Replies

1. 
   barbaraR_ | Aug 05, 2000 03:07am | #1

   *
   If you know someone who has a system you can borrow, that would be the way to go. Sounds like you know how to alter standard patterns to fit, which is great. I've not been able to figure that out and thought the Lutterloh system would be easy in comparison. Have made a couple things, but it wasn't been as easy as hoped. Have a few questions and no one to ask.

   If anyone else has information to share about using the system I'd be appreciative.

1. 
   barbaraR_ | Aug 21, 2000 09:06pm | #2

   *Too bad no one else has comments about this. The company claims to have been in business for many years with, presumably many customers. Maybe most Lutterloh users don't read Threads. I recently made a skirt using the system and it turned out really well. Will have to try a shirt again. (first time did not go so well)

1. 
   kellyT_ | Aug 24, 2000 05:03pm | #3

   *FYI - In the fitting section there is some discussion about this system. The first post is by Philip Viljoen dated May 6th.

1. 
   barbaraR_ | Aug 28, 2000 05:48am | #4

   *Thanks. Unfortunately that posting is only an ad for their web site with no information additional to what comes in the kit. Will be nice if they get a newletter or bulletin board going. Will have to try making a pair of pants.

1. 
   April_johnson | Mar 04, 2001 09:06am | #5

   *I went to a Lutterloh system seminar recently at a local fabric store. The blind advertisement stated that I would come away having learned remarkable things about fitting patterns. It also promised 6 free patterns & 2 free videos for attending the $5, 2 1/2 hour class. I was intrigued.I was immediately suspicious when I saw the gentleman who was hosting the seminar --he was wearing an ill-fitting & obviously cheap suit. He proceeded with a long spiel & a demonstration. I felt a bit like I was watching a ginzu knife info-mercial. Indeed, it was a very long info-mercial where the gentleman hawked a variety of products available at any good fabric store. The Lutterloh System does seem like a really neat idea but I think it was made to seem a lot simpler than it really is. The system is a book of tiny scaled patterns that you enlarge based on your bust & hip measurement with the use of a special scale. Supposedly if you have this book you will never need to buy another pattern as you will have all the styles & sizes you will ever need. The book does not include construction instructions, pattern lay-out guides, yardage requirements, or facings. I started to wonder, if this is so wonderful, useful, & effective, why have I never heard of it? Why haven't any other pattern companies introduced this sort of thing? The promised 6 free patterns were just the tiny scaled patterns of dumb outfits & the videos were just the same spiel I had just endured. And I did not learn a thing about fitting. Of course, I have never tried the system, these are just my impressions. I am curious to hear from others who have actually used it

2. 
   linda_linda | Mar 17, 2001 04:01am | #6

   *That system is NOT a good one. Stay away from it completely. I also have seen two demonstrations and know well enough to plainly see that it will not work. Even they at Lutterloh tell you that you WILL have to alter your patterns to fit. There is no way that only 2 measurements you fit everyone.I have found one person who was using these patterns successfully. Her job was making quick-sewn costumes for plays. But her other job was selling these patterns. I watched her at a Sewing Expo. She drafted a pattern and altered it for a plump, busy lady in the audience, to allow for extra bust room she ended up with a curved center front line. I asked her about this and she said that was the way the lady was built, I looked again at the lady and she did not have only one bob in the middle like the pattern allowed for.

3. 
   Crawford_Alice | Aug 27, 2001 01:39am | #7

   *I concur with the others. The hawker wore a "pinky" ring which always makes me suspicious. When you'd ask him a question it was like a kid at a carnival bothering the "barker"..."get away kid." I say, that's a lot money for a little bit of paper. I still have the sample but haven't done anything with it and I was one of his models.Alice

4. 
   Sandmom | Sep 21, 2001 05:08am | #8

   *I too went to a seminar several years ago. I really think this system is for the advanced sewer they really expect you to already know how to assemble a garment and where to put in interfacing etc. You would still need to adjust their patterns but maybe not as much as you currently have to. I did make their free pants pattern and it fit like a dream. They tilt the back of the pant pattern (I've never seen another company do this) so you don't get any bags or smiles in the back. It was the most comfortable pair of pants I've made in a long time. I used a solid color to make my pants I don't know what would happen to the side seam if I had made it in a stripe.

5. 
   Rita_Fleener | Oct 31, 2001 06:17am | #9

   *I bought the Lutterloh pattern making system in the '60's. I've purchased supplemental patterns from the company as time has gone by to update the look. I've been very satisfied with the patterns I've made. I am a plus size and the Lutterloh system fits me as well as my husband and children and maternity wear for a sister-in-law. Purchased patterns do not fit me right, if I can find my size. I have wide hips, the fullest part 5 inches from the waist. I am long waisted. My upper arms are very full. I have been very happy with the Lutterloh system and make no alterations to the patterns. Rita

6. 
   Judy_Hand-Truitt | Jan 01, 2002 04:36am | #10

   *I bought the Lutterloh system about a year ago and have been very pleased with it. At the same time, I was getting interested in fitting patterns in general, and checked out several library books on fitting (I've since then purchased them for small bucks on Half.com). In sewing for my mom, who is very hunched from rheumatoid arthritis, I combined the Lutterloh patterns with fitting methods from the Singer book and had good success. In sewing for a friend's daughter, who is 7 and quite chubby, I used the 3-7-year Lutterloh patterns and had great success -- using Simplicity or other girl's patterns which fit her in the waist made garments much too tall for her! In sewing for myself, I've shortened the patterns 1" above the waist as I've learned to do for all my patterns, and also had great success.It's a fun and easy system, and in combination with enough experience to know the basics of how to make your own facing patterns, and in what order to sew pieces together, etc., (or enough old ready-made patterns to refer to for this) it works very well.As for the workshop and sales spiel, it's old-fashioned and a little charming to see how hard we still work for our living when we are working folk, or working to provide something that working folks need!This is a great site! I just found it and am so delighted to see people talking about something I'm so interested in! Thanks!