Date: 10/30/09 5:07 PM

I have been sewing for about five years, and it seems to me half the time my clothing comes out okay and the other half is just wadders. I was wondering if to get this fitting thing correct you have to just make a muslin on every new garment? It seems to me that patterns from different companies all seem to fit differently.

Did any of you just about quit due to discouragement? I have been taking a break from sewing the last couple of months. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Date: 10/30/09 5:18 PM

sew slow,

I am just learning fitting and it can be hard. What routine adjustments do you do to your patterns.

I know some folks on this board make a muslin. I am trying to make muslins but sometimes I just don't know how to fix the muslins.

Hang in there.

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Reply to SewSlow
Date: 10/30/09 5:31 PM

This whole fit thing is hard for all of us. It does get easier over time.

>>I was wondering if to get this fitting thing correct you have to just make a muslin on every new garment?

I found once I started sewing a muslin for every garment my success rate improved immensely, as did my fit skills.

I sew a muslin/test for every new pattern. For the two extra hours of work, it does increase my rate of success. I consider it the same as trying on a RTW garment in the fitting room. It's a pain getting undressed, etc. but it tells you instantly if you should first proceed and secondly what fit alterations are necessary. I've tossed many patterns at the test stage.

The other advice is try to work on getting a couple of classic styled, tried and true patterns. eg. classic darted shirt, basic knit top, pencil skirt, etc. Once you have a couple of these patterns you can sew them over and over which really helps the confidence. They are great to dig out after a wadder. You can also use them as a starting point to create other patterns which helps on the fit side of things.

It does take time to establish a few TNT patterns but it's worth the effort. Once you do your confidence will grow. They are also useful to compare against other patterns. HTH


Edited to add: sewing a pattern over and over is also another way to build confidence. Why not dig out the patterns for your three most successful garments (even if you felt they were only OK), and sew them again. Every time you re-sew a pattern the fit improves and your confidence grows. Practice makes perfect as they say. I've got some patterns I've sewn over 30 times.

-- Edited on 10/30/09 5:35 PM --

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Belinda. Melbourne, Australia
http://sew-4-fun.blogspot.com/
**Sew for the fun of it**

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Date: 10/30/09 6:00 PM

Fitting is mostly a skill. Yes, there can be talent involved which may help some people take to it quicker, but mostly it's a skill. Increasing competence with any skill takes practice, experience, and patience. You can't expect it all to come at once without putting in the practice time.

Hang in there. I bet you know more now than you did 5 years ago. Don't be so hard on yourself.

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"I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch.” ~ Gilda Radner
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http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com

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Reply to SewSlow
Date: 10/30/09 6:10 PM

I understand how discouraged you must be. I am also learning to fit and sometimes think that I will never get it. Like sew for fun suggested, I have found it very helpful to pull out succesful patterns for a second, third, or 4th time to quickly make something I like that I like after making something disastrous. Sometimes I berate myself for "never trying something new", but then think better of it. If my goal is to sew nice clothes that fit me well, have a wardrobe full of great t-shirts is at least a start.
I have also been resistant to the idea of muslins, but actually just purchased some plain muslin fabric just for this purpose. I have found that even inexpensive fabric is too much pressure for me- I automatically think that it should be "wearable". I thought I would try a few muslins out of real muslin, precisely because they CAN"T be worn. I think that will take the pressure off and I can actually do a "down and dirty" quickie muslin- absolutely no finishes!
If you enjoy the process, keep going. Don't put so much pressure on yourself:)

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Raye Ann

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Date: 10/30/09 6:58 PM

I think all of us have experienced what you are, so you're not alone. We all produce a wadder from time to time. But thank goodness PR is here so fellow sewers can give advice or just sympathize when you have problems.

I've been sewing for 30 years, but didn't realize you needed to actually get your projects to fit until I joined PR. One thing I've learned is that you absolutely, positively have to make a muslin every time. I swear those little sheets of tissue in that pattern envelope conspire to trip you up any time they can.

I also agree about getting some TNT patterns in your pattern stash. I felt like all I did was make muslins, but since I've gotten a few TNT patterns made, I get to make something right away from time to time without having to fit it and it feels great.

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a/k/a Sondra

If I sewed any slower, I wouldn't be sewing at all. -- Kellie R.

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Date: 10/30/09 8:39 PM

I make muslins every time, too. It is well worth the effort. In my early sewing I thought you only did a muslin for a wedding gown!

