sewing pattern hell

[thefatladyissinging]

Can anyone help me? I am trying to make a skirt from a pattern (Burda 6880) - Have cut out all pieces but now I am totally stuck on where I start (as in which bit of the instructions) and also how much interfacing to use - it just doesn't seem to say anywhere. Any clues from wise people?

I don’t but try r/sewing on Reddit. They’re normally pretty good.

Thanks, ELiza - will do!

The instructions or the pattern pieces should tell you which bits need interfacing, cut it out and iron it on (or I tack it on if using sew in.) Then follow the instructions sheet for the view you are sewing.

Im on my phone so can’t look thoroughly -

Have a look here

www.burdastyle.com/discussions/help-please/topics/downloadable-instructions-in-english--2

I didn't make it very clear in my above reply but if you read through all the instructions you will get to a bit that says view a or skirt b something like that and it will go through each step with you. Looking at the picture on the front of the pattern I should think you start by sewing the lower sides together.

The wording is so minimal on those patterns! I have often read the same sentence 20 times, each word by word and still would be unsure so have had to leave it and come back another time. I think because they are translated into other languages that they keep the words to the bare minimum.

Look at the cut out diagram, and see what shapes need to be cut out of interfacing (it could be colouring in with dots or look slightly different to the material.) Then you will know which parts need the interfacing.

I have recently started using newer patterns and they are brilliant, coloured pictures and loads of info, step by step. I need that! I made a top yesterday and am delighted with myself.

Thanks all.
@marywinchester I understand the theory but starting at view B (the relevant one for the pattern) is confusing me because it seems to assume I will already have done certain steps. And with the interfacing, I am totally unclear how much to use - the image on the pattern suggests a narrow strip - do I guess how much? But the quantities listed suggest I need to interface the whole of each relevant piece. Am really baffled. I am hoping someone out there or on reddit) might have made this particular skirt before!

Just dump the whole thing and get a pattern from 'the fold line'.

I'm finished with those patterns with too little words, maybe they think it's part of the fun figuring out the puzzle?

Usually for a skirt it would just be the waistband that would require interfacing, but of course it depends on the pattern. Can you add a picture of the instructions and we can try and help that way?

Yes, dumping the lot v tempting - but have cut out all the pieces now from quite expensive fabric so am committed

Can you screenshot the instructions? Burda are notoriously skimpy on instructions...

For a skirt usually the only piece that needs interfacing is the waistband. So cut out the interfacing using the waistband piece of the pattern. You then iron on the interfacing onto the wrong side of the waistband. Hope that helps. Post again if you are still stuck.

It only suggest a thin strip of interfacing on the pattern envelope - however the view you are doing seems to have a yoke.

Normally you'd stitch the side panels of the skirt together first and then set in the zip. Interface on the waistband and then sew that to the skirt. You have that yoke though. Have a look at view A, possibly you need to do some of the steps from that before the yoke part of B.

I bought a vintage Vogue pattern off eBay once, the written instructions on that one were scant to say the least - definitely not for beginners!

Birds usually shade the bits that need interfacing.

What does it tell you to do about the waist? It doesn't have a waistband. Does it have a facing?

What I'd do: sew in the zipper and the rest of the seam it's in. Sew the yoke to the tops of the centre front and back panels. Sew the front and back panels to the side panels.

Then post here and tell us what it tells you to do with the waist finishing.

Take a picture of the instructions. All the pages and it might make sense. I have googled the back of the packet and you need a good bit of interfacing 45cms so it must be more than the waist band.

Why are they so skimpy with the words?

Will you post a picture when it's done? It's a nice skirt.

A photo of the cutting layout would help. It's lined so I think it probably has an interfaced self-fabric waist facing. That will take more than a straight strip of interfacing if it's curved.

Thank you very much for all the advice! I am attaching pics of the instructions, hopefully in the right order (there are two pages and I've put half of each page into each picture). Have attached first three to this post; will attach last one to following post. As far as the interfacing is concerned, what is confusing me (and my mother, who is an old hand at this sort of thing but is also foxed), is that it looks from the image as if I only need to put interfacing along the very top of each relevant part, but there is nothing on the pattern pieces to indicate how wide that band should be (for version A with the waistband, it's basically the size of the waistband, but it would seem odd to have interfacing in just part of the yoke???). Also, the amount of interfacing the packet says I will need is more than enough to do the whole of the relevant pieces! My other confusion is that it seems to start in an odd place if I just start at view B (i.e. stage 12) - though that just seems odd, rather than totally confusing. Thanks again!

Last pic! Thanks again...

Interfacing on 9 4 2 and 7 - cut a piece with the same pattern piece as the normal fabric and then iron l/whatever onto the back. This makes 4 bits right at the top of each piece, presumably to make waistband once they're all joined.

And then start at step 11 and work onwards. Then once side seams are done go for the lining if you're using it.

Good luck! Post a pic when you're done

Will certainly post a pic as will give you a good laugh the way I am going!! Thank you for this advice, but if I use the same pattern piece as for the main fabric, then the interfacing will be the same size as the whole piece of fabric, rather than just a waistband around the top, won't it? Sorry to be dim!

I agree with newyearoldme, there's a strip of interfacing along the tops of the side panels and the yoke panels. It's a bit naughty of them not to tell you how wide - I'd go for about 4 cm. You fuse it or tack it to the edge of the panel, and it gets caught in the side seams then sandwiched between the fashion fabric and the lining. Its function is to stabilise the waist, not for stiffness.

As for the amount, pattern companies are notorious for telling you you need much more fabric than you really do. Luckily, interfacing's not expensive and you'll no doubt use the leftovers in another project.