Everything you do while you are creating a garment is influenced by the grain of the fabric, from laying out your pattern pieces and making your very first stitches, to the last stitch of the hem. With a handful of swatches in hand, cut a variety of pattern shapes and learn how to confidently identify the lengthwise and crosswise grain (and true bias) when the fabric has no selvage for reference. Explore ways to find it at inseams, shoulder seams, necklines, princess seams and more, so you can work with it to best advantage. Along the way, you’ll discover where, why and how grainline influences your finished project. Keeping a neckline’s symmetry, for example, is all about stitching with the grainline. You’ll be able to make informed decisions at every turn when you understand how to use stitching direction to preserve the shape of your pattern pieces -- preventing unwanted stretching and distortion in all cases and even find ways to do so when you are forced to sew against the grain.