fitting tips
HOW DO I GET A GOOD FIT?
The short answer is, make a muslin, make a muslin, make a muslin!
Yes, we know it's a bore when you want to get sewing *right now*. Being completely honest, we *loathe* making muslins too. But it's really the best way to get a great fitting garment. Let's put it this way: you'll never regret making a muslin but you will, at least once, very much regret not making a muslin. For more information on making muslins, go here.
DOES WEARING THE RIGHT ACCESSORIES DURING FITTING MATTER?
Yes! So much yes. If you wear the *right* underwear-by which we mean, the bra & briefs or shapewear that you plan to wear with that particular garment, you'll get a much better result. You'd be *amazed* at the differences between bras and the different shapes they can give you. Also, and especially for pants, skirts & dresses, to make sure you get both the proportions and the length right, we really do recommend that you fit your garment with the shoes you plan to wear with it.
...HOW DO I MAKE A PATTERN LONGER OR SHORTER?
...to make your pattern shorter or longer, add or subtract length about 1" above and/or below where you need the extra/less length...
...don't just add to or chop off the hem!
...HOW DO I MAKE MY PATTERN BIGGER OR SMALLER?
...our patterns are multisized, which means that you have a range of sizes all 'nested' together......so let's say that you're making a skirt, and your waist is a size 14, but your hips are more of a size 16. well this one is easy, you just *blend* the cutting lines, from a 14 at the waist to a 16 at the hips. onbiously, the same theory applies if you want to make your pattern smaller...
...but just in case you're wondering, this is one of the main reasoins that we recommend that you make a muslin before you start your garment construction. if you tweak the fit on the pattern, you'll probably need to adjust a few other things too, just to keep the look of the garment in proportion...
...WHAT ABOUT 'TISSUE FITTING'?
...well, we know lots of sewers who love to do what's called 'tissue fiting', and if you're one of them, and you get great results, we say, do whatever works for you!...'tissue fitting' means that you pin together the tissue or paper pattern and fit that on your dressform...
...but we have to say, in all honesty, that we're not really feeling the love for this method...
...why? because paper or tissue just doesn't behave in the same way as fabric! you'll get a *rough idea* of the fit, but if you want a great fit (instead of a good-enough fit) then it's a muslin you need!