Bought patterns

[Gingham Dog]

A couple of skirt patterns I bought from the maker, Simplicity I guess, and I thought surely there can't be that big of a difference in sizing. Fortunately I was able to find them in the bigger sizes on e bay. After a long time, I still haven't put them together and yes, i say that a lot. Life and death have gotten in the way of progression on projects.
These patterns are sort of fitted, with buttons or zippers. Anyone here have experience sewing skirts with buttons and zippers? I have done it before, but it has been a hot minute. I know now, measure the subject (which is myself), then compare for what my size would be...
I think I wasted one project by using the nice fabric instead of just making a trial skirt first. So that's number two error.
Another problem I have in following pattern instructions, they are hard to read!

 

[Marla Sandridge]

I have sewn a lot of zippers, buttons, and button holes. It doesn't matter if they are on skirts, jumpers, pants, blouses, etc, they are a pain in the neck, but I am sure most anyone on here can help you when you get stuck. If you have instructions you don't understand, post them here and we will do our best to answer them. My problem is always trying to do the "Burrito" method when making something. I hate that method and will avoid it at almost any cost.
When making a new pattern, I ALWAYS make a muslin of it. I use plain muslin, or you can use inexpensive woven fabric to make your muslin out of. Just make sure it closely resembles the final fabric in terms of weight, drape and stretch. Same with knits, and special occasion dresswear. Hobby Lobby has tons of less expensive woven fabrics that might be less expensive than muslin. I don't know if they have knits or not, others on this forum may know.

 

[Gingham Dog]

When making a new pattern, I ALWAYS make a muslin of it. I use plain muslin, or you can use inexpensive woven fabric to make your muslin out of. Just make sure it closely resembles the final fabric in terms of weight, drape and stretch.

It helps to know this, thank you!

 

[Lena]

I have sewn a lot of zippers, buttons, and button holes. It doesn't matter if they are on skirts, jumpers, pants, blouses, etc, they are a pain in the neck, but I am sure most anyone on here can help you when you get stuck. If you have instructions you don't understand, post them here and we will do our best to answer them. My problem is always trying to do the "Burrito" method when making something. I hate that method and will avoid it at almost any cost.
When making a new pattern, I ALWAYS make a muslin of it. I use plain muslin, or you can use inexpensive woven fabric to make your muslin out of. Just make sure it closely resembles the final fabric in terms of weight, drape and stretch. Same with knits, and special occasion dresswear. Hobby Lobby has tons of less expensive woven fabrics that might be less expensive than muslin. I don't know if they have knits or not, others on this forum may know.

And a good place to find inexpensive “test” fabrics is at thrift stores, senior center shops, house sales so you are not wasting too much on “test” fabric.

 

[RegUser]

I started buying patterns in 2020 after realizing I couldn’t keep freehanding everything. Now I got a drawer full! Anyone else here fall down the rabbit hole of collecting just for the cover art?

 

[Lena]

I started buying patterns in 2020 after realizing I couldn’t keep freehanding everything. Now I got a drawer full! Anyone else here fall down the rabbit hole of collecting just for the cover art?

I can’t stop laughing! Two weeks ago I dropped about 100 patterns off to a local craft organization that provides low-cost/free patterns to folks. Now, that does cover about 30 years worth of sewing but! Of course, the following week I had to purchase a pattern - here we go again!