One great tool to help you with fitting is a digital camera. Have someone take pics of you from the back, side, and front in your muslin. It is another set of eyes and I have found it helps so much. I make the muslin, take pictures, alter the muslin, take more pictures until I get it. One thing to know is that different fabrics will fit the same pattern differently. In my latest effort I am not exactly where I want to be with the fit, but real close. I will do the final tweaking on the fashion fabric.

Keep hanging in there. We are all here for you when your sewing mojo gets you down. You can do this. It just takes time but it will happen. Even the most experienced sewist are constantly tweaking their fit. Our bodies change all the time. The advice to get the base patterns down is great. Good luck.

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http://lasewist.blogspot.com/

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Date: 10/30/09 11:11 PM

I've been working on fit for the past 5 years. It was slow going. Sometimes it is so hard to know what to do. I used to think I had square shoulders, and I don't. Used to think I had high round back, and I don't. Used to think I had a flat butt, and I don't. Ditto with a tummy, which isn't really there.

I used to have a diagonal wrinkle that would appear on my front from my right shoulder to left boob. Thought maybe my left boob was bigger. Turns out my right upper back needed more ease both in a broad upper back alteration AS WELL AS extending my right back shoulder seamline forward another 1/4" to the front. My right shoulder was more forward than my left shoulder, and a bit larger/wider than my left shoulder which gave me a weird diagonal wrinkle if no alterations were made.

Point is, alterations/fitting is difficult as first. Our body perceptions may get in the way. Asymetry is not always easy to spot in the mirror. I needed experienced fitting instructors (a la Shannon Gifford and Jean Haas) to point out what was going on.

So book reading and asking questions helps a lot. But having an expert help is so valuable and moves you forward much more quickly IMO.

It does get better over time though. Fitting and pattern alterations are not difficult anymore, and my fit is pretty good. It simply takes time and patience.
-- Edited on 10/30/09 11:12 PM --

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Big 4 Pattern size 12, RTW bottom: 6, RTW jacket 8, RTW top (no size fits me well!)
Measurements: 34 HB/36 FB (34C bra)/27.5/36 (and working hard to keep it that way.)
Machines: Sewing (Janome Memory Craft 3000), Serger (Pfaff Hobbylock 786), Embroidery (Janome 300E)

Pearls of Wisdom that I'm forever repeating to my kids:
- You wouldn't care what people think of you, when you realize how little they do.
- Look where you're going, not where you've been.

My blogging spot: www.phatchickdesigns.blogspot.com

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Date: 10/31/09 7:42 AM

As everyone else here has said, fitting is difficult, but worth it. I make a muslin for everything. Have only recently after years been able to have the courage to pinpoint my body and do necessary adjustments for me, instead of following instructions for "basic and/or common fitting issues...and finally things are getting better. Keep working on it, each try does bring improvement. (Had to laugh when OP Gal said that it was only after joining PR she understood that the garments she made were supposed to fit.) Hang in there, go have a cup of tea and forget it for a bit when it gets too frustrating, the courage and desire to continue will come to you later, and you will be ready to try again. I have found that it is a good idea to stop a sewing session on a good, positive note if possible (no matter how small the progress made) and clear the decks to be able to step right in to begin the next step. This can even be dumping a mistake and cleaning up to begin anew at the next start.

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Reply to SewSlow
Date: 10/31/09 10:02 AM

I totally agree with you and have many of the same issues. Some patterns are just drafted closer to my own body than others, but I fault the drafting in general to a lot of the issues. Kwik Sew always fits me perfectly, across the board. The other patterns, it's hit and miss. Pay attention to the ones that fit well and use them as a baseline for new patterns. Also, don't try to overfit. Measure the ease in your clothes that fit well and aim for that amount of ease in what you sew. Lastly, some patterns aren't worth all the fitting fuss required to make them work. Discard those and move on. I don't know why there is not more consistency in the pattern industry, though. Once I make something, I always ask myself, "Would I have bought this if this is how it fit/looked were I to try it on in a store?" RTW fits me well so it's a good plumb line for me -- for others, maybe not so much if they have issues with RTW.

That's what works for me, that and keeping my body in shape and at or near ideal weight, which is an ongoing project in and of itself but also which keeps fitting issues to a minimum.


-- Edited on 10/31/09 12:34 PM --

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