Many of us start making our own clothes with the dream of creating the perfect wardrobe. Full of pretty, perfectly fitting clothes. But I’m beginning to wonder if some of the effort we put into achieving the perfect fit is worth it?
What I mean is, if I go shopping to buy a shirt, of course I try and find one that fits well, but if it doesn’t fall perfectly over my sway back and pulls a little over my sad rolled in shoulders, I don’t really notice. So why do I go to the trouble of making many muslins for a shirt to make sure these little imperfections are nowhere to be seen?
I think getting the perfect fit on something like your wedding dress makes perfect sense. You want it to fit you perfectly on that day. But for clothes you intend to wear for a whole season, or more than one season, I’m not sure it’s so important. I have many items in my wardrobe that I’ve owned for years and my shape and weight have definitely changed in that time.
(Photo taken by our incredible wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis for xsight photography)
My wedding dress is still in my wardrobe. Nine years on, I’m doubt it would fit, but I’m still totally in love with it.
Last year I made the Colette Sorbetto and went through 3 muslins to get the fit right. The pattern is relatively easy, so making the muslins didn’t involve a lot of time. But since then, I’ve stopped breastfeeding and lost a bit of weight and a lot of boob so the tops don’t fit me as perfectly as they did then. I’m hoping to make a couple more Sorbettos for summer, but will need to start from scratch to get a new correct fit.
Sewing with knits does make this some what easier, as the stretch is more forgiving. I have a pattern I drafted for my ‘perfect tee’ and it’s pretty good. It fits me perfectly through the waist and the hips, but I’ve recently noticed the shoulders sit a little funny. I can’t decide whether to start tinkering with the pattern or just leave it be. Does anyone but me even notice the perky little shoulders?
I’d love to know what you think. Is being your own seamstress a blessing or a curse?
Kendra Watson says
I know exactly what you mean but I haven’t found my way to the answer yet. I have a stash of patterns and fabric but my fantastic new wardrobe of perfectly fitting hand made clothes seem a long way off.
I will always need a FBA at the very least and I’m guessing the difference between my waist and hips will need some grading between sizes for trousers.
I tend to make clothes for my daughter instead but she is growing like the weeds in my garden and big for her age so I’m not always quick enough to get something on her more than a couple times before she is in the next size up!
abby @ thingsforboys says
Kids clothes are so much easier aren’t they?! I have to usually do a FBA too, some things like that are necessary, but I often think I spend way too long getting something absolutely perfect when I really doesn’t matter.
Jodi Bonjour says
This is tough we want a finished product that is worth the effort and expense. Something that we can claim with pride “I made this”. But then again, most people won’t notice the difference.
We need to let ourselves be a work in progress, accepting our mistakes while learning from them.
And by “we” I really mean “I”.
celina bailey says
this is why i sew for my kids! Although I just sewed for me this week and decided not care about it being perfect and I have to say I am happier. That being said one of things I made was an oversized dress 😉 ha. Honestly I never make a muslin and often don’t end up wearing what i make, hopefully i can learn to appreciate what I make more with all it’s imperfections and sew more for myself.
abby @ thingsforboys says
I think I need to embrace oversized clothing. That would making fitting much easier!
celina bailey says
hahahaha! exactly, it at least solves the fit issues. The wonky sewing… well that is another story!
Renee //nearestthepin says
I wear things I make that aren’t perfect, mostly because (1) my fitting skills aren’t perfect and (2) I’m not a perfectionist. I think I’m the opposite of you Abby in that I need to become more of a perfectionist in my sewing, I can be a bit slap dash 😉
Natalie @sewoutnumbered says
I agree with Celina – soooo much easier to sew for your kids!! I’ve started sewing for myself more recently and haven’t had toooooo many problems with fit. Actually my usual problem is something skill based…like the hem isn’t perfect, something like that. Then I look more closely at some of my store bought stuff (even the expensive stuff) and that DEFINITELY isn’t perfect. We are way too hard on ourselves for sure!!
Stephanie says
Oh god it’s a curse. Size 16 top, 18 waist and 20 bottom.
I wear what I make whether it is good or bad. I most of my friends are totally impressed as they don’t know anything different.
I will keep in trying though and hopefully my fitting skills will get better over time.
I hope.
nobutterfly says
I like the way you describe it. I like a good fit and sometimes I’m more demanding for my sewing than my bought clothes. But since I’m sewing I realise I’m more demanding for bought clothes as well, I look at fit, finishing,… It happens I don’t bother to buy it because I can do that myself. I enjoy the time it takes to sew and it can get annoying when it doesn’t turn out perfect (not sure if I’ll ever have the courage to do three muslins though) but even so, I’m more forgiving for my sewing than for bought clothes. I’ll have learned something from my mistakes and maybe I’ll only wear it on lazy sundays or that t-shirt will be a night t-shirt…
abby @ thingsforboys says
I think that’s a good way to be Renee! I think perfectionism can drive people in sane!
abby @ thingsforboys says
Once you start sewing for yourself, you really start to see how poorly some shop bought clothes are constructed don’t you?! And then you (sadly) get a nice surprise when they are made well.
Nicole Markelz says
I totally agree with you! I, too, am much harder on myself when I make clothes. But I also think it’s ruined me while buying garments now–I’ve been putting a lot of things back on the rack if they don’t fit just right.
Debra Verrall says
Natalie is exactly right – store bought clothing can be pretty poorly made.
Perhaps think of it this way – now you’ve done the 3 muslins you’ve learnt that you’ll always need to do the FBA.
I’ve always made my own clothes – because I like to – the act of sewing is the enjoyment and having a new garment is the bonus.
Jenya says
How many muslins probably depends on experience… I have already made 3 for my Washi dress, and will probably have to make 3 more before I get it right hehe
abby @ thingsforboys says
I have so many things that I’ve made that have been relegated to PJ status 😉 And yes, I am also very picky now with store bought clothes. I shop more but buy a lot less.
abby @ thingsforboys says
Me too! I’m definitely a much pickier shopper these days.
abby @ thingsforboys says
That’s such a lovely way to think about it, enjoying the process with a bonus garment at the end!
abby @ thingsforboys says
I often think the more experience we have, the more scrutinising we get, so the amount of muslins never goes down 😉
abby @ thingsforboys says
Glad to hear you just wear it…that’s the right idea!
Laura says
I think this is one reason why I don’t sew for myself too often. Once you start sewing and look more closely at the construction of shop bought clothes you realise that not everything is well made or has perfect fit. I don’t know why I can’t accept that when I sew for myself but I am trying to relax my standards a little bit.
Vanessa says
I’m 180 cm (6 ft), so while I have generous hips compared to waist, and widish shoulders, I don’t worry too much about fine tuning horizontal fit as long as I can get length right (bought or me made). Maybe it’s a matter of getting one or two aspects close to perfect, and living with the rest?
abby says
yes, I was talking about this with a friend today. I think as long as you get your main fit issues right then you’re 10 steps ahead of anything store bought.