Skip to main content

Petite Adjustment Fitting Epiphany...or maybe just theory

Guess what!? I'm petite! I'm just a wee little thing, so delicate that a gust of wind could blow me away--NOT!

But I did have a petite fitting epiphany while working on my latest shirt: I need to take a tuck in the bodice--above the bust--just as if I really were petite.

I have known that my backwaist length is around 2" shorter than standard patterns, but I always thought it meant I was short-waisted when what I really am is short-chested.

This short-chestedness is the cause of my most hated fitting problem: Collars falling down my back. I hate it when the collar falls down my back! And it does in every single ready-to-wear shirt I have ever tried on, as well as many shirts I have made. Now I know how to fix it!

Taking the same tuck at the same level across the front, sleeves and back pattern pieces eliminates the individual fiddling I used to do on each piece. It takes care of too-long sleeves and too-low armholes, and puts the waistline mark in the correct place, all with one little tuck!

My theory is that I can take a size 16 pattern and do the following alterations:
Petite chest-tuck
Full bust adjustment
Increase waist
Increase hip
Increase sleeve width

Sounds like a lot of work, which is why I've been working with Unique to get custom patterns. But ironically, it was on one of their custom patterns that I had to make the chest-tuck. Well, I intend to test my short-chested theory soon on some patterns that I have in my stash. At least the dang collar will stay on my neck now.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

I So Want to Sew

The pattern is cut out and pressed, the cutting mat is laid out on the table, and pre-washed fabric calls out to me. What is missing? TIME, that's what! And if there's a little time to be had there has been NO ENERGY left to git 'r done. But things are picking up and I hope to have 4 dark blue knit work shirts made this weekend for dh. I just bought him a coupla pair of olive green 'Big Daddy Cargo Pants' at Penneys. Finding work pants for Dh that fit, are comfortable and don't rip the first day on the job has been an adventure. These pants look great on him and they are stretch twill! Yay! I had picked up some black and brick-colored knit collars at The Place That Sells Sewing Machines but now I have olive-colored pants...what to do? Here's what: I'm going to try and find matching olive knit or woven material to use on the work shirt placket and (maybe) collar! How coordinated he will be! Oddly, dh doesn't seem as excited about this as I am....

You Were Born in California and Have Never Been to Yosemite?

Until 2 days ago, I would have had to answer, "Nope, never been there." But now I can proudly say, "I have been to Yosemite. I have seen the highest waterfall in the United States, El Capitan, and Half Dome." We joined my brother Bobby and sister-in-law Dee Dee, along with nephew Jeremy, neice Sierra and her hubby Josiah and their little girls Havilah and Gigi for a whirlwind of a weekend that managed to be both exciting and relaxing. On Saturday Bobby & Dee Dee took us on a one-day tour of Yosemite (more pics in the Gallery ). The scenery was tremendous. If there's this much natural beauty just 4 hours from where I live, what wonders must heaven hold? I really enjoyed seeing the families from all over the world. Saturday night Darren & I saw the Eagles at Calaveras County fairgrounds. Great concert. Sunday we kicked back. We did not get enough of Yosemite though and may return this winter.