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Message Board > Fitting Woes > How much time do you spend fitting a muslin? ( Moderated by CarolynGM, Deepika)

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How much time do you spend fitting a muslin?
working without a fitting buddy
schmammy
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schmammy  Friend of PR
Intermediate
TX USA
Member since 12/5/06
Posts: 467
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Date: 3/7/12 3:49 PM

I'm into the second day fitting McCall's 6076 using both Sarah Veblen's book and FFRP. I'm learning a lot and I truly do appreciate both authors' reminders that taking the time to get it right now will pay off in the end. I've even enlisted my husband to photograph my back and sides (although, ignorance may have been bliss) so I can address all areas in need of attention. Just cut out the second set of front pieces. Can't even look at the pages about fitting sleeves, or else I will give it all up.
Please! Share your misery with me!

------
Indecision may or may not be my problem. -Jimmy Buffet

http://chihuahuaonmylap.blogspot.com/

rmusic1
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rmusic1
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UNITED KINGDOM
Member since 7/3/10
Posts: 703
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Date: 3/7/12 4:05 PM

I dont tend to make muslins, although I have occasionally made parts of different patterns to see if they would fit. I have had two unsatisfactory (in terms of fit) projects. One, a t-shirt, and the second, a PJ (shirt and bottoms).

I find it very hard to accept something hasnt worked out as I had hoped. I literally have spent hours behind my sewing machine trying to get it to fit. Unpicking, rechecking fit.

I love sewing, I really do, but I wish I could just wipe these periods out of my memory bank. I would love to go back to when I picked up that pattern with so much anticipation and interest. I would say "no, dont do it, leave it and walk away". Alas, however much research you do, I have to accept it might happen again.

I am lucky not to have too many fit issues. I would just like to say it's not always you, it can be the pattern too.

stirwatersblue
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stirwatersblue
Intermediate
KS USA
Member since 12/13/08
Posts: 2471
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Date: 3/7/12 4:12 PM

It depends. I definitely suffer from chronic Mockup Fatigue--spending so much time on fitting that I never get to the actual garment.

I guess it really depends on how badly I want to make something AND how badly I want it to fit exactly *perfectly.* Oh... and, of course, whether I ever figure out what the fix is! That's sort of key.

------
~Gem in the prairie

Sewliz
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Sewliz  Friend of PR
CO USA
Member since 6/22/04
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In reply to schmammy


Date: 3/7/12 4:14 PM

Too much time, that's how much, lol.

It helps me to remember that the pattern can be and often is at fault. How can I work my way to a good fit when I am starting with a poorly drafted pattern? And, more important, why try?

------
Liz

thefittinglife.blogspot.com

Leu
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Leu  Friend of PR
Advanced Beginner
NY USA
Member since 1/21/10
Posts: 298
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Date: 3/7/12 4:28 PM

I just made my first woven dress with lining, darts, zipper. I made three versions out of Swedish tracing paper and then a muslin. When I was done with the whole ordeal, the dress was an amazing fit. (photo)
That said, I started the dress back at the beginning of February and even though I had perfected the pattern through the tracing paper, the side darts came out all wrong in my fashion fabric. I ended up sewing the the side seam from the hem to the waist then just an inch or so from the arm scythe down and then putting the dress on to pinch out a dart that shaped nicely. When it was all over I was super pleased with the dress but also made note that not everything can be perfected in the rough drafts. At some point, you have to dive into the final copy and edit as you go. We'll see if this transfers at all for me. I'm about to move on to tracing out a top and some jeans.
Leu

hazelnut
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hazelnut  Friend of PR
Beginner
USA
Member since 1/7/09
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In reply to schmammy


Date: 3/7/12 4:31 PM

Not to discourage you or anything.....but KS2900 *only* took about a year or more. You wanted to hear the shared misery, right?
My other projects are still in the pattern alteration and/or muslin stage. I started sewing and fitting a couple years ago. Current fitting project of KS3600 was started a while back, stopped, started again several weeks ago in the TNT sewalong, paused, and should be starting again this or next week. When I get frustrated for too long of a time on the same thing I have to give myself a sanity break.

It's a double whammy, schmammy (sorry I couldn't resist typing that corniness) when you're learning both fitting and sewing techniques at the same time. If one's working, the other isn't. In all seriousness, the photos you take to examine help A LOT, and so does the advice from experienced PR members from posting those photos when you see so many different fitting issues you don't know where to start! It might be a slow road, but getting a TNT or even something that fits halfway decent, is so worth it in the end (IMHO). Hang in there, many of us are taking the same slow boat and frustrating fitting adventure as you are.

schmammy
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schmammy  Friend of PR
Intermediate
TX USA
Member since 12/5/06
Posts: 467
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Date: 3/7/12 8:13 PM

Thank you SOOOOO much, you guys!
It is 7:15pm and I just ripped out the second muslin. The last pinning seemed to address most of the major problems. I'm ready to transfer those to the pattern pieces.

Then, it's onward to the dreadded sleeves....

------
Indecision may or may not be my problem. -Jimmy Buffet

http://chihuahuaonmylap.blogspot.com/

Miss Fairchild
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Miss Fairchild  Friend of PR
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USA
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 6998
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In reply to schmammy


Date: 3/7/12 9:35 PM

Quote:
I just ripped out the second muslin.
I don't rip out my muslins; rather, I unpick them. For the ones I sew on my non-chainstitch machine, I use a large stitch and loose tension, all in contrasting thread. Then when it comes time to rip, I cut a thread every 1", cutting the bobbin thread. Then when I pull on the top thread, it comes apart. (that's why it's good to use two different color threads for this) For my chainstitch machine, I just cut a loop and the whole thing pulls apart easily.

------
"We don't impose our rhythm on Nature. The key is to respect and live within Her." Jean-Charles Boisset, Winemaker
"And no, now that you asked, I didn't enjoy that play one bit, and I'd like a refund" Signed, Mrs. Lincoln
My Etsy shop: auntmaymesattic
My blog: auntmaymesattic.wordpress.com
Avatar: First place award for jacket at county fair

Marie367
Marie367  Friend of PR
Intermediate
OH USA
Member since 5/28/11
Posts: 1362
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In reply to schmammy


Date: 3/7/12 10:17 PM

I never use to make muslins but then there was a time when I didn't have to. Now ugh...There are so many things that don't fit. I am learning alot in making muslins and because of it I am guessing better. I do share your misery.

dove29

dove29  Friend of PR
Intermediate
USA
Member since 4/28/07
Posts: 992
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Date: 3/7/12 10:58 PM

I make muslins selectively. Still having much more trouble fitting my top half than my bottom half. I am REALLY glad I made a muslin for that last jacket. It turned out so bad I tossed the pattern out. It wasn't arty & oversized, it was an '80s horror. Kind of a drag, but at least I didn't cut up the good fabric I was going to make the jacket out of.

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