A dart is a fold sewn into fabric to shape it to the body. It takes flat cloth and gives it three-dimensional form. Without darts, a garment would hang like a sack. Darts appear at the bust, waist, back, and hips. They are small but essential. A well-placed dart makes a garment fit. A poorly placed one pulls or gapes.

Darts come in several types. A single-point dart is a simple V-shaped fold. A double-point dart has two points, often used at the waist. A French dart curves from the waist to the bust. A fisheye dart is shaped like an eye and used at the back waist. Each is chosen based on where the fabric needs to be taken in and how much shaping is required.

Sewing a dart properly takes practice. The fabric is folded right sides together, pinned, and stitched from the wide end to the point. The thread is not backstitched at the point, to avoid a lump. The dart is then pressed to one side or open, depending on the fabric and design. On delicate fabrics, a dart may be replaced by gathers or pleats. On knits, darts are often unnecessary because the fabric stretches. Understanding darts is fundamental to garment construction.

Common types

• Single-point
• Double-point
• French dart
• Fisheye dart
• Contour dart