Bloody Burda

[nineveh_uk]

The dress progresses, as it ought to because I haven't been doing anything else for a week. It now needs only a hook and eye, the lining catching to the zip tapes, and hemming. Among the reasons I will not be coming back to Burda any time soon is that I have made two fitted garments in a row, one a skirt. I had to take in the skirt three inches at the waist, and I am not a woman shaped like Marilyn Monroe. I had to let the dress - same size - out an inch at the waist (and in fact having done so, didn't need to, but this is OK because it has a belt. Not that I am enough of a masochist to make the pattern belt. Grosgrain will do fine). I let out the bust, which was the right decision, and the side-seams are in the right place under my arms. Except that they start a good inch too low, thus showing an unacceptable amount of bra, because the top half of the thing is apparently designed for somebody very long indeed between throat and bust (though a B cup bust), with an enormous ribcage. In short, for a short-waisted Valkyrie in a minimiser bra. Happily, I do actually think that the dress and fabric have worked well, and it should be good once I've sorted out the last fitting issues.

I could: take up the shoulders, take in the side-seams, put in a centre back seam, or a combination of all three. I think I shall: bite the bullet and take in the side-seams even though this involves redoing the zip. Then if necessary I shall put a couple of darts in the neck. And next time I see a nice Burda pattern I shall tell myself not to be silly and retreat to Vogue. But first I shall put everything away and leave it for another day, because I am sick of it being all over the sitting room. And then I shall go for a bell-ringing demonstration and cake.

Comments

[mobile-alh.livejournal.com]

Sympathy for the maddening qualities of poor pattern design.

Cake sounds like an excellent choice.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

The cake had smarties on it, which was even better.

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

Back when I sewed I only ever used Vogue patterns, because they seemed to have the most consistent sizing. And heighting (for lack of a better word). I'm 5 foot 10 and I never found Burda or Simplicity patterns anywhere near long enough for me, and I'm not nearly a good enough seamstress to alter patterns.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I definitely like Vogue patterns best - the sizing appears consistent, and the description allows one to work out the design ease properly. McCalls, Simplicity, Butterick and Vogue are all supposed to have the same basic body, but of course that doesn't mean the actual patterns are consistent.

I am trying to learn to alter patterns, but glad not to do it much.

[antisoppist.livejournal.com]

I had been thinking starting to make my own clothes again might be a way to get skirts and trousers that fit my hips but don't have a waist four inches too big, but you are not making this sound encouraging.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Well, at least skirts and trousers only involve half the body, and no shoulders. (And as noted about, Vogue seem to be reliably consistent, so at least once you know what alteration you'll need you can just do it.)