A bit of sewing advice:

[fiberaddict]

When you aren't sure about what size you need in a particular company's pattern, and you cut it out on the largest line, intending to fold it under on the size you *think* you are, per the measurement chart, be SURE you fold ALL the pieces to the same size. :bangs head:

According to McCall's, I need to cut out size 14. Simplicity claims I am a 16......so I decided to cut out the largest size, and *fold* the pattern pieces to the 14 - that way, if I *do* need to use the 16, I'd have it. (And, by the same token, if I turned out to need an even larger size, I'd have them, too - I don't always trust my measurements. It's hard to measure yourself properly.)

It would have been fine, except I cut out the back neck facing size 14 (each size has it's own facing), then I folded every other piece to the 16. :sigh:

Turns out, I AM a 14. The top is lovely, but too big - it's a tent. (I realized what I had done as I was cutting out the pockets....so I took VERY generous seam allowances to try and take it up as I assembled it. Didn't quite work) I can save it - I am going to make a fake button-tab (think the back of the old English Pea Coats, here) and gather the back with it.

It also helps to actually READ the instructions - especially when the pattern is for both a tunic AND a dress......I cut the dress length instead of the tunic length. :sigh:

It turned out lovely, even so. I'll get photos once I fix the size-problem. :grin:

I will say that McCall's seems to have better instructions than Simplicity - at least, according to my experience with the 2 patterns. I still can't figure out the facing instructions (it's me. I have 3 books on sewing, all 3 have the same basic instructions for neck facings, and all 3 confuse the heck out of me. Hearth's "alligator mouth" is the ONLY thing that has made sense to me, so I trash the instructions for the neck facings and do her way. Works for me!)


Weird dream last night - the moon got hit by an asteroid (which could happen - according to NASA, there's one in late Sept/early Oct (or thereabouts) that is on track to cross our orbit.) and got reduced in size by about half. LOTS of destruction occurred....as did weird tides. I don't like dreams like that!

Comments

Moon...

[anna marie (from livejournal.com)]

Remember, in scripture several things fall from heaven on earth, and the moon is reduced by a third of its light. So your dream may not be far off. :X

Re: Moon...

[fiberaddict.livejournal.com]

Yeah....it made for an unsettling night! I don't normally have destructive dreams, so I wanted to make note of it!

[ali snowdale (from livejournal.com)]

I have another friend that had a prophetic "moon falling" dream. She was at a carnival and the moon got bigger and bigger. Once she realized it was actually falling She was trying to warn the people but they were having too much fun playing games and riding rides to hear her. If I remember correctly when the moon hit the people around her were killed but to her it was just like flaming confetti drifting down and didn't hurt her at all. I am going to try to sew something soon...you are totally inspiring.

[fiberaddict.livejournal.com]

Uh oh - now you're in for it! :grin: Seriously, just remind yourself it's only fabric. If you end up messing up the shirt/whatever, you can *always* cut it into little squares and make a quilt out of it.

[(Anonymous)]

Just an idea for when you are trying out a new pattern. You can get some tissue paper packs from the 1$ store ane then trace your actual pattern from the pattern tissue onto the plain tissue in the size you think you need. Then you can take store bought muslin (other cheap material) and work the pattern up. This is called making a muslin and allows you to tweak your patterns to your own taste and also try out sizes without cutting into your good pattern or your good fabric. It takes a little extra time but is definitley worth it in the end.

Erin
yesiknit@typepad.com

[fiberaddict.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of buying tissue paper - I know about muslins, but...like in knitting, I'd rather dive right in. :lol: I figure, if I screw up, well, it's only fabric - if I can't salvage it for me or someone else, I can always cut it into squares and make a quilt!

[ali snowdale (from livejournal.com)]

or you could make this cute skirt! :
http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2007/05/patchwork-circle-skirt.html

[ghislainedel.livejournal.com]

Like Erin I trace the pattern though I use a roll of tracing paper I bought at an art supply place. I have it on hand for paper piecing quilt blocks (I trace those too) and I think it's a bit stiffer then tissue paper. However, like you, I just jump in without making a muslin unless I plan on using it as my lining or something.