I am apalled by my own waist

[janestarz]

It's sick really. You'd expect I'd be sick and tired of my sewingmachine after 3 months of sewing for the Fair. No. On the contrary, I am quite relieved to be able to sew something for myself for a change. I had the black cotton for a while now, and finally I could start on those jeans I wanted to make. Flared jeans.
I had experienced that it would be too tight around my thighs, with the dark aubergine trousers I made from the same pattern, when my mother got married.

Now I figure out compared to my thighs, taking Burda's measurements (a bad idea in itself, but hey, you've got to start somewhere...) my waist is about 10-15 centimeters too slim. Resulting in me trying to make it fit at all points by taking in the trousers at least 2 centimeters at all five seams at the waist.

My waist is just too slim...*sigh*

Comments

[steelweaver.livejournal.com]

That's the first time in ages I've heard a woman complain that any part of their anatomy is too thin *G*

I'm more or less a 38 around the waist and a 42 at the hips. I get away with using a 38 sized pattern if it's a dress with a very flared skirt so my hips will still fit, but I still end up pretty much having to draft out any curviness at the bust (I'm as flat as the Netherlands). With pants, I'm SOL though...I tend to avoid making them, but if I have to, I take the size I need for my legs and hips (adding a bit of length for my legs) and take it in at the waist. The best way I found to do this is to do put the pants (in this case, it also works on other garments) on inside out and pin off any excess fabric at the seams until it fits. I usually have Twilight help me though as bending over to pin things changes the fit of the garment. If I had to make all my mundanewear myself, I'd wear a lot more skirts.

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

I can imagine. XD
These jeans are of a very comfy model, a pattern by Burda. Anna's jeans are the same pattern. The fun part is that the 'inzet' at the top can totally be left out for my waist, and I'll still have enough room to put my ass in. I'm down to the hemming now...

I do believe however, that Burda (with its patterns for ironing boards) think that all women are 165 average (it says so in the accompanying booklet, they still live in the fifties) and are as thin as an ironing board or a skeleton. That's why I do not use patterns anymore.

[steelweaver.livejournal.com]

Patterns are a mere suggestion. You buy one if you need something complicated you can't draft yourself (yet) and then you alter the heck out of them. I can't do things like rolled collars or asymmetrical sleeves very well, so there's patterns to teach me.

I can understand the part about not needing the insert....I once altered Simplicity 9891 (a princess seamed dress) to fit my upper anatomy and ended up straightening out the entire breast curve on the side front pieces...

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

And boy...do patterns make us feel good about ourselves! I think it's degrading, in a way. It kicks you where it hurts. Like trying to fit into a size 44 after losing weight and finding out that sizes have shrunk and you're still a 46.