Category: Sewing

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 choose a size using that measurement it is unlikely you will get a good fit in the neckline and shoulders, and that area will end up being oversized. For Experimental Space patterns, choose the size based on your high bust measurement.

The patterns allow for up to a +2.5″ difference between high and full bust. (i.e. High bust of 35″ and full bust of 37.5″ could make the 35″ pattern without any adjustments) For the best fit, if your high/full bust difference is bigger than 2.5″, do a FBA (or short rows if knitting) to give you the fabric you need at the bust. This way the shoulders, neckline and bust will all fit perfectly.

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 high bust measurement when choosing a size. If your high/full bust difference is 2.5″ or less, no adjustments are needed.

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 your shoulders and neckline need (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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Pattern: Casey Sweater by Experimental Space
Fabric: Sloths in Lilac French terry from Lilly and Mimi Fabric Shop
Little Bits: 200m Gutermann sew all thread, 3x 19mm Prym cover buttons

Size: Cara (35)
Mods: None

I forgot to share my Sloth Casey with you! These adorable little guys made for a very sweet and snuggly Casey and I’m totally in love with the buttons. The sloth material is a medium French Terry and the contrasting fabric is a t-shirting material. I made the buttons using cover buttons and decided to use their cute little faces for the buttons and I love how it turned out!

It makes me so happy to wear this one. Now I can sit around being slothy on the weekends in my slothy sweater.