Having a fitting fit!

[Lillie Bender]

Sometime in 2011 in this blog, I vowed to create a set of patterns or slopers that would fit me perfectly.  I am pleased to report that I have made some progress.  I purchased more books, videos, went to workshops with experts and practiced.  Well, sorry to say that I have not mastered the process.  You see, I'm lazy and always in a hurry to see the finished product that I tend not to want to make a muslin for everything.  Of course when I don't make the muslin, the fit is less perfect.  So as of today, my new pledge to myself and readers is that I will now add a 1" seam allowance to all seams that require some fit even after fitting adjustments.  I'm finding that I need to do this for the granddaughters as well.

I now understand what Cynthia Guffey ment when in her workshop on fit she told us that many women stopped sewing garments when they got older and their figures changed; they started making quilts and purses.  Yes I do understand, however I'm still determined to find a way to have less sewing drama and stress around the fit of garments.

Went a little crazy tonight and ordered $125. of fabric from the Fabric Mart's year end sale.  Some for as little as $1. p/yd.  Will let you know if I am pleased with my purchase.  Guess I'm a little tired of Hancock Fabric, since it is the only game in town.

[Bunny]

Burda is notorious for their mystical directions. You really need to have a good sewing book nearby and use that to put things together. A lot gets lost and confusing in their translations. We are so quick to diss the Big Four but Burda is horrendous. Great patterns, great style, great pants, horrid directions.

[Lillie Bender]

Glad to know I'm not alone, ladies.  I was beginning to feel really stupid.  I've recently started using Burda patterns since my Hancock Fabrics started carrying them.  Is it just me or does Burda make the simplest thing difficult.  I find the instructions unclear in a lot of instances.  However, I do like them as they seem to be a little more stylish.  Maybe I'm just getting too old to do a lot of changing.  I continue because sewing seems to keep my mind active and I have always loved learning.  The same applies to my taking Zumba classes.  It keeps me from getting so stiff and its so much fun.

[Jo Ann Ely]

Great idea, Bunny! Then you even have a record of how bad the first muslin looked for future tries! Good luck with those Sure Fit pants.

[Bunny]

Lillie, you can do this. Just take it slow. I find my digital camera and my muslins go hand in hand. I have hubby take pics of the sides and back and I end up seeing things in those pics that I never would have found otherwise. Now I know I have one lower hip and one lower shoulder.Thank you camera! I find muslins save time in the long run and if you get them worked out you then have a tried and true pattern that you can go to each time.

I have worked so hard on getting a great pant pattern. I ordered a Sure Fit Designs kit for pants and am anxious to start working on it. Check my blog to how the progress goes.

[Alethia]

You all have me in tears over here, and I can't help but compare my own personal fitting issues,lol! It's enough to make you want to quit. But, I'm determined that I am gonna get it and keep it moving. 

Lillie, I'm glad you took that high-priced contraption back. Too much money for something that promises a lot but delivers nothing short of discomfort and irritability.

Please, ladies, lets definitely keep the motivation going.... ;o)

[Jo Ann Ely]

Oh Lordie...so glad you had a sense of humor and no man wrapping his arm around your middle! I agree, for $85 that sucker should have stayed put!

[Lillie Bender]

Yes Jo Ann about the foundation garments.  However they just don't make them like they used to.  Last year I purchased the $85 spanx slip shaper thingy and it was a hot mess.  I wore it to a Red Hat function last winter with one of my OCD dresses.  It was ok but before the evening was over, much to my horror, the thing rolled up to my waist.  Thank goodness I had a coat.  I took it back and the thin little sales clerk said "They really do better on women who just want to stop the jiggle".  Well for $85, I thought at least it would stay in place.  At least I can laugh about it and I was glad I didn't have a date!

I'll keep sewing garments because most times they come out pretty good.

[Jo Ann Ely]

When women stop making clothes for themselves and start making quilts I call it "crossing over to the dark side"...they never come back...chain stitching little squares together beats making darts and altering paper patterns but hang in there Lillie....nothing looks as good as custom clothes on our slowly aging bodies...Good foundation bras and panties help to start make us slimmer and taller and the boobs and butts perkier.

[Lillie Bender]

Sheila:  Thanks for the encouragement.

[Sheila Elliott]

Lillie, you are not lazy, just tired of trying to coax a mature figure, like mine, into trying to find a decent looking fit that won,t get us laughed at when we go out in public in our creations! I still have lots of my own sewing drama, but I refuse to give up on my less-than-perfect figure! ( And I,ve been making quilts and a few bags for years now!) Keep up the good fight my friend, and maybe if we encourage each other now and then we will actually find the perfect fit for us!!