Burda Style For people who sew

Hi,

I am new to sewing and this is my first time following a pattern and I am really confused.

1. Where do I cut to shorten the skirt since the pattern is for someone 5’6’’ and I am 5’3’’

2. The big piece you cut out for the pattern – Do you cut the fabric twice using this once for the front and once for the back or do you use it twice for the front and then twice for the back. I just didn’t see any seams in the front and back of people’s finished skirts but the piece looks like it is asymmetrical for making a skirt. I guess I am just really confused.

3. Why did I have to buy interfacing? Where does this go.

Sorry for all of the questions. I just spent an hour looking at my pattern and I have no idea where to start.

Thanks!

Nov 11, 2009, 12.13 AM by morgz45

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5 Posts

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  Nov 11, 2009, 08.59 AMby emlj

  Hello…. On patterns there is usually a double line across it which is where you can lengthen or shorten the pattern, roughly half way down the marie pattern i think. If there’s not a huge difference i guess you could take the length off the hem and taper the side seams so you still have the pencil skirt shape.

  Cut the pattern out just twice, but on the fold. Fold the material and place the pattern piece to the fold so that when its cut out you get the whole front piece, no need for seams. same with the back. Its a funny shape pattern piece because of the pleats, when they are folded it then resembles a skirt :-)

  Interfacing is for the inside of the waist band, just makes it a bit sturdier, i usually dont bother but thats just my bad practices…so maybe try it out!

  Hope that helps a little bit, im sure other members could explain a little better :-)
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  Nov 11, 2009, 10.47 AMby ichigogirl

  Hm, maybe Burdastyle should make a new section on the site with basic instructions for total beginners, f.ex. What is a facing (I get that question A LOT for my patterns)? What then is an interfacing? How do I change the patterns if I need one size in the upper part and another in the lower? How do I shorten/lengthen the pattern pieces? How do I place the pattern pieces on the material? What is “straight grain” and “on the fold” , or “Bias”?? What are “gathers” and how do you make them? And how do you make gathered pieces fit with the non-gathered pieces? Well, there are a few. Very simple for those of us who are more used to sewing, and you might think that the beginners would just search the internet/this site for answers but many don’t, and I think it would encourage them and also help them to actually finish and succeed with their first sewing projects if they got that little bit of basic help. And that we all want! But I’d encourage all beginners to buy a basic book about sewing clothes, they are SUCH a big help to keep beside you and glance in when stuck. I do a lot (and just ordered a few on more advanced techiques).
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  Nov 11, 2009, 05.38 PMby morgz45

  Thank you for your help! Are there any books you recommend? I just feel like some of the books i have looked at only have instructions for following the patterns in the book and not really how to follow other patterns.
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  Nov 11, 2009, 08.03 PMby katexxxxxx

  You need a basic How To Sew book. The ones I like are The Reader’s Digest Complete Book of Sewing (I prefer the older editions with the tailoring section – look in second hand book shops), Sewing for Dummies (horrid titles, but the text is fine), and the Dorling Kindersly one, The Complete Book of Sewing: A Practical Step-By-Step Guide to Sewing Techniques. It has lovely photos. All available through Amazon.
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  Nov 11, 2009, 09.20 PMby morgz45

  Thank you!