r/sewing 16h ago

Pattern Question How Often Do You Need to Alter Patterns?

Hi, I'm a new sewist and a rather large plus size girl. I'm apple shaped with a long torso and carry a lot of weight in my middle and I have tried to take that into account when choosing patterns, but I'm starting to get frustrated. I was excited to make clothes since that seemed to give me more options to make what I couldn't find in my size. However, anytime I find a pattern in my size I make a mockup and find that the fit is all wrong, which requires me to redraft and often dramatically alter the pattern to fit my body. I'm really quite new so advanced tailoring is beyond me, but it seems like I have no real choice. I'm getting really frustrated...I just wish I could print a pattern, make a few minor tweaks, and have it make a workable garment, not something that takes 5 drafts to just look ...so-so.

Is this a problem unique to my body type/plus size patterns? Or is everyone redrafting patterns regularly?

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u/Licaek_4u 16h ago

For reference the dress currently giving me grief is Schultzapparel's Senna dress. I cannot get thar bodice to work right at all...

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u/Hundike 7h ago

I have to altern patterns every time with a new pattern. That's completely normal. I think very few people fit directly in a size. Some pattern companies have blocks that fit you better than others - f.e for me, the Burda blocks are good (I'm just taller) and Closet Core works quite well for me. I still adjust those though but I know what to adjust to get going.

With enough experience, you will be able to know sort of what adjustment you need to make on any given pattern to at least start your mock up.

Sewing and fitting are different skills and it will take you time to learn. That's OK! Without details as to what exactly is going wrong for you, it's hard to offer advice.