Todd Gibson

It looks like it is an inset sleeve, which means you have a few options.

1) take the short sleeve and lengthen and narrow as it you would like; or

2) find a sleeve you like and take the pattern’s sleeve cap and draft that onto that sleeve pattern.

Although, looking at the pictures (I don’t have the pattern) it looks like it might be a boxier…[Read more]

recently, I measured my daughter for a garden party. She’s almost 8 but narrow. So she measured a 3T in width, but obviously not in length. I made a 5 with 8 length. It is a bit big through the shoulders and chest, but plenty long. So I agree. Only go down two sizes at most, and lengthen. Also, after having bought and read the Building…[Read more]

I agree. In general, I recommend that you not size down more than two sizes from the age or the proportions start to feel “off”. For example, S is 12 and I sometimes sew her a size 8 but I need to adjust the shoulders and sleeves. It would be safer to sew her a size 10 and leave a little extra ease for most styles. Knits are fine to be a little…[Read more]

Sure, why not? Whatever works best with your fabric will be just fine for this style!

I’ve certainly seen people make this coat in cotton laminates. They will be water repellent but have more drape than a home Dec weight outdoor furnishing fabric. However, I think the pattern lends itself quite well to a fabric that has minimal drape. It will be quite boxy but that can be fine, just be aware that it may be a beast to sew – setting…[Read more]

Sorry for the late reply @erechler Erin. Yes, sometimes you will flip a pattern piece in order to have it on the fold. What matters is that all the pattern pieces have their top and bottom ends facing the same way as each other. That way you won’t have upside down print on one or other parts of a pattern.
Cutting layouts are great but feel free…[Read more]

@madelouisville hi Lyndsey, the top corner of the button placket template should line up with the top corner of the finished button placket and then the buttonholes marked from there.
From memory the template doesn’t really have a bottom, it just continues… So long as the lowest buttonhole is well and truly on your placket then you’re right. If…[Read more]

I took a quick glance at this and it appears to be a grading issue. My apologies that we didn’t catch it earlier. As soon as I have time I’ll address it and we’ll issue an errata, ok?

Perhaps this will help you get started? https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/fabrics-101

Oh why is this fabric so blue?
I was sure I bought some other hue

It’s hurting my eyes
They’re going cross-wise

Oh why is this fabric so blue?
I was sure I bought some other hue

The upper bust/full bust thing works great for some people and not at all for others, unfortunately. It’s a general guideline that helps a lot of people to get a good fit, but if you’re wearing a DDD bra then clearly you’re not an A/B. From what I can see in the photos it looks like you’re getting a good fit. This is a loose-fitting shirt, so it…[Read more]

Oh, I’m glad to see you here! I was a little worried that everyone had moved exclusively to the Facebook group, but this is such a nice community I hope you’ll stay. I just finished sewing all the samples for our fall photo shoot last weekend, and now I’m catching up on email before I dive into spring pattern development. Somehow I want to fit in…[Read more]

I was just thinking of this thread recently. Thanks for refreshing it.
I hope you’ll say hello when you’re in Melbourne, Nicole. If the planets align I might just find myself with time to browse a fabric shop 😉
For three days now I haven’t worked on anything. May and June was like a manic sewing bender at my place. Finally I’ve packed everything…[Read more]

Woo hoo!
Hello lovely Peeps, we have joined the rest of the world and now have decent internet so I can finally access the forum again.
I have felt terrible wanting to help people but unable to reply.

I am not sewing, we are off on Hol’s, so I have tidied my sewing room in anticipation for my return (I will be hitting the Melbourne fabric…[Read more]

My seam ripper fell to the floor
I just heard a knock at the door
I never get peace
For sew/stress release

The lowest number listed is the number of the printing. So since your pattern, @4dfamily98, has a 1 that means it’s the first printing.

@juliarhodes, did you check the finished measurements chart? That’s often the best way to determine which size you want to make, since it gives you the actual finished measurements which you can compare to your body and where you want the waistband to sit when it’s done. You might also want to compare it to other clothes that fit the way you like.…[Read more]

Sorry, what do you mean by in-line pockets? We cover lots of different pockets and pocket construction in the Building Block Dress book. Does that have what you need?

A raglan sleeve is really a patternmaking technique rather than a pattern alteration technique. It’s quite complicated. I’d suggest starting with a pattern like the Carousel Dress, like Lightning suggests, so you don’t need to draft the sleeve yourself.