It's too big! It's a size medium, and about an inch or two too big in every measurement. Will this form still work, or do I have to return it and get a small? I mean, I know the point is to get the form the be the most like you, but I'd like to keep this form for a while and I know I'm more likely to grow bigger than smaller over the years.

I've never used a dress form before, so any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

THIS IS AWESOME

Hey all!

So I am currently living in LA, doing an Americorps service year. I live in a pretty small apartment with a roommate, and there's no room for a sewing machine! I've been here 6 months so far, and I will be here another 6, but I've gotten to the point where I am just going CRAZY out of a need to do some crafting!

Does anyone have any advice about a craft I can pick up that doesn't require much space? I CAN knit, but the constant 70 degree weather here just doesn't inspire me to make wool scarves.

Thanks so much! I am just DROOLING while looking at all your completed sewing projects. Can't wait to get back to my machine!

Ooooh! Be Marley's ghost! I have ALWAYS wanted to be Jacob Marley for a Christmas party, but I've never gone to a Christmas costume party!

The fabric is just plain old cotton. I thought about velour, but I live in Massachusetts and it's hot and super humid all the time so I didn't even want to THINK about fitting it in this weather.

I probably should have bought an insignia, but I'm such a procrastinator! I think I'll probably go with the gold fabric. That's kind of what they looked like in T.O.S. anyway.

I'm excited to do some outrageous 1960's hair and makeup!

I'm going to the convention in New Jersey this weekend, so I made a science officer dress from the original series. And, yes, I'll be wearing opaque black tights and bike shorts underneath. Haha, those original series dresses were SKIMPY! I still need to make the insignia, so any tips would be appreciated!

This is also the first time I've used a pattern to make a dress (it was a Simplicity re-issue from the 1960's), but I kind of just ended up playing it by ear anyway. It's a bit wonky!

What about using one of these: http://store.americanapparel.net/rsac304.html

Now, I know those wouldn't fit my boobs BUT they look really easy to make so you could customize it. It would also retain the straplessness, if that's something you're considering doing at all.

Yesterday I made a muslin mock-up for a dress with the idea being that I'd take it apart and use the bits as pattern pieces. The only alteration I had to do was in the bust (I had already done an FBA, but needed to fix the dart placement a bit) so should I bother taking apart the muslin when it was pretty easy to use the paper pattern pieces? It seems like just using the original paper pieces will give me cleaner lines... I don't know. What do you do with YOU mock ups? Do you just use them as practice? Or as a pattern? I'm also a bit confused about how I keep the markings (where I took it in, where I moved the darts, etc) apparent if I take it apart. Thanks!

Wow. I finally stared the project I mentioned at first and I checked on this thread again. Thank you everyone! You all gave me some great advice.

Hi

I'll be starting my first real, post-college job soon, and I'm desperately trying to find a standard white blouse that actually fits. I have a large bust (32F) and I'm a size 10. I have a pretty defined waist, but very large hips. I also have an abnormally long torso. I can't seem to find anything that fits my bust and the rest of my body. Also sometimes shirts get tight and short around my "haunches" haha. Has anyone had any luck with buying an off-the-rack blouse and altering it at home? I don't trust my sewing skills enough to make a blouse from scratch. I'm worried that if I buy one too big, I won't be able to just cinch the waist because maybe the arms/shoulders will look off? Or do you know of a great place to buy shirts designed for women who aren't a size 4 B cup? Thanks, I appreciate your help!