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Chalk and Notch Patterns

Chalk and Notch Patterns

Chalk and Notch is a small American pattern company with an unusually professional pedigree: its founder, Gabriela, spent eight years as a pattern maker and product developer in the apparel industry before releasing patterns of her own. That shows up in the drafting and in the level of detail in the instructions. The range covers dresses, blouses, trousers, jackets and tops for women, plus a children's line.
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There's a particular kind of indie pattern company that comes out of industry rather than out of blogging, and Chalk and Notch is one of them. Gabriela trained in fashion design and worked for eight years as a pattern maker and product developer before releasing her first pattern in 2015, and the drafting reflects it: pieces that go together cleanly, sleeves that sit properly in the armhole, and details that look considered rather than decorative.

What the patterns are like

The house style leans towards feminine, detail-led garments: gathered tiers, tucks, thoughtful cuffs and collars, blouses and dresses with something going on beyond the basic shape. They aren't difficult patterns so much as detailed ones, and the instructions are written on the assumption that you want to know why a step is done that way, not just what to do.

Sizing runs to a broad range, and every women's pattern comes with two bust cup options. That's the part worth knowing if you've struggled with fit before: rather than grading between sizes or doing a full bust adjustment, you choose the cup based on the difference between your high bust and full bust measurements, and the drafting does the work. It's a meaningful advantage over pattern companies that draft to a single cup and leave the adjustment to you.

Seam allowances are included, with the amount stated in each pattern's instructions, and measurements are given in both centimetres and inches. Each pattern carries a stated difficulty level, so it's easy to tell before you buy whether it's a weekend make or a project.

What we're stocking at the moment

We carry a selection across the women's range, covering dresses, blouses, tops and tees, a skirt, jeans and a jacket. The grid above is the definitive list of what's in stock today.

Help while you sew

Chalk and Notch publishes an extensive free sew-along library on its own site, with step-by-step photographs and video for most patterns, along with fitting guidance and fabric suggestions. If you get stuck partway through, it's genuinely useful and worth looking up rather than struggling on.

What sizes do Chalk and Notch patterns come in?

The women's patterns cover a broad size range, and each one is offered in two bust cup options rather than a single drafted cup. The exact range is printed on each pattern and listed on the product page. There's also a children's line covering roughly 12 months to 12 years. As with any pattern, choose from your body measurements rather than the size you buy in shops.

What are the two cup sizes for?

They save you doing a full bust adjustment. Most pattern companies draft to one cup size, so anyone whose bust differs from that has to alter the pattern before cutting. Chalk and Notch drafts two versions, and you pick based on the difference between your high bust and your full bust measurement rather than on your bra size. It's one of the most useful things about the range if fit has frustrated you before.

Are Chalk and Notch patterns suitable for beginners?

Some are, though the range isn't aimed exclusively at beginners. The designs tend to be detail-led rather than plain, so there's often a tuck, a gathered tier or a cuff to negotiate, but the instructions are unusually thorough and there's a free photo sew-along for most patterns. Each pattern carries a stated difficulty level, so check that on the product page before you buy.

Are seam allowances included?

Yes, on all the patterns, with the amount stated in the instructions for that pattern rather than being the same across the whole range. Measurements are given in both centimetres and inches, so you can work in whichever you prefer. Always check the specific figure in the booklet before you start rather than assuming, since it can differ between pattern pieces on the same garment.

Are these paper patterns or PDFs?

The patterns we stock are printed paper patterns, supplied as an instruction booklet with tissue pattern sheets in a printed envelope, and posted to you from the UK. That saves you the printing, taping and tracing that a PDF involves, and means you get all the included sizes in one envelope.

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