Lightning McStitch

My reply disappeared…

In that case use the button markings and edge of buttonholes to create a vertical line that you’ll then match your pattern to.

Don’t forget that the buttons sit to the edge of the buttonhole, not the centre.

I’ll try and attach a picture without losing the reply again 🙂

Do you want it to match when it’s buttoned closed?

You need to mark the centre front on each pattern piece as a vertical line. I think there’s a notch at the neck line to indicate where this is from memory.
Then, when you cut, you make sure the centre front lines hit the same part of the plaid pattern, not the edge of the pattern piece.

If you…[Read more]

Hi Debra,
Can you post a photo as that might help spot where the problem is.
Here’s how I troubleshoot this kind of problem:
1: notches missing or not matching at all?
– I’m trying to attach something upside down
2: centre back and shoulder notches good, one front ok, but all the length missing on the other side?
– I’ve mucked up one placket…[Read more]

Hi Kate (@matuhart), I’ve just moved house and everything is in boxes, so I don’t have my book on hand. But…

There is a free felt bow pattern here on the Oliver + S website under the Free Patterns tab.

If you want to use your dress fabric, you can still use this pattern. I’ve sewn it in fabric by adding a 1/4″ seam allowance, stitching and…[Read more]

Hi @jlrobinson1220gmail-com Joan,
The best way to work out what size a finished garment will be us to draw the stitching line on your pattern piece.
The crown circumference measurement will be taken at the opposite end to where you’ve marked.
Draw a line 1/2″ in from that longer curved edge. Stop the line 1/2″ from each end
The length of that…[Read more]

P.S. I absolutely bow down before your muslin making dedication to fitting. Chapeaux !

I was just thinking of this pattern the other day and how I should make it as I know I’d wear it all the time.
I really like your muslin as per the pattern and I like your inspiration picture too, but the second muslin with centre front width isn’t hitting as many goals :)….
To me, the key to the slouchy, relaxed vibe of your inspiration picture…[Read more]

Hi Amie @quilterbee
Please don’t ignore that printing discrepancy. While 1/16″ doesn’t seem much, if you have, for example, a 40″ bust measurement, then the difference ends up being 2&2/2″
That’s definitely enough to end up with a completely wrong sized garment.
One thing I’ve sometimes found works is to print my pattern setting the printer to…[Read more]

Hi Lyndsey.
I bought my dad some silk pajama s a couple of Christmases ago after finding the pajamas cheaper than the fabric!
I reckon it’s a silk satin that you want. Silk seems to be variously measured in g per sq/m as we’re familiar with, but also in “mommes”.
I found one reference suggesting that “22mommes was ideal for lightwear, summer…[Read more]

Hi @rainpatter Suzanne, you’ve already sewn the collar, right? Well this is the same.
You’re going to sew on top of your previous stitching, for a distance of about 1″, up to the dot and then pivot, and stitch around the curve of the cuff to the other dot.
The words “last 1 inch” are referring to the final 1″ of stitching where the sleeve cuff has…[Read more]

You can do anything! I have French seamed the whole lullaby layette and it’s fiddly but definitely doable.
Baby clothes don’t get worn as many times as big clothes but they do get more washing per wear so I guess the finish needs to be somewhat durable.
A simple Zig zag stitch would be perfect.

Hi Vicki, sorry for the late reply. Since the elastic only goes around the sides and back you don’t need the full waist measurement of elastic.
I usually stitch one end in pace then try it on the kid before trimming the elastic and stitching the other end.
If I haven’t got the kid to hand then I adjust the elastic until the waist circumference of…[Read more]

Hi Lyndsey,
Have you typed your hip measurement correctly above? I notice it’s different on the image you attached.
If it’s as per the written then a 12 with any necessary bust adjustment would be fine.fwiw,I measure 38(same high/full)/30/40 currently and made a straight size 10. It’s comfortably loose in the top half but more fitted below. Hence…[Read more]

Thanks Todd.
I must have the first printing too. So, will this mean that our placket actually is 1/4″ further in, as the centre front is only a 1/4″ off the cut line, but we’re going to sew the placket on with a 1/2″ seam?
I know 1/4″ is probably neither here nor there in a shirt with as much ease as this, but I’m curious…
If I follow the…[Read more]

Good pick up and very good question.
I’ve got one cut out and ready to sew for the first time.
You’re right that the instructions differ. The cut line drawn on the pattern is certainly at the 1&1/4″ distance from the fabric edge.

I tend to follow the written instructions and never look at photographed sew alongs, but now you’ve got me…[Read more]

Hi EDB,
It’s nice to hear you have people looking out for you and time to sew!
Sleeve heads fitting into armscyes nicely is definitely a pattern designers forte. The sleeve from one pattern will almost certainly not go easily, if at all, into the armscye of another pattern.
If you’ve made the long sleeved classic shirt and the sleeve fits you…[Read more]

The “cut placket piece” referred to in step 2 is not the 1″ strip you’ve just removed from the front of the shirt.
The cut placket piece is a separate pattern piece.
Check your cutting layout. You’ll find it. It’s plenty wide enough to follow the instructions as written.

Hi Ann,
Curly knits can be a right pain.
One tip I’ve heard, but never yet resorted to trying myself, is spray starch.
I tend to pin the shoulders, centre back and centre front and then start stretching and pinning all the rest of the way around.
Use lots and lots of pins.
If you then find it scary to sew the neckband on with the serger and all…[Read more]

I notice you asked in the Facebook group too and I answered in a little more detail there.
In short, it depends entirely on whether the dress you’ve designed requires any opening in the centre back skirt.
If an opening, like a zipper, or button placket extends into the skirt panel then you need that extra seam allowance.
If not, use the inner line…[Read more]

Here it is: https://oliverands.com/community/blog/2016/08/reversible-bucket-hat-tutorial.html
The photos help to show how you get the lid set into the crown.
Good luck.