An apparatus and method is provided for creating custom-fitted garments wherein the customer provides critical information which is known to or easily ascertainable by the customer without assistance. Using this critical information, a controller (10) applies rules contained in a model to estimate other critical dimensions necessary for the production of a selected garment, and which are not easily ascertainable directly by the customer without assistance. Using the actual and estimated critical dimensions, the controller (10) determines the pattern data which is used to produce custom-made clothing which provides a superior fit to that which a customer would typically experience from the retail purchase of a similar mass-produced garment.