23 June 2014
A Chair??? What does that have to do with sewing?
A little background first. I used to just find a pattern I liked, work out what size I was, make it, and it fitted. I tended to only use Vogue patterns and I just knew that they would always fit me if I made the same size all the time.
Fast forward a few quite a few years and I’m not the same shape I used to be :(
I have some absolutely funky fabric and a really nice pattern to make up a dress. I thought I’d just be able to knock it up pretty quickly (you’ve got to be quick to catch the British summer as you never know when it will arrive or how long it will last!). I got out the fabric, drooled over it a bit more and then settled down with the pattern and a tape measure. Straight away things started to go wrong – according to my bust measurement I’m a size 14, but according to my waist measurement I’m a size 20 and my hips are a size 18! What?!? If I buy clothes from a shop, I vary between a size 12 and 14. Something is not right in the woods today . . .
Hmmm . . . what to do? Well, it was obvious that I need to make some adjustments to the pattern otherwise it will not fit and will look awful and I really want this dress to look nice, I mean this fabric is just the bomb! (Don’t worry, we are getting closer to the “chair” explanation!)
A few months ago I signed up for a Craftsy class on fitting a ready made pattern to your body. It’s called Sew The Perfect Fit by Lynda Maynard. Well of course that was exactly what I needed now! Yayyy! A way forward.
(p.s. Craftsy is totally brilliant and if you haven’t checked it out already, then do! It’s not just about sewing, there’s cake decorating, weaving, photography, jewelry making and so much more.)