Time spent: 4 hrs

Total time: 16 hrs

It’s been a very long time since I’ve posted. This is because I have come to a bit of an impasse. Just after Christmas, I made a lot of really visible progress and was obviously very excited. I have been working at fitting the muslin and failing. I came across this free video from the e-sewing workshop which opened my eyes to how to mark alterations.

I tried this on my jacket. My sister, like me, isn’t very busty but has big-ish hips, which makes all patterns fit terribly. I have to take in the waist and bust quite a lot. I used the technique on the video, but found it really hard to eyeball to make things symmetrical. I also found I was having a very hard time centering on the seam the amount I wanted to take in. Most frustrating, though, is what all of this taking in has done to the arm scythes. They aren’t even a shape any more. Not to mention the jacket no longer closes over the dress form. And the grain lines no longer run perpendicular the the floor (on the front pieces anyway). I’m having a bit of a Huh? moment. Or month.

All of this means I will have to take all of the seams I basted apart, re-sew with the original seam allowance AND THEN re-fit again. Only, I don’t know what I can do differently to avoid all of these problems. Maybe I will only take in the straight back seams. But, would that just pull everything to the back? There is no way that would sit right.

I’ve been combing the internet for a blog of video to help me, but am only coming up with non-sewers offering “one safety pin!” solutions to fit problems. I think I might have to invest in a book on tailoring specifically, but really don’t want to have to read the whole thing before I can continue. Anyone out there able to guide me!?!?! Help!