Fit for Art Patterns
Our patterns and pattern variations come from our own desire to create comfortable and creative clothing that fits our figures and our busy lifestyles. Fit for Art Patterns introduced its first sewing pattern, the Tabula Rasa Jacket, to the market in 2011. Designed for sewers, quilters and wearable artists, it offers a flattering “blank slate” for creative expression. Our second major pattern, Eureka! Pants that Fit, followed in 2012; after all, great looking jackets need to be worn with well-fitting pants! In 2014, we introduced the Tabula Rasa Knit Tee & Tunic, a very versatile pattern for knit tops. Our fourth core pattern, the Carpe Diem Dress & Tunic, debuted in 2021. Once you’ve fitted our patterns to your figure, you can use them to create a wardrobe for every season and occasion with the supplemental Variation and Detail patterns and inspiration in our blog archive. Read more about our sewing philosophy.
In 2023, Fit for Art added its first pattern for kids, the Tabby Jacket. Sew the easy to construct Tabby Jacket for the kids in your life or use its kid-friendly directions and method to teach a kid learning to sew beginner garments.
Rae Cumbie, Creative Director
Rae Cumbie has woven her creative magic into the fabric of the fashion industry for more than three decades. Rae began by crafting custom clothing for women and children in her home-based studio. Soon she became one of Baltimore’s most sought-after dressmakers, earning the title of “Baltimore’s Best Tailor” from Baltimore Magazine.
Her passion for wearable art and her expertise in jacket construction led Rae to begin teaching jacket making to weavers. She envisioned a pattern that offered the versatility and fit textile artists wanted. This vision led to a grant from the Potomac Fiber Arts Guild, which ultimately resulted in the Tabula Rasa Jacket pattern.
In 2011, Rae and Carrie Emerson founded Fit For Art Patterns. Rae’s role as Creative Director allows her to educate and inspire a community of sewists with her popular weekly blog, “Sew! Let’s get Dressed,” and through her contributions to notable publications like Threads Magazine. Her dedication to the craft has been further evidenced by her leadership roles, including serving as president of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals.
Rae and her husband Jim have two daughters. She divides her time between her studios in Baltimore and Durfort, France.
A nationally respected teacher and author, Rae inspires sewists and the Fit for Art community to learn new skills, express their creativity, and sew themselves the wardrobe of their dreams.
You can find out more about Rae and her work at RaeCumbie.com. Contact Rae directly at rae@fitforartpatterns.com.
Carrie Emerson, Managing Director
Carrie Emerson, the Managing Director of Fit for Art Patterns, skillfully blends her legal expertise and passion for sewing to run and grow the thriving independent pattern company. Her sewing projects began with a simple quilt in middle school home economics and have evolved through the years into sophisticated garments that integrate piecing, quilting, and elements of her mother’s weaving.
Before turning to more creative pursuits, Carrie dedicated a decade to serving as an Assistant Attorney General in Maryland. Her transition to the arts included 10 years as a docent at the Walters Art Museum, giving tours to school groups. It was during this time that Carrie and Rae Cumbie, whose husbands both started at the same law firm on the same day, formed a deep bond. This friendship laid the foundation for Fit for Art Patterns, which they launched together in 2011.
At Fit for Art Patterns, Carrie has refined her skills in sewing, pattern drafting, and garment fitting. The meticulous attention to detail and organizational skills she developed during her legal career have proven to be instrumental in managing the business side of the company.
Carrie and her husband, Darrell, live in Baltimore. They have two children.
Carrie’s unique ability to manage the company’s operations while embracing her creative side has played a crucial role in shaping the success of Fit for Art Patterns. Contact Carrie directly at carrie@fitforartpatterns.com.
