Jeez this is complex. Ok I went to TSWLTH today which is literally two blocks from where I work and picked up Simplicity 9499
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as they didn't havethe Kwik Sew that I wanted.The Body Measurements say for Boys the hips go to 27-28 hip size inlarge and then the small mens start at 35-37 hip size. Then in theGarment Measurements section, the Chest and Hips measurements for theBoys S M and L are 29, 33, and 37 whereas for the men's it starts at 41for the hips. My RTW shorts are 32" Does this assume very large men? How am I supposed to figure out how to make these fit without cutting anything?
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I know it's confusing at times...the difference in the body measurements and the garment measurements is the amount of ease they design into it. So if the boys large hip measurement is 28 and the garment measurement for boys large is 37, then there is 9 inches of ease (how loose they are) in the hip. If you want them less loose ,you can cut on a different size line at the side seams(multple cutting lines on the patterns usually) but be aware that, in the boys sizes ,you also have to be careful of the lengths as the height of a child taking a size small and a size large vary greatly and the leg length and crotch depth will change if you cut the entire pattern a size smaller just to get it less loose. These differences are a lot less in the men's sizes as they design for a standard height. You can see this on the back of the envelope where it says finished side length. If in doubt,I try to make a test run out of inexpensive (buck a yard) fabric to see if any more changes need to be made to what I have already figured. Don't worry too much, this is a simple pattern with minimal fitting (supposed to be loose) just go for it.
Guess they figure guys between 28 and 35" don't want to wear this stuff.
Read the pattern description. Does it say "loose-fitting" or provide other adjectives describing the fit? Does the envelope illustration look like they're about to fall off the model?
I recently discovered that plastic grocery bags make a great draping material. Slice them open and cut your pattern out as if the bag was fabric. (Sorry, you do have to cut something.) Wrap around yourself and pin or tape in place. That will give you a good idea without wasting fabric. (If the grocery bags aren't big enough, you can tape them together, or use a garbage bag.)
(When I make shorts, I often cut them without side seams. Sometimes I make them without the inside leg seams. When you progress to the Lancey stuff, this is a helpful construction trick, and when you ride in them, you'll appreciate it even more.)
Compare the plastic short with your favorite real one. How much ease does your real short have? (That's the extra room at critical places like waist, hip, and leg opening, provided so you can pull them up, sit, lean over, use the pockets, and flex your muscular quads.)
Most patterns have a choice of cutting lines so you can adjust the size where needed.
HTH
--Karen D. getting inspired to cut some of my bike fabric (got some more on NYDay at Hancock)
Guess they figure guys between 28 and 35" don't want to wear this stuff.
Read the pattern description. Does it say "loose-fitting" or provide other adjectives describing the fit? Does the envelope illustration look like they're about to fall off the model?
I recently discovered that plastic grocery bags make a great draping material. Slice them open and cut your pattern out as if the bag was fabric. (Sorry, you do have to cut something.) Wrap around yourself and pin or tape in place. That will give you a good idea without wasting fabric. (If the grocery bags aren't big enough, you can tape them together, or use a garbage bag.)
(When I make shorts, I often cut them without side seams. Sometimes I make them without the inside leg seams. When you progress to the Lancey stuff, this is a helpful construction trick, and when you ride in them, you'll appreciate it even more.)
Compare the plastic short with your favorite real one. How much ease does your real short have? (That's the extra room at critical places like waist, hip, and leg opening, provided so you can pull them up, sit, lean over, use the pockets, and flex your muscular quads.)
Most patterns have a choice of cutting lines so you can adjust the size where needed.
HTH
--Karen D. getting inspired to cut some of my bike fabric (got some more on NYDay at Hancock)
I like to use plastic grocery bags for early tests. Free, generally large enough for most pattern pieces. (If not, tape a couple sheets together.) Cut your pattern out of these, tape up, try 'em on. Compare the plastic to your favorite existing short.
You need wearing ease to be able to put it on, sit, bend over, use the pockets, and flex your Lance-like quads.
A lot of patterns are cut very loose. Check the illustraions: do the manikins look like they are swimming in the clothing? Also read the description. "Very loose fitting" works with Omar the tentmaker.
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