No one is symmetrical but some of us are more asymmetrical which is fine except clothing doesn’t always fit comfortably or drapes correctly. A high hip adjustment is an easy adjustment. It only requires a little extra length be added to the garment, but not at the hem as you may first think. To keep the […] Read more…
How to Alter a Sewing Pattern for Scoliosis
All of us have asymmetrical bodies even asymmetrical faces. Yet all the clothes for sale are symmetrical. Usually, our body’s uniqueness can fit into these clothes but for some, especially those with scoliosis, a very common condition in which the spine can form a sideways S or C, finding clothing to fit well and be […] Read more…
How To True A Pattern
What if the seams on your pattern are not true? What if the side seam of the back bodice is longer than the side seam of the front bodice? Or if the shoulder seam is way off? Or how do you fix a seamline that becomes wonky after you added length or another alteration to the […] Read more…
How to Check Your Pattern is True
Are your seams different lengths? You know that the front and the back are supposed to be the same length at the side seam. And you know that the back shoulder seam is supposed to match the front shoulder seam but…. it doesn’t. Or does it? There are two common reasons why your seams may not […] Read more…
Sewing Book and Pattern Review : Lotta Jansdotter Everyday Style & it’s Kiomi Top Pattern
Since I first saw an article about her in Sunset Magazine (in the mid 1990s) I have admired Lotta Jansdotter’s work. So no surprise that I really like her new book, Lotta Jansdotter Everyday Style; Key Pieces to Sew. Yes, it has patterns, and yes that’s the first thing I noticed and yes, those nine patterns, for […] Read more…
Pattern Hack: Add a Yoke to an A-Line Skirt
It’s easy to love an A-line skirt: It flatters almost every body It’s easy to sew It takes a mere two yards of fabric It’s simple silhouette can be made up in wilder prints and will still look classy. It’s a work horse; errands, date nights, work, gatherings. It always looks like you made an effort even when worn with a […] Read more…
How to Adjust the Bodice and Sleeve Pattern When Armholes Are Too Large
A reader asked “On a commercial pattern I have decreased the size of my armhole on a blouse pattern. I took 1 inch out of the front armhole. How do I adjust the sleeve pattern?” I assumed the problem was a gaping armhole – too much fabric above the bust area. This usually occurs when […] Read more…