The most questions I get by mail and e-mail are about my pattern sizing for
The Fashion Sewing Group Patterns. You seem to really want body measurements on the envelopes. Now do you really? It sets up a false standard for you and also requires additional work adding for ease, etc. Isn't a 36" bust totally different by age, height, and weight? What you really need to know is the finished width, length, etc. of the pattern you're about to make, and where is the fullest point. All of my fitted patterns have the finished width measurements on the tissue and envelope. Pattern 1960 is a knits only pattern, so only the finished widths at the bottom edges are listed. If you make the fitted 1945 jacket pattern in a 10, you'll make size 10 pants, the 10 short jacket 1962, and cardigan 1960 in a 10. Keep in mind that pattern 1962 is described as loose-fitting and may need no alteration in the bust since it has at least 2" extra of ease there and an extended shoulder, but it should fit at the lower edge to your upper hip.

I've discovered that you're so used to the BIG pattern companies, and all of the things you do so naturally to get them to fit, that you have a hard time accepting that my patterns will work without as much intense effort on your part. That was the idea. I do know that there are some smaller pattern company's patterns that are clearly a problem...a pants pattern designed for "an average 5'8" consumer" when the average American woman is 5'4" tall and 144 pounds and it lists one yard of 60" fabric for all sizes, 4-18...yeah, sure. Another sewing educator has you completely fuse the pants fabric with interfacing--$1,000.00 to anyone who can show me this method on a pair of Armani, Chanel, or Donna Karan pants. So I can now understand why you may be skeptical. So let me hopefully enlighten those of you who need this, and reassure the rest of you that things will turn out just fine. My patterns have been reprinted and sold thousands of each style, without advertising. Word of mouth and enthusiastic seamstresses everywhere have responded to these innovative classics.

To understand the rationale, see the next page.

Copyright © 1999. Nancy Erickson Consulting