Stitch and bitch thread #6. What a yoke!

[NutellaEllaElla]

The other thread is so painfully slow so lets hope a shiny new one will run a smoothly as a well behaved sewing machine. Pin your places here my lovely stitchers

That is a relief! I do get carried away sometimes!

Please tell me you are short as well so I can nick pattern ideas from you!

All boobs stomach and bum is exactly how I would describe myself. And short.

I'm just on 5' 7" @pastabest...

What is REALLY recommend is one of Alexandra Morgan's classes/courses. Her website is In-House Patterns, she explains things so well, covers all kinds of fitting challenges, and has a lot of free content.

www.inhousepatternsstudio.com/blog

And this book is BRILLIANT!

Sewing Patterns: 200 Questions & Answers amzn.eu/d/fDAAW0t

I think we dressmakers tend to know more about our body shape than non-dressmakers. I suspect that’s why we are rarely happy with ready to wear items. Either the fit is poor or the fabric is awful or (my bugbear) the finish is dreadful bearing in mind the cost.

I’m a short, broad shouldered, broad backed apple with hips a full two sizes smaller than my top half. It’s little wonder that off the peg stuff looks awful

I'm 5'10, pear but with boobs (just not hourglass sadly), 16 top and 18 hips. 34" inside leg. I've never been able to buy RTW shift dresses, and tops that fit my boobs are usually too tight on the hip. Dressmaking has been a revelation although I think it's only with The Assembly Line patterns that I can cut a straight size, everything else needs grading. I am spending this afternoon doing a jumpsuit toile for a woven pattern - measuring everything and trying to get it to work!

I've also put on weight over the winter and so lots of the things I made last year are (cough) snug, or simply don't do up 😭

Thank you to the op and whoever suggested the free scalloped cami patterns. Going to give one a go in cheap fabric before using the liberty one. I will post an update when it's made!
Also enjoying the shop recommendations. I grew up close to Birmingham and loved the markets for fabric. I now live in east anglia and seem to be in a fabric desert. Some good quilting cotton shops but dressmaking fabric is very limited and either £££ or polycotton. I'd love to find an aladins cave of dressmaking fabric with silk and velvet and exciting fabric. Think I need to try some of the places in London mentioned above.

Thank you for the recommendations @TragicMuse

@Stickortwister depending on whereabouts you are in East Anglia is Norwich an option for you?

We have Anglian Fashion Fabrics on Magdalen St and Sew Creative on St Giles - if you're close enough to get to them?

There's also a John Lewis but that's less interesting!

Anglian Fashion Fabrics is a real treasure trove. They also have a sale rail with samples, ends/fents, off cuts etc.

So. Much. Felling!

But my Arthur pants are done. I think they need to be a shade shorter.

I can never be bothered. I just overlock everything.

They're collapsing slightly on the ankle which is crushing the balloon slightly

• how is the fit?

It's not bad! Roomy, but comfy in the stomach and bum.

Oooh the fit is nice (cross posted with the pic!)

Thanks! This cotton sateen has a bit of elastane so it can be snug without being uncomfortable.

They do need to be shorter, if it was for me I would be taking off 2inches, what do you think?

I agree! I'm wondering whether to actually chop or to just fold up the hem again...

Weirdly I am the same height as the pattern is drafted for.

but if you have relatively shorter legs than average, or a high waist that will affect the length of the trouser leg on you.

This is true!

Better?

I think so...

I would be tempted a little shorter still but then I do wear my bobs rolled up...

I can always roll them...