Hello All, hope you can help.
I’ve just started McCalls 8486 shirt A for summer. The seam allowance in the sewing information section states “Use 1/4″ (6mm) seam allowance unless otherwise indicated”. This seems (pardon the pune) very small. I’m used to 1.5cm seam allowances unless indicated. The 6mm allowance does not line up with the Dots, by about 1cm. If I baste through the dots this is outside of the seam allowance but if I stick with the 6mm seam allowance I have to baste and staystitch within 6mm which is challenging.
Does anyone know this pattern and have any advice before I stitch the front facing on with a 6mm allowance.
Thanks
Geraint
Replies
Yeah, 6mm seam allowance can definitely feel tight if you're used to 1.5cm. It’s not uncommon for some patterns, especially for finer details or lighter fabrics, but it can be tricky. If the dots don’t line up, you might need to adjust your approach—maybe try basting within the 6mm allowance to test fit before committing. If it feels too challenging, you can always adapt the seam allowance to something more comfortable for you, as long as it doesn’t mess with the overall fit too much. Good luck with the shirt!