I thought I would post today about a resource that is just the best. I have been working on a new dress design this week and tweaking the fit here and there. I often refer to a book called Fit for Real People. This is an EXCELLENT resource for getting the best fit from a tissue pattern. You can literally become your own master tailor for your clothing.
I know what you are thinking.....why don't patterns just FIT? Well, it is because you can take two people who wear the same size and they won't be able to wear each other's clothes necessarily. As humans, all bodies are certainly not created equal, and I bet you know where you have trouble.....long or short arms/legs? large waist, bust, or hips? maybe a sway back, forward shoulders, or a flat rear end? The list goes on and on and it is the essence of why it can be a challenge to get the right fit straight out of a pattern envelope.
A lot of people think that altering is a big deal....IT ISN'T, as long as you have good resources and are willing to spend a little time working through the kinks. Fit for Real People is a great guide because they break down adjustments to a tissue pattern step by step. You can literally use any tissue pattern and make it work for your body....so what are you waiting for??
You can purchase the book here on Amazon for a very reasonable price, and I am sure it is available other places as well. Every time I mention it, someone I know says that they have the book and that they use it to alter the fit of a pattern. It really works. The best part is that you can take bits from it here and there and alter as you want, or you can go all in and draw an outline of your body to do a whole body custom fit by making various muslins, all with expert guidance.
Best of all, you will be learning about pattern alteration as you go and will gain confidence to make changes whenever you need to. I can't recommend this book enough! Be sure to check it out!
I would love to know if some of you out there have used it and what kind of results you had, so feel free to leave a comment.
Happy Craft Month and Happy Sewing!
15 comments:
I'll have to get this book! Thanks for sharing!
I bought this book a while ago and I have found it very helpful in making alterations to patterns I've used.
Great post! Need to get this. Thank you.
Bought it, but haven't read it yet. Amazon used books is my favorite source for affordable sewing books. Someone recommends something as a "must have" and I'm off to amazon.com.
I have this book and use it often.
Your 3rd paragraph should be printed out and hung on every sewing room wall. :-)
I have used this book and find it to be one of the best there is in fitting, I have the slacks book written by them also,,both are excellent! People quit sewing clothing b/c they have not learned how to fit, however the skills of sewing and the skills are fitting are really 2 different sets of skills~ Make friends w/your tapemeasure, make muslins and you will wear your clothing and get a lot of compliments!
Amen, Pamela!
Thanks for the comment, Ginger! You made me laugh about the third paragraph, although I do wholeheartedly agree!
I bought the "pants that Fit" book first and immediately went out and bought this one. Together they have so much information!
I've been having trouble! Have to check out that book!
http://www.loganmakesamess.com
thanks for sharing the info about the book. Certainly what I need! Now, I just have to figure out how to make my dressform "grow" to match how I have "grown" over the last year :)
Hello, love your blog! I have just sent for your book today, and I have just popped back onto Amazon to buy the one you have just written about here. I used to sew my own clothes a lot once, then I had breast cancer and a couple of ops later I find it hard to buy the clothes that suit, hardly anything seems right. So I thought it is time to sew my own again, but think I will need to do some altering! So can't wait! Thank you. Suzie x
I have "Fit For
Real People" and have found it's a tremendously helpful resource. It has helped to save otherwise unusable patterns (that just won't fit as is!), it helped me so much last summer when I drafted a sailor outfit for my daughter. I hadn't gotten into a lot of fitting, but I am into it more now and am so encouraged!
I had a birthday last month, and Sew Serendipity Bags was a gift my husband gave me. He's a great guy, and I really like the book!
Krista
This is a great posting I have read. I like your article. Thank you..
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This looks a great dress! I have both your previous books, so will be interested to see the new one.
ps - Absolutely love your boots in the photo too - I *need* some of those! lol!
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