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Hi,
>Before breast cancer surgery 12 years ago, I had no fitting problems but even with an implant, my right breast is much smaller and rounder than is the left. A great deal of tissue was removed under my right arm leaving deep scars and a depressed area. To make matters worse, I developed lymphedema which causes the right arm to be about one-inch larger in circumference even when wearing an elastic stocking. A teacher of Home Economics (new titles now for this), I taught simple alterations and loved to sew my own clothing.
>A size 12 patterns fits almost as well as my usual 10 on the left side but even in ready-mades,neckline tends to pull down to the right. (A 10 fits best in the neck and shoulder area but I add to the bust, waist and hips.) The garment sinks in between the right breast and the armsyle. Vests are impossible as a large gap appears in the back armhole, but only on the right side. The right sleeve lacks ease. Knits show off the deformity. I try to buy and sew garments with pockets on the right bodice, and in sewing, I add over an inch to the right sleeve.
>Does anyone know the magic trick? I am considering making a dress form as sewing for myself is very important.
Thanks,
Genia
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Genia, this is an interesting fitting problem, and one that I am not familiar with. May I suggest that you go over to http://www.sewingworld.com, and put this question into the "Patterns & Fitting" section, under the "Techniques" heading? The many sewists over there are very knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly, and they will certainly have good ideas for you.
*Genia, without actually seeing you, it is difficult to give exact ideas, but here are a couple of things I've had success with, with issues similar to yours.I have one client who was in an auto accident some number of years ago. Her broken hip left her assymetrical from the waist down. I resolved this by making her a custom skirt and pant draft for which I cut the left and right sides separately. We found that by designing assymetrical garments, for example wrap front skirts or by adding unusual draping details on her top, we were able to fool the eye of the casual onlooker.I have several clients who have very assymetrical shoulders. When making them jackets, I put in regular shoulder pads, but also building up the lower sloping shoulder inside with another shoulder pad - a light-weight raglan blouse shoulder pad. I warn them that if they lend the jacket to someone else, or give it away, it will not fit the new wearer perfectly.If one your arms are of different measurements, I would suggest using a wider cut sleeve on your blouses/jackets, and using a heavy-ish drapey fabric rather than a crisp one.Hope any of that helps.
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