Cricket and Seasaw that is a good advice. Cricket I'm envious of you and your Grandmother's skills. I'm hoping to learn a lot more and be able to convert patterns better. I started taking a course in Fashion Design from a local community college and the first quarter was all about drafting a shirt. I still have those directions and will lay that pattern on a bought pattern to try to adjust, it doesn't always work out well.

It's funny, when I took the course my machine was still in the box, and I had ZERO knowledge of sewing and didn't practice at all at home. The classes have since became too expensive or I would love to go back now that I know how my machine works.

Quilting is great for teaching patience, and confidence, since I eventually will make something pretty if I stick with it and follow (figure out) the pattern. I have an on-going affair with Mr. Clover (clover brand seam ripper) when in the past I would have just chucked the whole works in the trash.

btw I just made a fleece jacket for my hubby for his birthday and he says it is very nice! I had made the vest in a beginning sewing class about 2 years ago, and I made the version with sleeves last month. I did the exact same thing I did when making the vest -- forgot how much the fleece stretches and ended up with one side six inches longer on the zipper. :confused: Mr. Clover got hot and bothered again! I used wonder tape on it, and pinned heavily so it couldn't move much the second try.

Ok I went looking to find a god place on the net that will give good instructions on how and where to measure yourself before buying a pattern. This is it, very similar to what I did with everyone that I sewed for.

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/...-to-measure-up

Please go check this site out as it might even have more information on how to adjust the patterns.

and this is the best I've seen to help you pick out the right size pattern for your size, it's on the same website

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/...-size/page/all

I never sewed clothes before. I started out as a quilter when a co-worker taught me to quilt many years ago. Now my DGD got an American Girl doll for Christmas and has asked me to make her doll some clothes. I'm doing it, but it sure isn't fun. The pieces are too small for me. Challenging to say the least but she's my granddaughter, so I will do it gladly.

Seasaw that is a great site! I noticed in the comments many people remarked on the size difference, for example one woman said she wears a size six but according to the pattern she wears a 16. I haven't used many patterns but have found Kwik Sew seems to be the most accurate. Hubby's jacket pattern fit perfect going by the chart, as did a cotton shirt I made myself.

I know vanity sizing has got much worse, if I go to a thrift store and find old jeans they are the same size but the ones in the store sure aren't. I wear a smaller size than I know I really do judging by the labels in the store.

On the comments someone had a link to this method of pattern re-sizing, what do you think of it?
http://sensibility.com/blog/tips/how...ize-a-pattern/

I took a class with Glenda Sparling, who teaches "Sure-Fit Designs" and made a bodice that fits perfectly, it was made of muslin, and I have not gone ahead and made a shirt using the method, but she taught us how to measure very similar to the site you shared. I need to do measure again since I've gained 5-7 lbs. since then.

GagaSmith I was thinking getting a doll and dressing her would be a great way to gain sewing skills, but thought they would be small and hard to handle too. Your Granddaughter sure is lucky and will really appreciate the pretty clothes for her doll, maybe you can make them some matching outfits eventually?

A quick glance at that site, I would say it might work well on a pattern that isn't close fitting (clothing made to fit sort of lose) but if you were doing a pattern that was form fitted, I'm not sure that it would work as well. Some of the things they showed would work, like the adjustments for shorting or lengthening but dividing the pattern up like they did, I think would not work as well with some fitted patterns.

I could be wrong about that because I have never seen or done altering their way. Maybe some one else here has more experience with that then I do.

Most of the patterns that I did back in the day were ones I drew up myself using a pattern that was general in size and altering it as needed to fit each person. I worked with young girls that would have a size 20 breast, a 12 waist and maybe a 14 hip. So I would get a pattern to accommodate their breast size and alter the other areas down as needed. For me it was easier to reduce the other areas, rather then enlarge the breast because most of the shirts or jackets they would wanted a tailor fit. I hope this makes sense.

Thanks for all the links (above.) Has anyone tried Unique patterns? I had their subscription and started with probably one of the hardest to fit: pants. Bad choice on my part. Unique came to a local show and had their body imager with them but I didn't have it done (custom made patterns with a scanned image of your own body.) I've regretted that. She was able to make comments about my body type that I wasn't aware of, for which I was thankful. You may not always be aware of certain features of your body type!

I also saw an article in Threads magazine about making a custom body form using duct tape. So curious, has anyone tried this? Was it helpful in fitting?

Cas - this thread could have been written by me today! Everything you said was my experience. Except one thing. I haven't sewn clothes for 25 years. My daughter challenged me to buy a pdf pattern and make a dress for my gd. Never bought a pdf pattern before and that was the easiest and quickest part. The 5/8 seam, the glue, the rotary cutter and rulers, the decorative stitches - it came back and it was easier with the quilting skills. I ripped out a few buttons holes too. It was a fun day. My story too.

It's interesting isn't it Natalie? How are you doing with your pattern?

I have not used Unique patterns. I have attempted to make a duct tape dress form. Hubby was my assistant. I got sick from the fumes but we had a sort of dummy. I chose to include my legs, individually wrapped, and had on nylons below the tape so the form shrank up, duh! I'm going to buy some Capri pants without so much stretch the next time. We are going to do it again, with the windows open. There are many tutes on youtube for how to make the dummy, the cool thing being it doesn't cost $200 and it is form fitting. We also forgot to X between my boobs so I squished them flat. That won't work when making a shirt! :thumbdown:

I'm waiting for my daughter to send me a length measurement and I'm done! It is so cute. It's called a Clair dress/top.