Evamarie Gomez and Carol Fresia; Videographer: Gary Junken
In this video extra from “A Fresh Way to Fit Sleeves,” Threads #183 (February/March 2016), contributing editor Kenneth D. King models a pair of “hip-hop” pants to demonstrate how fitting pants is like fitting a sleeve: Sometimes more space doesn’t equal more comfort or mobility.
Threads Recommended Products
Style Arc, Hendrix Coat
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The Hendrix coat sewing pattern from Style Arc is an unlined, panelled design with long two-piece sleeves, a button or snap front, and optional top-stitching. It features binding along the neck, hem, and sleeves, along with angled patch pockets and dropped shoulders. Recommended fabrics include wool, linen, faux fur, or velvet, with fabric estimates and trim details provided for sizes 4-30.
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Pattern A has pleated patch pockets with flaps. Pattern B has side seam zippers. This Vogue sewing pattern kit was designed and printed in the United States and comes with sewing templates, instructions, fabric recommendations, pattern pieces, and sizing guides for (2) shirts and (1) pair of pants. Women's clothing patterns can be made to fit sizes 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14.
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Know Me patterns offer stylish and versatile designs, including the ME2064 rain jacket, which combines a cropped jacket and a vest that can be worn together or separately. The boxy-fit jacket features a hood, snap closure, and multiple pockets, while the vest has a zippered front and cargo pockets. This sewing kit includes templates, fabric recommendations, and instructions for sizes 44-52, proudly made in the USA.
Again, you tie things together, and fitting makes vastly more sense.
In reviewing the M. C. Hammer video for "U Can't Touch This", the pants the men are wearing have ballooning about the thighs, but taper to more traditional pants about the calves. The fabric-rich area above allowed for maximum movement, in keeping with what you described.
Thank you Kenneth, this was a very clear explanation and the example was rather descriptive. Thank you for your input, looking forward to similar guides from you.
Thank you so much, Kenneth, for the wonderful visual explanation. It makes perfect sense as you are showing it, but is a wee bit counter-intuitive to think about.
Because of your clear explanations and great visuals, I certainly won't forget this fitting lesson!
Thanks to Mr. King for the video and the article in Threads. I read this article and possibly need to go back and re-read it again. I have a slightly fuller bicep (13"), and find that a good number of RTW garment sleeves, as well as blouse patterns armseyes are too large (deep), which means a fuller sleeve, which also means excess fabric. If I understand your article correctly, I would need to reduce some of the sleeve cap and raise the armseye on the bodice to get it to fit properly.
Thanks for this visual explanation as it helps tremendously and is a great aid to the magazine article which I have read & studied. I have one question, how do I measure the bicep depth on my body so I can compare it to the pattern's bicep depth?
You hit it on the nose! I have tried to explain this to others. They just don't get it. Your video helps those who need to see it.
This is one reason girls can't wear women's clothes. They might have the widths, but they are not as tall. Like you showed, the extra actually gets in the way!
To Grandma2six: If you have a full bicep, and want to have a smaller armscye, you'll raise the underarm of the bodice to reduce the armscye measurement--the "rule" is that you raise (or lower to increase) by half the amount. For example, if you want to reduce the armscye by 1 inch, raise the underarm by 1/2 inch--the total decrease will come out as 1 inch.
You will do the same thing to the sleeve by raising the underarm up, half the total amount of change.
Now, to increase the bicep so the sleeve will fit onto the bodice, you'll raise the bicep line by swinging the two halves of the armscye up, which reduces the cap height by raising the bicep line.
It's a balancing act here, and you can create two sleeves that will fit onto the same bodice: For more smooth appearance, you'll have a higher cap, a shorter bicep. For more mobility, you'll have a shorter cap height, and a longer bicep.
to tinainanderson: Generally I don't measure the cap height on the body, but how it's done:
Place a ruler snug up under your arm, parallel to the floor. Then take another ruler, and sit it on the shoulder where your armhole seam will by, making that ruler parallel to the floor. Measure the distance between these two rulers, and that's a cap height.
Senor King,
Ring the bell, school's back in.
Again, you tie things together, and fitting makes vastly more sense.
In reviewing the M. C. Hammer video for "U Can't Touch This", the pants the men are wearing have ballooning about the thighs, but taper to more traditional pants about the calves. The fabric-rich area above allowed for maximum movement, in keeping with what you described.
Thanks for breakin' it down.
The video that comes up when I try to view is Running Stitches with Judy.
Thank you Kenneth, this was a very clear explanation and the example was rather descriptive. Thank you for your input, looking forward to similar guides from you.
@Berauschend - I was unable to duplicate the problem you have reported. Please try refreshing this page and let us know if that works.
Thanks!
Evamarie
Threads Web Producer
Thank you Kennet D. King for explaining and presentation on similarity how fitting pants and fitting sleeve.
Thank you so much, Kenneth, for the wonderful visual explanation. It makes perfect sense as you are showing it, but is a wee bit counter-intuitive to think about.
Because of your clear explanations and great visuals, I certainly won't forget this fitting lesson!
Thanks to Mr. King for the video and the article in Threads. I read this article and possibly need to go back and re-read it again. I have a slightly fuller bicep (13"), and find that a good number of RTW garment sleeves, as well as blouse patterns armseyes are too large (deep), which means a fuller sleeve, which also means excess fabric. If I understand your article correctly, I would need to reduce some of the sleeve cap and raise the armseye on the bodice to get it to fit properly.
Back to the drawing board!
Thanks for this visual explanation as it helps tremendously and is a great aid to the magazine article which I have read & studied. I have one question, how do I measure the bicep depth on my body so I can compare it to the pattern's bicep depth?
You hit it on the nose! I have tried to explain this to others. They just don't get it. Your video helps those who need to see it.
This is one reason girls can't wear women's clothes. They might have the widths, but they are not as tall. Like you showed, the extra actually gets in the way!
Thank you for the visual!
I love that you started posting more videos on your website. It was a much needed thing.
Cool, so they don't carry them that loose, they are just loose ;D
To Grandma2six: If you have a full bicep, and want to have a smaller armscye, you'll raise the underarm of the bodice to reduce the armscye measurement--the "rule" is that you raise (or lower to increase) by half the amount. For example, if you want to reduce the armscye by 1 inch, raise the underarm by 1/2 inch--the total decrease will come out as 1 inch.
You will do the same thing to the sleeve by raising the underarm up, half the total amount of change.
Now, to increase the bicep so the sleeve will fit onto the bodice, you'll raise the bicep line by swinging the two halves of the armscye up, which reduces the cap height by raising the bicep line.
It's a balancing act here, and you can create two sleeves that will fit onto the same bodice: For more smooth appearance, you'll have a higher cap, a shorter bicep. For more mobility, you'll have a shorter cap height, and a longer bicep.
to tinainanderson: Generally I don't measure the cap height on the body, but how it's done:
Place a ruler snug up under your arm, parallel to the floor. Then take another ruler, and sit it on the shoulder where your armhole seam will by, making that ruler parallel to the floor. Measure the distance between these two rulers, and that's a cap height.
And in regards to the funny clothes, I'm not shy about looking ridiculous to make a point.
Nice hip hop dress
I'm curious though: what if you WANT that low crotch and you want to be able to dance in it, a la B-boys? They live with all that extra fabric?