??? yep, that's what it really all boils down to - FIGURING THE FIT! There are so many things to consider when trying to choose the correct pattern size. Of course there are sewists who are able to pinpoint that baby in the blink of an eye - believe me - they amaze me and I commend them! Although it has been quite a number of years since I reentered the sewing arena, I openly admit that pattern sizing is STILL NOT my forte - but trust, I am constantly working on it.
Let's go wayyyyy back to the beginning when I couldn't wait to enter 8th grade. When, to be truthful, the only things I was interested in was World Geography and HOME ECONOMICS! I was taught how to take correct body measurements and use the back of the pattern envelope to choose the right size for me. This was all quite straight forward being was shaped as straight as a stick. Fit wasn't an important issue in Home Ec where we majored on learning the parts of the machine, sewing terms, how to stitch straight, how to read what we called "The Guide Sheet", and construction methods. Remembering Home Ec is all an exciting blur of what reinforced my love of a craft that was already my passion.
Let's fast forward to current day when choosing the correct size of the simplest pattern can set me in a tizzy.
In a recent loooong afternoon pattern sizing chat with my sewing friend Cecil, we discussed the size chart from the back of the envelope and the finished garment bust measurements on the front pattern piece. We also discussed the difficulty of choosing from the (xs, s, m, l, xl) sizing ranges. As you can tell the conversation was quite intense, but helped me decide:
- that I should choose the Mediium size through the shoulder, upper chest and bust area to prevent gapping, and
- that 3 1/2" ease across the bust area was just too much when using a knit fabric, and finally
- that we should find a Pattern Sizing Class if any such thing exists.
Here's a picture of my top in Stretch Panne Velour I choose View D but opted to add the long sleeves. I'd never worked with velour before and was surprised to find that it quite slippery. I really like the top besides the neckline being a bit too high (so unlike the picture from the front of the pattern envelope). I actually thought about unpicking the neck binding but that's okay - it's really no fun unpicking top stitching from this fabric.
A simple make - will I make it again? Maybe so, and I've made notes that the front neckline should be lowered.
That's it. Now let me see what else I can make...
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
