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I sew and understand the basics of simple pattern alteration. But I have a new challenge which is stretching my abilities past their limits.
Our daughter came out as transgender last year. She's about 6'4" and slim, with little waist definition. This is going to change as the hormones take effect over the next two to three years, so I'm trying not to gift any clothing which will only fit her for a short time.
She's about to start a new job--finally!--and has need of professional-woman mix and match pieces. My intention is to sew her clothes out of really stretchy rayons which should fit now and might well fit once she's rearranged her body fat and developed breasts. So far, so good.
Except altering the patterns to fit her height is crazy. I took a lot of measurements so I'd get it right, and I'm finding I simply cannot see how to add five inches here and nine there. The only alteration I trust myself to get right is lengthening the sleeves.
I just quit in frustration after trying to draw a new pattern onto Pellon using Butterick 5954, which would flatter and add shape where there isn't a lot. The "lengthen or shorten here" line is two inches below the natural waist, which is a full seven inches short of her waist. Cutting on that line and inserting seven inches destroys the curve of the shaped pieces which make up this pattern. I managed to add five inches, redrawing the curves to match, but it took forever and I have no confidence it'll work, much less fit.
I also have to add to the shoulder width and height, so I'm jumping between the size L line at the neckline and the XXL for height at the shoulder and sleeve opening, and adding width beyond the XXL line at the shoulder. I'm changing it so much I fear the sleeve will no longer fit in the completely reshaped opening.
Anybody got any tips? Websites where I can get help? My usual go-to, Craftster, doesn't really have anything.
Edit: Just to make it fun, she lives far away, so I can't fit anything to her while I'm making it.
Maryn, who at least got to whine
Our daughter came out as transgender last year. She's about 6'4" and slim, with little waist definition. This is going to change as the hormones take effect over the next two to three years, so I'm trying not to gift any clothing which will only fit her for a short time.
She's about to start a new job--finally!--and has need of professional-woman mix and match pieces. My intention is to sew her clothes out of really stretchy rayons which should fit now and might well fit once she's rearranged her body fat and developed breasts. So far, so good.
Except altering the patterns to fit her height is crazy. I took a lot of measurements so I'd get it right, and I'm finding I simply cannot see how to add five inches here and nine there. The only alteration I trust myself to get right is lengthening the sleeves.
I just quit in frustration after trying to draw a new pattern onto Pellon using Butterick 5954, which would flatter and add shape where there isn't a lot. The "lengthen or shorten here" line is two inches below the natural waist, which is a full seven inches short of her waist. Cutting on that line and inserting seven inches destroys the curve of the shaped pieces which make up this pattern. I managed to add five inches, redrawing the curves to match, but it took forever and I have no confidence it'll work, much less fit.
I also have to add to the shoulder width and height, so I'm jumping between the size L line at the neckline and the XXL for height at the shoulder and sleeve opening, and adding width beyond the XXL line at the shoulder. I'm changing it so much I fear the sleeve will no longer fit in the completely reshaped opening.
Anybody got any tips? Websites where I can get help? My usual go-to, Craftster, doesn't really have anything.
Edit: Just to make it fun, she lives far away, so I can't fit anything to her while I'm making it.
Maryn, who at least got to whine