In clothing design, spatial visualization makes it possible to read an image (sketch or photograph) and understand the 3D shape and the 2D pattern that creates the shape by inferring information not evident in the single view image. This research builds on a past study of naïve spatial understanding of pattern shapes which identified straight gathers and the combination of straight gathers and flare as sources of misunderstanding for middle school girls and university freshmen (Dunne et al., 2014). Here, we discuss the instructional strategy and results of our activity and identify sources of spatial misunderstanding in middle school girls.