I want to be a Native American for Halloween this year. I really don't like how hard it is to find an inexpensive costume that's not slutty (Exhibit A) or matronly (Exhibit B), so I decided that I want to make my own so I can be pretty but not skanky!
Anyway, my question is about sizing. It might be kind of obvious, but I wanted to check before I do it. My bust, waist, and hips are always wildly different sizes, sometimes they span as many as 4 sizes! Since I'm going to sew my own anyway, I want it to fit me well. If I buy a pattern, is it possible to do different sizes in different parts of me? I've only ever sewn something once in my life (so I know this isn't going to be the prettiest costume ever, but I don't really care because it's only for one night!), and I remember finding my size and cutting along that size line all around. Will it be a total catastrophe if I gradually cut to change sizes between my bust line and my waist line, and then my waistline to my hips? Is there a trick to doing that?
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
-- Edited by ttara123 at 01:05, 2006-10-09
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Fashion is art you live your life in. - Devil Wears Prada | formerly ttara123
the thing with buying patterns is to not go by size, but by measurements (you might wear a 6 off the rack, but you might be a 10 in simplicity patterns based on your measurements.)
measure your bust, waist, and hips, then buy a pattern that accommodates those measurements. many patterns include a range of sizes, and the sizes are marked on the pattern so you can cut the size you need for the top or bottom.
as far as the indian mu mu dress , you should get a size that will accommodate the largest part of you, whether that's your hips or bust.
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"Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess." ~ Edna Woolman Chase
as long as you do it gradually, you should be ok. It won't be perfect, but for one night it should do. You can also play with seam allowances to get a little more/less room.
Make sure when you buy the pattern that you go by your measurements- the sizes are nothing like ready to wear (I wear a 4 in store sizes and am usually around a 10 in a pattern)
yup, just make sure to make it gradual. I wouldn't make a big adjustment without being really careful (like if you taper from a size 10 chest to a size 4 waist- make sure it'll still be right size in ribcage, underbust, etc.).
This whole post is making me laugh...first, when I read the title "question for sewers" I was thinking sewer as in sewage, until I opened the thread...then those pics and your desription of them made me laugh out loud...anyhoo-good luck with your non-matronly, non-slutty costume! Hehe!
travelgirl wrote: This whole post is making me laugh...first, when I read the title "question for sewers" I was thinking sewer as in sewage, until I opened the thread...then those pics and your desription of them made me laugh out loud...anyhoo-good luck with your non-matronly, non-slutty costume! Hehe!
That's so funny! When I saw that this post was near the top again, I clicked it to see what you'd said. But right before I clicked it was the first time, out of all the zillions of times I've read the title of this post, that I thought "wait... did I spell that "sewer?" what's the word for one who sews? do I look crazy?" and then I opened your post and you'd thought the same thing
__________________
Fashion is art you live your life in. - Devil Wears Prada | formerly ttara123
This whole post is making me laugh...first, when I read the title "question for sewers" I was thinking sewer as in sewage, until I opened the thread...then those pics and your desription of them made me laugh out loud...anyhoo-good luck with your non-matronly, non-slutty costume! Hehe!
That's so funny! When I saw that this post was near the top again, I clicked it to see what you'd said. But right before I clicked it was the first time, out of all the zillions of times I've read the title of this post, that I thought "wait... did I spell that "sewer?" what's the word for one who sews? do I look crazy?" and then I opened your post and you'd thought the same thing
the correct term would be seamstress(es). you could have also referred to "those who sew." I knew what you meant though
ETA: you were correct in using the term "sewer" for one who sews (according to Merriam Webster):
main Entry: 2sew·er Pronunciation: 'sO-&r Function: noun : one that sews
-- Edited by D at 13:30, 2006-10-11
__________________
"Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess." ~ Edna Woolman Chase