Category: Sewing

You can now take your Rosalee sewing pattern and make it into a top using jersey! This means no zip, less fabric, and another way to wear your Rosalee.

Click here to read the instructions on how to alter your Rosalee pattern pieces as well as a few different steps to follow.

Make sure you have your Rosalee pattern ready, and then click here for the instructions on how to make the jersey top version.

The Rosalee pattern tester group covered every size in the pattern range using all sorts of different fabrics. Click here to check out their pictures for some amazing inspiration!

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If you have a PDF sewing pattern, it might have a handy feature called layers. It saves you ink when printing sewing patterns and makes it easier to see the sizes that actually matter to you.

What is it?

PDF patterns designed with layers allows you to turn the visibility of sizes on and off before printing. This means only the size lines that matter to you will be shown.

How to use it

Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat. This is the program that lets you access the layers (if the designer has created them). In the small icon menu on the left, you’ll see what looks like a stack of three papers. This is the ‘layers’ icon.

Click on the ‘layers’ icon to open its menu. It will display a list all of the layers you can turn on and off before printing. This will typically be organised by size.

Unselect the sizes you don’t need to print by clicking the eye symbol next to those sizes. Now all you have to do is print and only the sizes left selected will print!

All of the Experimental Space patterns have size layers you can turn on and off. Hopefully, this helps make PDF printing easier for you in the future! If you have any questions you can always get in touch, I would love to help.

Choosing the right size to make is one of the most important things you can do.

If you have a large bust and chose a size using that measurement then it is unlikely you will get a good fit in the neckline and shoulders, and that area will end up being oversized. If you have a larger bust, you should always choose the size based on your high bust measurement. You can then add any alterations needed to make your full bust fit as well, such as an FBA for sewing or short rows for knitting.

If you do not have a large bust and clothes normally fit you without having to size up for your chest then you can just use your normal bust (full bust) measurement when choosing a size.

If you have a large bust you might find you typically have to size up in clothing to get it to fit over your chest. When you make your own clothing, the better way to do this is to make the size the rest of your body needs (i.e. the size based off your High Bust) and then do an adjustment for your Full Bust. This means your shoulders and neckline will fit perfectly because they haven’t been made larger to account for a bigger bust. In this case, you would do a FBA (Full Bust Adjustment) which is usually straightforward and will not change your neckline or sleeve size.

Now that you’ve chosen the proper size to make sure the neckline, shoulders and bust sized properly you are on the right track to a successful fit!

If you are still unsure about what size you should make please let me know, I’d love to help.
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We’re having a Sew-Along! Join us from the 10th – 19th of May. I’ve put together lots of detailed videos to guide you through making a Josie and we’re going to have our own little community hub where our group can share progress with each other.

Although there will be a general timeline of steps that we go through together don’t worry if you are going at a different pace! It will be a very laid back journey with lots of help for whenever you’re ready for it. Visit this page to sign up for the Sew-Along:
https://www.experimentalspace.com/josie-blouse-sew-along/ Hope to see you there!