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Cut out size appropriate for my measurements but muslin ends up HUGE - perplexed I'm making my first dress out of vouge 8184 & having some fitting issues
Chartreuse309 Advanced Beginner TN Member since 12/27/11 Posts: 1	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Subject: Cut out size almost too small for my measurements but muslin ends up HUGE - perplexed Date: 5/2/12 3:49 PM OK, so... I'm attempting my first dress, and I may not have chosen the easiest dress possible, but I feel fairly confident in my sewing skills and even though this dress looks complicated and has boning and all that, I decide to try it anyway because it says easy and all the reviews on it mention how easy it is & how well it fits. I decide that since this is new for me I need to make a muslin (aka mockup) of the bodice of the dress to make sure that it fits before cutting into my good fabric. My measurements EXACTLY are Bust:33.5" waist:25.5" hip 34" the measurements listed on the envelope for size 10 are: 32.5", 25, 34.5". When I first started I was very worried that size 10 was too small and that I should have bought the larger size pattern since 10 is the largest size that comes with this set of sizes. However I purchased the smaller size set because I am fairly small, especially around my ribcage, and usually wear a 0-4 in modern dress sizes. So I cut a size 10 out of the muslin I recently got from joanns and just finished it with a zipper and I go to try it on and it is HUGE. There are at least a good 2 inches that need to be removed from the bust portion, as well as maybe an inch or two from the waist. I am just perplexed by this. I don't understand why my muslin would turn out so large when my measurements barely fit safely in what vouge says is a size 10. I know there will be a lining and boning taking up a little extra space in there, but as it is right now, even with my most padded bra I own on underneath, the bodice just slides down my bust and almost just falls completely off. I know I can take it in and make it work, but I just want to know why this happened and how I can make sure it doesn't in the future with other patterns. Also, I would like to add that I've never used muslin before, and I was surprised to note that it felt like it had a tiny bit of stretch to it, even though joanns listed it as 100% cotton, I don't know if that would have anything to do with it, but I am just so confused, so any advice on this would be really helpful. -- Edited on 5/2/12 3:54 PM --
Patti B   Intermediate OR USA Member since 9/29/02 Posts: 2247	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 5/2/12 3:57 PM Check the finished garment measurements (most likely on the pattern pieces) and compare them to something in your closet that has the fit and ease you prefer. Selecting the right size can be troublesome and often there seems to be no relation between the size measurements and the finished measurements. Go figure. ------ Patti R-r-r-ripping my way to fitting success
NhiHuynh   Advanced CA USA Member since 1/4/11 Posts: 593	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/2/12 4:26 PM I second Patti B's suggestion. The amount of ease is all over the place. Finished measurements will get you a lot closer the first go around. On Vogue patterns sometimes these are on the back envelope. Sometimes they are printed on the pattern tissue.
nicegirl Intermediate DC USA Member since 5/10/06 Posts: 1611	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 5/2/12 4:40 PM Do not trust the Big 4 and their Ease of Doom. As the others say, choose your size by finished garment measurement only. With your measurements, that will probably end up being a 6 or 8. (For reference, I am 31.5, 27.5, 37 and usually cut a 6/8, 10, and 14, respectively). ------ http://theslapdashsewist.blogspot.com ================= 2007: purchased 115+, sewed 105+ So close to parity, yet so far Trying again in 2008 Yards purchased: 133 Yards sewn: Somewhere around 95 2009? I give up
nancy2001   Advanced AL USA Member since 12/3/05 Posts: 6111	Login to reply to this post In reply to Chartreuse309 << Like this post Date: 5/2/12 4:43 PM Chartreuse, my meausrements are very close to yours (33-25-36), and I've found that the pattern company body measurements from both the big 4 and the independents are almost completely useless. I rarely use commercial patterns these days, but when I do, I start off with the smallest size (6 or 8) in the envelope. -- Edited on 5/2/12 4:46 PM -- ------ The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossal scale. Richard Dawkins
jadamo00 Advanced NY USA Member since 3/13/06 Posts: 1234	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 5/2/12 4:59 PM I'll tell you what's making me nuts: sometimes, you can't even trust the Finished Garment measurements that the pattern makers indicate! Sometimes, they're off by an inch and a half! What the heck is going on? j.
marec   Intermediate OR USA Member since 5/11/08 Posts: 3543	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/2/12 6:48 PM Let me also add that sometimes the finished measurements are off, as Jadam00 states above. I will quickly measure each pattern piece if it looks too big or too small. Plus, we must also take into consideration what degree of wearing ease we want. My msmts are 36-30-39 and I use a 10-12-14 successfully with alterations. What is weird is that pants are often too big, and some skirts too small. ------ my blog: http://kf-biblioblog.blogspot.com/ Sewing through my pattern stash-125 completed.
Vellela   Advanced AUSTRALIA Member since 5/14/09 Posts: 73	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/2/12 11:38 PM Ladies, my suggestion is to to use the measurements for both your size and the finished garment size as a guide only. I always measure the actual pattern pieces and go from there. I have made everything from a size 8 to size 16 and often that is with the same brand!!! Only fail safe way is to measure the pattern pieces - they don't lie. Occasionally i am lazy and don't follow my own advice...it always end in tears ------ Paula - Melbourne, Australia Risk...the chance that something great might happen...
NhiHuynh   Advanced CA USA Member since 1/4/11 Posts: 593	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/3/12 0:37 AM Thanks everyone for the heads up. I had no idea finished measurements have gone to crap like other parts of the pattern. Is their mission to make sure we're unsuccessful in our sewing??? I'll make sure I measure the pattern from now on.
MarthaA24   Advanced CA USA Member since 4/4/08 Posts: 682	Login to reply to this post In reply to Chartreuse309 << Like this post Date: 5/3/12 3:26 AM I would agree with measuring the pattern pieces so that you know for sure what the finished measurements are. I would also suggest measuring dresses in your closet for finished size, this was you know about how much ease you like. Your measurements are very much like my DD's and she likes her clothes on the fitted side. For my DD, being smaller and liking fitted clothes means that she doesn't need much ease at all. When I help her with clothes, I generally make muslins and generally they need some taking in. With some experience you will know what measurements you need the pattern pieces to be & pick the correct size. For that reason I'm glad pattern companies have more than one size on a pattern. ------ Martha

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