mock-ups! mock-ups! mock-ups!

When I first started sewing, making muslin mock-ups of patterns seemed like a waste of time. I was in a hurry and had a beautifully finished product in my head, and I thought “well if the pattern says it’s my size why wouldn’t it fit properly?”

That was a long time ago.

I still don’t always make mock-ups of my patterns before I cut the “real” fabric, but i’m much more careful about sewing and taking measurements than i used to be.

Any one who collects patterns can probably tell you that the most fabulous pattern you’ve ever seen is probably not your size. but anyone who collects will tell you not to let that stop you.

Even patterns that say they are your size may need to be mocked before they are truly started.

The rule of thumb I use when I’m sewing is – if I’ve re-sized the pattern, or if I’m unsure of the directions/construction of a pattern, then it needs to be mocked up, and all patterns need to have their measurements checked to make sure that they match my measurements before anything happens.

the truth is, any pattern i’ve made a muslin mock-up of has never disappointed me in it’s final construction. and the hours spend making them make the final product better in both fit and construction, but also the maksing of the final goes faster, since you’ve had practice on the muslin and are aware of any pitfalls in the pattern.

Here is the muslin version of the Lei Wrap Blouse

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