Neck & Open front facing of blouse…EEK!
Facings are going to be the end of my somewhat short & pitiful sewing career!! I do not know if somehow I am just completely stupid when it comes to sewing these things on or just what. Let me explain instead of blathering on. I am making this outfit “See & Sew” 5169 (I couldn’t upload the photo here or link). The neck and front facings are sewn together at the shoulders then attached to the blouse itself. Ok, fine. but when I look at the pattern illustrations (which, quite frankly, suck) it would appear that there is a line drawn at an agle where the facing would attach to the blouse’s neckline at the front. I hope that makes sense. When I went to sew the facings to the blouse, sure enough, the opening front facing (where the blouse will have buttons) appears too wide to attach. Is this what the illustration seeks to address? The aforementioned crappy illustration w/the angled line? Help!! I do not know if I am challenged in this area because it has just messed up my mind for two days now!!
Appreciate any and all feedback,
mercystreet
Replies
neck and open front facing
I'm having a really hard time picturing your problem. I looked a couple of places but didn't find that style number. Can you tell me where to find it? If I could see the finished garment I might be able to understand. Sorry I can't help at this time,
http://butterick.mccall.com/b5169-products-7756.php?page_id=678
Sorry, I had to place the link in the subject line. For some reason I can't do that in the body of this post. Any way. Basically the problem I have is that the facing appears to be too wide for the opening of the actual blouse. I have cut it out using the pattern and all, so I'm not sure what's wrong. I don't think it has to do with the darts on the blouse making anything different. It's so frustrating. It makes me think that part of the facing is supposed to cover the front opening as well aside from being folded under, but that makes no sense according to the photo on the pattern.
Sorry to be confusing. I'm at a loss.
http://butterick.mccall.com/b5169-products-7756.php?page_id=678
The slanted line you mention has me baffled. My first thought, if one piece is much larger than the other, is that perhaps you are matching the seam line on one piece with the cutting edge of the other. I know that sometimes facings do not have the sewing line marked on them and it can be confusing. Hold the facing pattern piece against the other pattern piece (not the fabric you've cut out.) See if the outside edges of your pattern pieces can be matched up. Check your pattern piece markings and see if you can match them up.
Square neckline?
If your top has a square neckline, there's a good chance that horizontal and vertical sides of the front facing look very similar. I have reversed facings before--stuck the center front seam up at the shoulders of the garment, and put the shoulder seam at the front--they are close but not accurate!
You can test this by cutting the front and back facings out of waxed paper and clearly marking the center front, center back, and shoulder seams (I use a permanent marker & let it dry a couple of minutes), plus any notches or dots. Stitch together the shoulder seams on the paper facing, then check it against your garment.
If it turns out that the pattern pieces don't exactly match the garment even when assembled correctly, you can create new facings out of waxed paper, tracing the neckline, center front, and shoulder seam, and the desired width. Good luck and let us know what happens!
There is always the possibility that the pattern has been drafted and printed incorrectly. As someone else mentioned...lay the pattern pieces out and see if you can match the sewing lines. That will tell you if there is a problem with the pattern. Looking at this design does not indicate where there would be a slanted line.
See and Sew 5169
Is this the pattern with the square neck? A "B5169" came up on my search. There is one review and it does not mention any problems with facings. I couldn't find the line drawings or another site to see it bette
I ended up...
...doing an impromptu fix on it, but found the dang blouse overall is too tight in the bust. This is allllways my problem!! I think I over estimate the ease and such. Sighs. I will end up wearing it open w/a thin cammie underneath. Jeez. Am rolling eyes at self.
Just thought about this...I have a large bust too and will need to learn to make a full bust adjustment. Maybe that should be a technique we should both practice and perfect. I just made a cute, cute cute, tunic type blouse that was a easy project. This one needed some tweaking because I bought the pattern last summer and have since gone down a whole size...the neck like in it is too deep as I am petite so I am going to give it a second try and alter the cut of the side seams as well to give it a more fitted less deconstructed look. Round two coming up.
This post is archived.