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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Pattern enlargement and inspiration from MJF  |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 21 2009 : 6:02:43 PM
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I am so proud and excited, I am practically bursting! I wanted to share with my farmgirl friends.
I have been watching Project Runway's entire prior seasons last week while I was on vacation (I don't have cable, so borrowed the DVD's from the library) and got very inspired and ready to sew again.
Some background- although I like to sew, I have never really been happy with any garment I've sewn for myself, I'm a petite-plus size, and I always have used the patterns right out of the envelope. I've really had trouble with the finished garment looking like it fits me, and never really understood why the size 24 I buy in the store doesn't fit like the size 24 in the pattern envelope....The body measurements really don't seem to have any correlation to the sizes I wear in ready-to-wear.
So anyway, I have this software called Garment Designer (by Cochenille) that is supposed to create sewing patterns based on your own measurements. I've used it for knitting before, but never for sewing, and it's been a few years since I took measurements. I had my husband help me with the measuring, then plugged in the numbers into the software, selected a basic top, and generated the pattern.
The software lets you print the pattern in many scales, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, or even actual size.
I was trying to figure out how I was going to print the patterns on 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper and tape them all together without going through a lot of extra effort. While I was noodling this out, I took a break and picked up the latest issue of Mary Jane's magazine - Wow! I was pleased as punch to find the article on enlarging patterns. The radial method worked really well for me, I have a roll end of newsprint I got from the local paper last summer in the garage, and I just used the method in the magazine and it was GREAT! Much easier than how I had done it before, and much more accurate.
Then I actually took the trouble to make a muslin -which I have never, ever done before- and I found out why my dear, dear husband is never going to be a success as a tailor. When I basted it together and tried it on, there were multiple areas that needed adjustment. So we re-measured, and found out that we had either measured the wrong place or entered the wrong number.
I made the corrections in the software, regenerated the pattern, took out the basting seams, re-drew the pattern right on the muslin with a black Sharpie, (had to stitch on an extension near the shoulder, but it worked out OK) and basted it together again. This time it really almost fit! (OK, we still didn't get the bicep measurement right...LOL) It was a good thing I was on vacation, all this rework would have taken me two months had I done it only in the evenings.
But now I have a muslin that fits and I am pleased as punch! I compared it to a couple of commercial patterns and I can see why I have so many problems fitting, my shoulders are much narrower than the pattern and other measurements are significantly off the "average" as well for my size.
So now I am ready to go pick some fashion fabric for my first project - I think I will make a short-sleeved shell to wear under jackets. Any suggestions on fabrics?
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2009 : 6:25:19 PM
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That is awesome Brenda! How much was the program because the sounds like something I need!
And aren't the instructions wonderful? I always thought that enlarging patterns was hard until I tried this method and it almost made me laugh at how easy it was!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2009 : 7:47:28 PM
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Great Job Brenda.....
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
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electricdunce
True Blue Farmgirl
2544 Posts
Karin
Belmont
ME
USA
2544 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2009 : 8:54:10 PM
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Wow! I am so impressed by you actually making the muslin bit. I always think I'm going to do that but as yet it hasn't happened. i can see it is a good idea. I'm inspired, maybe this year I'll do that...
Karin
Farmgirl Sister #153
"Give me shelter from the storm" - Bob Dylan
http://moodranch.blogspot.com
http://domesticnonsense.etsy.com |
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cinnamongirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1682 Posts
Carrie
Canada
1682 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2009 : 9:34:10 PM
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Welcome back Brenda haven't seen you since I started off on knitting sminars I bet. Hope all is well
Linen is a nice fabric or cotton |
Edited by - cinnamongirl on Jan 21 2009 9:35:31 PM |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2009 : 1:45:16 PM
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Yes, it's been a while since I was here. I spent a lot of time this summer and fall working on my master gardener training and volunteer work, trying to keep up with all that plus my own garden has been quite a challenge. I've really not even been keeping up with email like I should.
I finished another pair of hand-knit socks, and then in late fall I actually traded in my embroidery machines for a new one, so I've been busy trying out a lot of different things. The embroidery machine also is a fantastic sewing machine, hence my new interest in Project Runway. (This weekend I watched Season 3 - I loved designer Angela Keslar from Ohio, she's an organic farmer, cans food, lives off the grid, and sounds like she deserves a honorary MJF membership! Unfortunately she got booted twice in one season...)
I was thinking of using a lightweight linen, too. I went to JoAnn fabrics yesterday and ended up buying a light-coral/peach-colored matte polyester. Not my ideal choice of fabrics but for a shell under a suit is probably a practical choice.
I've been going through my closets and weeding out clothes that don't fit well or I haven't worn for one reason or another. There are quite a few. Until I watched the Project Runway shows I didn't really realize how much I've let my wardrobe get into a rut. I work as an IT professional in a factory and so I wear the same business casual outfit about every day (well, not the actual same clothes, but similar ones - oxford shirt and dockers, flat shoes) and jeans and T-shirts on the weekend and evenings. I'd really given up on finding attractive clothes for my size.
What a hoot, me at age 52, suddenly making myself over!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Pattern enlargement and inspiration from MJF |
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Pattern enlargement and inspiration from MJF
