drsue said... I can completely relate to your KS issues. Their instructions are great but their sizing and pattern drafts are very different from the big 4. The dress does look a bit large but I love the fabric. 6/5/04 4:48 PM
jlg said... Very becoming on you, Irina. 6/5/04 5:18 PM
gabrielle said... I've just cut this out, and am glad to see your review. Yours is very pretty. Judging from my pinfitting I'll need to take in the top, too. 6/5/04 6:31 PM
Mini said... Irina, Kwik Sew does have a peculiar fit in the front-it isn't just this pattern. I love Kwik Sew's up-to-date styles and great instructions, but nothing is perfect:). The upper chest tends to be too wide for many figures, and the front armholes are too long. Adding a center front seam is a good solution. After lots of experimentation, I sometimes just cut a smaller size in the front and add back shoulder darts to get the back width I need. HTH 6/5/04 6:37 PM
Elemenopeo said... I agree about the sizing gap being annoying in KS, but I am devoted to their patterns. I think just working with them more will get you used to their idiosyncracies. I usually flat pattern measure them just to be sure as I fall between sizes too. 6/5/04 7:30 PM
Teri said... I love your fabric. I agree with Mini on KS upper chest problem. I always cut out for my high bust measurement which seems to help. 6/5/04 7:41 PM
CarolynGM said... Thanks Mini and Teri. I was considering making the front in the XS next time and leaving the back the same. You've convinced me that I'm on the right track. 6/5/04 8:42 PM
Hilary said... Irina, I think your dress turned out beautifully! It looks like its very comfortable yet not baggy, like you say. I love the retro fabric (I thought it looked like the eighties' style prints when I saw it!) Very nice...but now I feel I must get this pattern too, and I'm trying to cut back! lol. I think I'm a hopeless pattern addict :oP 6/5/04 9:23 PM
Karla Kizer said... Carolyn, I suspect that this KS pattern should be a bit loose on top, since it is suitable for woven fabric, but has that hint of cap sleeve. If it were snug, your arms would be pinned to your chest by a lack of movement ease - not particularly comfortable! I think your version looks great. A note to others who find themselves at the bottom of a KS size range, or in between sizes: I almost always customize the fit by tracing exactly between 2 sizes on KS patterns. The pattern pieces fit together perfectly when you do this, and you can really fine-tune the fit and the ease this way. 6/6/04 9:25 AM
Danvillegirl said... I too have problems with fit with KS. I am learning I am a medium pretty much through out but I need to make some upper chest tucks as armholes are always too low for me. I love your dress and I think it fits well. I love the fabric as well. 6/6/04 4:36 PM
MaryBeth said... Irina: I love your fabric choice in combo with this pattern. I can't tell from the picture that the top is too loose. You just look so statuesque. Lovely! 6/8/04 8:52 PM
Elsy said... I think the sizing gap in KS patterns is realistic - I always fall in the gap between Small and Med, and the way to get a good fit is to cut between the Small and Med lines! 2/10/05 7:38 AM
JDpenelope said... Just caught this review. I really like the dress on you. Thanks for the discussion on fitting issues. 7/8/05 9:50 PM
SillyValley said... Irina I agree about the bodice sizing. Kwik Sew seems to be quite large in the bodice. I sized down to to my high bustline before making a KS dress and it was still at least a size too large in the bodice. I had underarm and upper back gaposis, which is odd because my upper back is pretty wide. 8/6/07 6:06 PM
I can completely relate to your KS issues. Their instructions are great but their sizing and pattern drafts are very different from the big 4. The dress does look a bit large but I love the fabric.
6/5/04 4:48 PM
Very becoming on you, Irina.
6/5/04 5:18 PM
I've just cut this out, and am glad to see your review. Yours is very pretty. Judging from my pinfitting I'll need to take in the top, too.
6/5/04 6:31 PM
Irina, Kwik Sew does have a peculiar fit in the front-it isn't just this pattern. I love Kwik Sew's up-to-date styles and great instructions, but nothing is perfect:). The upper chest tends to be too wide for many figures, and the front armholes are too long. Adding a center front seam is a good solution. After lots of experimentation, I sometimes just cut a smaller size in the front and add back shoulder darts to get the back width I need. HTH
6/5/04 6:37 PM
I agree about the sizing gap being annoying in KS, but I am devoted to their patterns. I think just working with them more will get you used to their idiosyncracies. I usually flat pattern measure them just to be sure as I fall between sizes too.
6/5/04 7:30 PM
I love your fabric. I agree with Mini on KS upper chest problem. I always cut out for my high bust measurement which seems to help.
6/5/04 7:41 PM
Thanks Mini and Teri. I was considering making the front in the XS next time and leaving the back the same. You've convinced me that I'm on the right track.
6/5/04 8:42 PM
Irina, I think your dress turned out beautifully! It looks like its very comfortable yet not baggy, like you say. I love the retro fabric (I thought it looked like the eighties' style prints when I saw it!) Very nice...but now I feel I must get this pattern too, and I'm trying to cut back! lol. I think I'm a hopeless pattern addict :oP
6/5/04 9:23 PM
Carolyn, I suspect that this KS pattern should be a bit loose on top, since it is suitable for woven fabric, but has that hint of cap sleeve. If it were snug, your arms would be pinned to your chest by a lack of movement ease - not particularly comfortable! I think your version looks great. A note to others who find themselves at the bottom of a KS size range, or in between sizes: I almost always customize the fit by tracing exactly between 2 sizes on KS patterns. The pattern pieces fit together perfectly when you do this, and you can really fine-tune the fit and the ease this way.
6/6/04 9:25 AM
I too have problems with fit with KS. I am learning I am a medium pretty much through out but I need to make some upper chest tucks as armholes are always too low for me. I love your dress and I think it fits well. I love the fabric as well.
6/6/04 4:36 PM
Irina: I love your fabric choice in combo with this pattern. I can't tell from the picture that the top is too loose. You just look so statuesque. Lovely!
6/8/04 8:52 PM
I think the sizing gap in KS patterns is realistic - I always fall in the gap between Small and Med, and the way to get a good fit is to cut between the Small and Med lines!
2/10/05 7:38 AM
Just caught this review. I really like the dress on you. Thanks for the discussion on fitting issues.
7/8/05 9:50 PM
Irina I agree about the bodice sizing. Kwik Sew seems to be quite large in the bodice. I sized down to to my high bustline before making a KS dress and it was still at least a size too large in the bodice. I had underarm and upper back gaposis, which is odd because my upper back is pretty wide.
8/6/07 6:06 PM