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

It is a basic pattern, isn't it? And not the most flattering colour and fit on the model. 🐫

It’s almost as if TATB don’t actually want to sell that pattern. The fit, the colour, the lack of pockets...I guess the thinking is that by offering this as a set you can make something that looks like a jumpsuit, but isn’t? I can see how that might appeal to some sewists, but I’m not blown away by it as separates.

Actually I feel sorry for that model, she also looks badly fitted on the front of the Mabel pattern too. There must have been things they could have done to make it better fitting.

Thinking on it further - I'm all for body positively, but why make a cover model wear something so unflattering? It would have made a good series of blog posts about altering fit to show how they changed things around to make things look better for her e.g. do a full stomach adjust on the trousers, on the Mabel maybe lengthen the peplum so it sits at a nicer spot on her etc etc.

They're such simple adjustments to make, too. It's not even something exclusive to larger sizes. So many women with a bit of a mum tum, bloat or middle aged paunch would find it useful.

And once they've conquered the tum, I'd love a nice series of posts about how to deal with thunder thighs (again not a niche problem)

I like seeing patterns made up for different shapes and sizes but that isn’t very flattering on either of the models. From the high squared off neckline to the shapelessness of the trousers and shorts it’s a fitting nightmare.

It’s not even original

Sauvie ready to hem. Not 100% happy with the fit yet but much closer and I suspect that the final viscose version will be fine

And this is why I love Cashmerette, even though not all of their patterns are available in my size. I've been a member of the cashmerette club for a year and, while I've found more detailed fitting advice, elsewhere, I love that it's made me look at garments I've already made with a more critical eye as to how I can improve them.

I agree about the unflattering photo of the TATB Esti and it being a missed opportunity for great fitting adjustment ideas. Meanwhile, having had a few days away, my TATB Stevie top is awaiting me sewing the back yoke to the back bodice which I pinned before I left.

Although it seems as through I need to rethread my machine...something's gone weird with the bobbin thread....

That's lovely and summery. 🌻

Here is the fabric which I bought at the Stitch Show earlier this year....I really love it. https://www.jennystitches.co.uk/products/cosmos-pima-cotton-lawn-white

Two thirds through my Springe jumpsuit. The bust gathers are really odd and give me pointy boobs but maybe it'll look better when it's finished, or would look better in a drapey fabric (I'm using cotton). If I make it again I'll make the gathers wider so they're spread across the bust more.

I’ve been wearing the Sauvie toile since 3 and I’m definitely going to have to alter the dart 😥

I don’t think I’ve ever had sufficient perkiness for this dart placement.

Would you recommend the stitch show? I really wanted to go to the Harrogate one last November and may hopefully go this year.

I'm a big fan of Jenny Stitches - she's localish to me and I love watching the bits she does on Instagram.

It's about 2-3cm too high, @jins.

Lowering the bust point is one if my standard adjustments, even though I rarely have to make them bigger, any more.

If you lift your arms and drop them, again, does it sit right on the hip?

Oh I think it looks ok! If it was RTW you wouldn't bat an eyelid.

I think Esti might backfire hugely on TATB.

It reeks of half arsedness and is very very basic. Kind of feels they've decided they can sell any old pattern as long as they photograph it in the standard TATB standard pastel colours. It's become a bit 'brand over substance'.

The goal of self made us most definitely to be better than RTW, though, @pastabest

I'll happily wear something with a misplaced dart or a bit of wonkiness that I otherwise like but I wouldn't make it that way twice, if I knew what to do about it!

I agree about TATB though. It's a pattern reminiscent of Make it Simple. Mabel and Marnie were more ambitious and Marnie had that lovely stitch detail even if, IMO, the garment itself is hideous. All 3 recent patterns have failed badly at working for larger sizes.

I’ve been drawing on it and it’s 2.8cm too high so you’re bang on.
It’s a loose fit so it’s fine on the hips. The straps don’t drop down again though no when I sit down the straps fall off my shoulders.

I think I’ll be wearing something else on Saturday but I’m determined to get this right

@pastabest actually it was called the Stitch Festival….. is that the same thing as the Stitch Show? I’d never been to anything like it, being a complete novice…. There were lots of prebooked classes and workshops that people were doing, but I spent most of my time marvelling at and spending money on fabrics. It was really heaving. Catwalk shows were nice. I’m London based to went to a local one.

I just checked TATB’s Instagram and the comments aren’t exactly kind.

They’ve posted a response 🤨

It's such a basic pattern though there really isn't an excuse for rushing it out.

It would have been less than a day's work as a fix for someone doing that as their day job. I'm Sure they'll lose more than a day's pay in pattern sales.