Stitch and bitch thread #2. Sewing aficionados gather here!

[IDontMindMarmite]

The previous thread is coming up to capacity and as ever your wisdom, screw ups and accomplishments are appreciated!

That's a bit of a challenge @wherearthough. While I do a fair bit of stretchy fabric sewing, I haven't made anything with a halter neck due to bra complications.

This pattern looks possible www.amazon.co.uk/McCalls-Patterns-Misses-Dresses-Multi-Colour/dp/B00768GCRO?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 but it has a mermaid skirt rather than a prom style skirt.

The biggest tip is practice your dresses in cheap (but similar) fabrics multiple times until you're happy before you start on the beautiful, rare fabrics. As the bust is where you're thinking most of the complications will be you don't have to make full length dresses, just do the top as a top/mini/tunic length until you're happy with your adjustments.

Such good advice @kittykarate thankyou..the irony is, pre lockdown, I did a couture draping class that should make this easy but I've completely forgotten it all and feel a bit less confident now having not sewn sewn anything for 2 years!
Will crack on with a top and if I'm brave enough even share the final results

Couture draping! Wow, sounds wonderful! Shame you've lost confidence, did you make any notes or anything to refer back to?!

I did take some notes and bought an adjustaform and loads of muslin to practice but looking back at my notes i seem to have left a lot out!
Muslin is cheap so i guess i can practice ..its just so annoying as i feel like I've gone backwards!

That sort of long clingy dress would likely be achieved with a bias cut pattern. This is a much simpler one, but show how the fabric hangs
patternscoutstudio.com/blogs/tutorials/the-sadie-slip-dress-five-ways

One for stretch thefoldline.com/product/leona-dress/

(I noticed so many zipless dresses when out at the shops there🙈)

Just a heads up the Aldi have an adjustable mannequin in their special offers this week. Not sure if they are in store or you can order but they are £69.99. I've got a Lady Valet one and it's very handy.

I've fallen out of love with print at home patterns. Just couldn't line them up right at all and screwed up more than one. Bad mood.

Aldi Adjustable Dressform

Oh I'm so tempted.

Traced three (3) Ottobre patterns for the DCs. DD is going to have a flamingo dress and cat shorts and DS is having green sweat Bermudas with a star waistband.
I really do recommend Ottobre for kids patterns (and there are some nice adult ones too).

Unfortunately, it doesn't say what size it goes up to.

There is a photo of the measurements if you click through the gallery.

Oh, I missed that. It's barely big enough in the bust and too small in the area where I used to have a waist. Oh well.

Me too @PickAChew

My area previously known as a waist was that size pre children and my bust measurement wasn’t much more. I inherited an adjustable mannequin last time I took up dressmaking and I had to pad the waist with rolled up t shirts.

Yes, no good for my waist either but could you add padding?

I don't have a wide back (very deep ribcage) so I'm not sure I could expand it to fit my bust properly, either. I'd rather have one that I wasn't at the outer limits of.

Seems I'm crossing the boundaries on adjustoform, too, and the medium adjustoform starts far too big for my hips - easier to make bigger than smaller, of course.

There is a company that will provide a dress form pattern that you can sew directly from your measurements- Bootstrap Fashion. Not used them myself but the images are much more real than I can imagine any bought mannekin could be.

www.handimania.com/diy/your-own-shape-sewing-mannequin.html

There’s something about the idea of a duct tape mannequin that really appeals to me.

Luckily my £10 Facebook market place polystyrene one is a perfect fit on shoulders and bust.

Haha, I can imagine Ds1 would enjoy covering me in tape! I have to hide my good scotch tape from him!

I think I'm probably similar to you @PickAChew as the medium looks good except my hips are a bit slimmer. I'm busty with not much waist and slim hips.

I've got my sewing lesson tomorrow! I'm asking about altering patterns (changing necklines, lengthening, adding trims etc) and making them to fit. Any other suggestions?

I can't think of anything Nutella but think it's a great idea and making pattern adjustments is a skill worth learning one to one as you'll have particular requirements unique to you. I quite frequently lengthen a bodice - there's usually lines on a pattern to show you where to do it but I guess there's a technical reason why you need them there rather than just adding them to the bottom say.

I'm googling how to put in an invisible zipper where there's an inseam pocket but not getting terribly far as I had a poor nights sleep and require to concentrate.

Do you have curved rulers and so on. I bought a cheap set of Amazon that has loads of plastic ones and I've got a pattern master which was a bit pricey but very versatile. I'm not saying you need one for today but they are a big help for drawing in curves and lines.