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I’m also trying to follow what’s happening, and I think the bit that’s throwing me is the bit where doing the FBA changed the size of the sleeve opening — it shouldn’t, I don’t think? Am I misremembering? I made this in both a 10 and an 8, with and without an FBA — I found in the end that although I do a 3/4″ FBA for the Cinema Dress, I liked…[Read more]

You sound very frustrated, @lotuspeachblog. Let me see what I can do to help now that I understand more about the situation.

First of all, I’m going to suggest my favorite book which I think will be very useful to you: “Fit for Real People” by Pati Palmer. She covers all sorts of fit situations for every body shape, and I think you’ll find it to…[Read more]

@liesl Well, yes it is complicated and I am pretty disappointed by this pattern. I really wanted it to be a staple piece I could make over and over for my wardrobe. But it is much harder to make work than it seems it should be. I already spent two classes with a sewing instructor making the first two muslins. She is as baffled as I am as to how to…[Read more]

The front piece is a size 12 and has a FBA which adds and additional 3/4″ to the width of that piece. The whole upper portion: armhole, sleeve and neckline I cut in a 4. But then armhole was larger than the sleeve because of the extra on the sides because of the larger size of the front. Also the size 4 sleeve was a little tight. So I increased…[Read more]

I’m not sure I’m following your changes, @lotuspeachblog. You’re using one size sleeve, another size armhole, and a different size neckline, and still another size side-seam/width? This sounds too complicated to me!

I’ve gotten my book and am looking forward to going through it.

@liesl Thank you for the advice. I tried a slightly larger sleeve because the armhole is still larger than the sleeve and the contrast between the two seems uneven when it is worn. I am also adding back 1/2″ of the 1″ that I took out of the center back which should give the fit a little bit more ease and will widen the neckline some. Any…[Read more]

My book arrived today and I wasn’t expecting it until next week. It’s a fab book and it will happily distract me this weekend when I am away from my sewing room.

Overall, I’d say you’re getting a pretty good fit now. I’d have to agree with @mama_knowles that I think the style looks better with a wider neck, but the beauty for sewing for yourself is that you can alter to your preferences, so if you’re happy with the narrower neckline, go with it! Otherwise, it looks as it should, so your alterations have…[Read more]

@mama_knowles Thank you for the feedback. My shoulders are somewhat narrow so I am okay with the neckline being less wide, before it was showing my bra.

To me the neckline is way to small for the style. Bit the rest looks to fit very nice. It should have a much wider neck opening. (As one reason why I adore this top! I wear my two all the time.)

Trying again on the photos: front: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5tw_UI_bq66SG12WlhZOFE5ZGM/view?usp=drivesdk

Side: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5tw_UI_bq66azZzR2dHaV9jS2s/view?usp=drivesdk

Here are two pictures of my third muslin where I cut the neckline, armhole, and sleeve in a size 4 and the rest in a 12 with a FBA. It’s just based and I forgot to add to the sleeve to transition to the size 12 so that part is stretched/wonky. But it seems to be fitting better overall but i am not completely sure. This fabric is less stretchy than…[Read more]

Here are two pictures of my third muslin where I cut the neckline, armhole, and sleeve in a size 4 and the rest in a 12 with a FBA. It’s just based and I forgot to add to the sleeve to transition to the size 12 so that part is stretched/wonky. But it seems to be fitting better overall but i am not completely sure. This fabric is less stretchy than…[Read more]

I think they are a perfect size myself. Not too big or too small.

I guess I’d be inclined to alter the Building Block Dress skirt, but that’s just me. You’ll get a very different effect if you use box pleats, in large part because the black sections between the candy corns will be wider and won’t taper to points at the hem. Does that make sense? I think it would be easier to get the same look as the original if…[Read more]

Hi @lotuspeachblog. Sorry to hear that you’re having trouble! Without seeing photos or knowing the type of jersey (the amount of stretch, especially), it’s difficult to say what’s happening with your muslin. This style is designed to have a dropped shoulder–the sleeve seam sits further down on the shoulder/upper arm. Is that what’s throwing you?…[Read more]

I’m always surprised at the size of trick-or-treat bags! But then, we never did much trick-or-treating. I think a lot of bags are larger than the pumpkin buckets, so the drawstring bag won’t be too large at all. Yikes.

I think it would be fine as is Fiona. Volume wise it’s probably about the same as the pumpkin bucket things you can buy.
And remember, everything is bigger in the states, so by the time your bags arrive there they’ll look normal sized!