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A long time ago now I cut out and almost finished a Granville shirt from Sewaholic. The Sewaholic knit T shirt pattern, the Renfrew, is one of my all time favourite patterns. The shoulders on the Renfrew fit well and the pattern navigates that fine and elusive line between too fitted and sloppy. I love it.
I had similar hopes for the Granville. I have to say it is another well-drafted Sewaholic pattern. The pieces for this shirt go together precisely and the fit is perfect for a body that fits Sewaholic's pear- shape profile.
A minute here to detour on one of my new themes.
This thought is that so many fitting issues can be dealt with by working with a pattern draft that matches the body you are working with.
In the old days we didn't have many options.
The Big 4 with their more or less similar sizing and basic blocks were supposed to fit everyone and they didn't. As a result there were a million how to fit articles written and a millions cuts and pastes made to countless patterns, and an infinite number of 1/2" or more cut on as "extra" outside pattern pieces.
Sometimes this worked and sometimes it didn't.
At any rate it was a lot of effort to get a pattern to fit.
All of that has changed with the many new indie pattern companies. The determined fit challenged sewer has many more opportunities to find a pattern company that has her shape in mind. As a result major fitting work has sometimes been reduced to minor tweaks.
And isn't that great?
So all of that means that the Granville shirt is excellent for pears but not quite as perfect for us bananas.
I find the side seams very curved out at the hip for me, and the shoulders a bit too sloped. In addition I don't feel that man style collar shirts really work on my scrawny neck and shoulders, so this shirt, one that I cut off to make short sleeves, will likely not be one I will make for myself again, but would recommend to the other right people.
I had fun making it, in a nice loud summery cotton, and I particularly enjoyed matching the pocket.
Now a question for you.
Stylearc pants are perfect for me out of the envelope, but I sometimes find their tops too wide shouldered. Jalie on the other hand fits my upper body.
What pattern companies work for your own figure and why?
This is information other sewers might find useful.
