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Slopers? Muslins? Help?

Meemur | Posted in General Sewing Info on

Hi All,

I am about to return to sewing from a lengthy hiatus … 10 to 15 years.  When I started sewing — in the 5th grade — I had no fear and would tackle anything.  Boy have things changed … and thus my call for help.

I have purchased Very Easy Vogue 8004 and beautiful charcoal linen.  I have been pouring over my mother’s old Thread magazines and have been introduced to a whole bunch of new terms and concepts.  I have never made a muslin before, however I’m about to with this pattern.  Any pointers on ensuring that the final garment will fit beautifully?  Once I make the muslin and the necessary adjustments, do I take it apart and use it as my pattern?  Do I need to make any adjustments if I choose to make it a second time in a nubby boucle?  Where do slopers come in?  Are they necessary if you make a muslin?

Many thanks … m

Replies

  1. mimi | | #1

    Welcome back to sewing!  I recommend making the muslin, leaving a larger than normal seam allowance so that you can adjust out as well as in ;)

    Once you have cut out your muslin and sewn it (you might want to use a basting stitch), have someone pinch up the areas that are too loose and pin them.  These will stay pinned (or hand basted) to form your new pattern.  If you are too tight in places, have someone carefully pin the seam at the correct depth and remove the stitching.  Recheck to see if the new seam fits correctly.  If so mark with a permanent marker.

    Once you have made all the adjustments, use your muslin as a pattern.

    Hope this helps!

    mimi

    1. Meemur | | #2

      Thank you Mimi.  I'm feeling less intimidated and am looking forward to getting started. 

      m

      1. mimi | | #3

        Meemur:  You can do this!  It will change the way you make clothes, in the best possible way.

        mimi

  2. mem | | #4

    hello and I am so glad that you are back sewing . Making a muslin is a very good idea . Make it in a fabric which is similar to the one you are working with so Muslin is good for linen, probably for the boucle as well as long as it isn't a knit. I have used a knit boucle but stabilized it with a fused on stabilizer so it became like a woven then you can use a woven pattern.

    Make your seam allowance larger in the side seams and wider in other vertical seams stitch it  up with large stitches and then try it on and get you mum to help you with the fit . If its a drastic fit challenge then you might need to get a book on fitting and work out what you need to do otherwise just fiddle to get it right and then mark all you stitching lines with a felt tipped pen , pull it apart and cut off any excess fabric so that you have cut back to the stitching line . Place this in a single layer on your linen and pin it on and then stitch by hand with basting stitches around you pieces and cut them out leaving the appropriate seam allowance  You can then construct the garment and it should all fit . You need of course to get you grain lines correct but using the basting as your stitching line makes it all so much easier and will be worth the effort you put into the muslin stage . You need to then write a list of things to remember with that particular pattern and bundle it all up and then put it away so that next time you will just be able to go at the fashion fabric straight away.

    1. Meemur | | #5

      Thank you so-o much Mimi.  The boucle is a woven so I'll be able to use my muslin for both.  Can't wait!

      m

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