Showing posts with label fitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitting. Show all posts

Monday, August 4, 2014

Fitting pants for the Curvy Sewing Collective



You may have seen a bit of a blogger buzz about a new website called The Curvy Sewing Collective. Its a new website ran by a great group of sewing bloggers with pattern reviews, fitting advice and general sewing and confidence advice, aimed at a plus size body shape.

I've written a few posts for the site now, mostly focussing on fitting and sewing the Fehr Trade Duathlon leggings.

Activewear 101: Patterns and Fabric

Activewear 101: Leggings 1- Fitting

Activewear 101: Leggings 2 - Pattern adjustments

Activewear 101: Leggings 3 - Sewing

The site is skewed towards more curvier sizes but I do think a fitting adjustment is the same no matter what your size. So please check it out and hopefully you might find some of the articles helpful next time you are doing a fitting.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Lekala 4329 Sewalong: Fitting


I've joined into the Lekala sewalong hosted by Lara at Thornberry. The pattern is 4329 and since Lekala has personalised sizes the theory is that we shouldn't have to adjust the pattern........except for me, lol.
I printed out and taped together the pattern this week. I used my measurements plus adding extra to the back, high waist and making the upper arm 17". Once the pattern was printed (and I checked the 4" printing square) I doubled checked the arm measurement and it was only 16".....based on that I decided to make a muslin.
Now while I really do like Lekala patterns my biggest issue with them is that they work off full bust and don't add an option for a FBA (though they do now allow for a narrow shoulder option and I really should have added that), so the shoulders were too wide on me.
Adjustments I made after the first muslin;
Added 2" to the bicep width
Added .5" to the back width.
Took in the waist 1" at the centre back.
Petited the bodice by 1.5"
Narrowed the shoulders by .75"
Raised the underarm by .75"

Here are the muslin pics,

 
Muslin 1 is on the left, I'm not sure how noticeable it is in the pics but the waist is too low which makes me feel really square and the shoulders are hanging off my shoulders. I didn't pin muslin 2 properly but the collar does sit like in muslin 1.
 

I still think the back could have a bit pinched out of my lower back but at least the waist seam isn't hitching on my high hips anymore.


Side view, Muslin 2 is sitting smoother

 
I raised the armholes by 3/4" so I'd have more movement.
 
 
This doesn't really show it well but I can move my arms forward a lot more in the second muslin.
 
 
So extra adjustments:
I've added a wedge to the centre of the lower back peplum, I feel like it isn't wide enough and is hitching a bit on my pants.
I've added another .5" to the upper back width and an extra 1" to the arm. I read somewhere once that you should never expect to have as much movement in a fitted jacket as you do in a cardigan which I suppose is true but I hate feeling binded in by a jacket.
I might get my hubbie/daughter to pin out my lower back wrinkles too.
 
 
Material wise, I'm shopping my stash. I picked up this dark purple poly crepe and a poly satin in the same clearing sale I got the zipper stand in. There is meters of both (about 6-7m) and they match really well. I've left the lower arms nice and wide too so I can roll up the sleeves and show off the lining.

 
 
So if anyone managed to slog their way through that can you pick up anything else that needs to be changed? Sometimes I can't see adjustments I need because I've been staring in the mirror at it too long!