I think I need to clean out my closet! I took a look at what's in there and asked myself if each piece met my standards for fit and I was woefully surprised at how many pieces I have that don't quite pass muster. Then I got an idea! I sew!! Well fitting items that are worn out, ripped, or stained can be taken apart and used as patterns. Except, I have nothing that really fits well that is in bad shape. My closet rejects are rejects because the style doesn't flatter my figure, or the fit is a little off. Maybe I can use them as fit mock-ups and tweak the style and fit and THEN use them as patterns. Why have I not thought of this before? Now I can clean out the closet without feeling guilty about the money I have spent on what is in there.
My husband commented that he liked a pair of pants I was wearing recently. It figures that I didn't get a picture of them on me. They do fit well. A little too well if you know what I mean. They look great when I am standing but a little tight in the thigh when I sit. The fabric has a little stretch and a slight wrinkle appears across the top of my thigh. Also, the center back waist dips ever so slightly when I am standing and more when I am sitting. I thought I could take those apart and use them as a pattern. I can add a smidge more fabric in the thigh and center back and they would be perfect. But then I thought I can't part with them. I love the stretch tropical wool charcoal fine pinstripe fabric too much. So last night, I tried to copy them using my TNT fit muslin. I figured the pinstripe is a perfect grain line. How hard can it be to copy them? I pinned the muslin and started fussing with it. Actually, I was fighting with the stretch fabric and the muslin, trying to be patient. I really wanted to take the darned things apart, lie the pieces flat, and trace them. Then I got another idea. What if I just buy another pair? The time I will save will be worth the money. No pattern tracing, measuring, tweaking, mock-up making, mock-up tweaking, or transferring changes back to the pattern necessary. Just cut apart, and use the pieces as a pattern! BING!! Light bulb over my head... I went on line and checked the web site for the store where I bought them and they didn't have them anymore. But, there was another pair with the same cut and stretch tropical wool fabric in black! WooHoo! - and it was on sale!! I ordered two pairs - one for me to wear and one to use as a pattern. I hope they aren't too tight in the thigh. I am definitely keeping one pair to cut apart as a pattern.
One of the best things I learned in my art career was that everything is a "muslin". If you don't like a piece (or a garment) it can be re-used in some way whether that's to perfect fit or to cut up for future fabric use or to refashion into another garment or to line pockets and purses. Whatever it takes. Let go of the guilt. Materials are necessary to learn, practice, perfect. HAVE FUN! You'll learn to do by doing.
ReplyDelete- Myrna
Great minds think alike :) and thanks for the reminder! My very first successful shirt pattern came from an Eddie Bauer shirt that I tweaked - just as you described. I sewed many, many shirts from that pattern. I did the same thing with pants. I agree that it's much easier to sacrifice the pants (as opposed to making a copy from them) if it's made from fabric with stretch. You need to lay it out flat, press it and then you can finally see what you are working with. Looking forward to seeing what you sew with your new patterns.
ReplyDeleteGlad you managed to get another pair of pants to copy. The other option is to unpick the favourite garment, make the pattern and then sew the RTW garment back together again. Time consuming I know, but that way you get to eat the cake and have it too!
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm glad that you found another pair to cut apart. You have your pants and a pattern too. I love reading about the process you've been going through lately.
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