sew Over It
by Sew Over It
5 Materials
5 Minutes
Easy

If you are learning how to sew, you may be wondering how to sew darts in a blouse.


Darts are a technique that helps shape garments by curving straight fabric to the body. They’re made by stitching a long thin pinch to a point that’s ironed down to one side.


It's a great sewing technique to learn and it doesn’t take much time. Let me show you how to make a dart in sewing!

Tools and materials:

  • Fabric
  • Sewing machine
  • Erasable pen or tailor’s chalk
  • Ruler
  • Pins
How to figure out dart placement

1. Where to place the dart

The pattern will usually tell you where to put the dart.

Where to place darts

In some patterns, there is a small notch.

Marking the area for the dart with a pin

You’ll insert the dart on the wrong side of the fabric. Mark the area of the dart with the erasable pen or tailor’s chalk or a pin.

Pinning to mark and secure the fold

Put a pin in the point of where to start the dart, a pin on the fold, and another pin to secure the fold.

Marking a guide for the dart

2. Make a guideline

Use the ruler and the pen to give yourself a stitching guideline to make it easier. When you’re using the ruler, make sure the fabric hasn’t moved.


If the pins are in the way of you drawing your guideline, pop them out to make the line and pop them right back in.

How to sew a dart

3. Sew the dart

Start at the top of the dart. Backstitch the top and begin to feed the fabric down the line, moving the pins out as you go along.

Double-knotting the end of the thread

When you get to the end, leave yourself a nice bit of thread. Tie the threads together in a double knot.


This is one of the few times in sewing where you won’t backstitch at the end. This is because you want the seam to be really fine and disappear into the fabric. 

Pressing the dart with an iron

4. Iron the dart

Now it’s time for a press! Pull the garment and press towards the hem. Iron a vertical dart toward the back of the garment. Once it’s nice and flat, turn the garment over to the right side.


Be careful not to iron into the bottom portion of the dart because that will create a ridge in the garment.

How to make a dart in sewing

Gently push the iron over the stitch line right into the point and that will give the dart a nice, crisp, and professional finish.


How to make a dart in sewing tutorial

There you have it! How to make a dart in sewing! It looks complicated but it really isn’t! Let me know in the comments if you tried it and how easy it was!

Suggested materials:
  • Fabric
  • Sewing machine
  • Erasable pen or tailor’s chalk
See all materials

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Comments
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 1 comment
  • Darla Darla on Jan 06, 2022

    It's good to see someone teaching people how to sew. Since they stopped Home Ecomonics out of schools people don't know how to sew. My mother sewed a lot of our clothes. My sister sewed as well. I was not that great at it. I did master the aline skirt with waistband and side zipper, because it was for the final grade. Thank you for sharing your skills. Keep stitchin'!

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