Dress making help please

flissh

can anyone help me please?

I'm sure this is obvious, but I don't want to make a mistake. I have laid the paper pattern for my lovely new blouse on the material and pinned it in place......
Now, do I cut exactly along the paper or am I supposed to cut 1.5 cm away from the paper. What I mean is, is the seam alowence built into the paper pattern.....
Does that make any sense?

Thanks:o

sairy2005

It should tell you on the pattern. Read the instructions carefully. Most patterns do show the seam allowance quite clearly with a dotted line, especialy if it is a multi size pattern.

flissh

Thanks for that sairy. I have read and re-read the pattern but just cannot glean this info from it. There is a lot of stuff written on the pattern, some in spanish, I am a complete novice at this.

Will look again.

Sagaris

What make of pattern is it?

I remember my mum (a qualified dressmaker LOL) complaining about some makes of pattern because they didn't have the seam allowance built in - can't remember which one but could always check with her later!

flissh

it is a 'New look'

champys

flissh - if the pattern is American it will almost certainly have the seam allowance already included (and won't show a dotted line). But as said before the instructions should tell you how much allowance is included. Continental patterns are usually without seam allowance included.

sairy2005

I am pretty certain that New Look patterns include the seam allowance. All the patterns I have ever used have. If in doubt measure under the arms on all relevant bits of pattern. It should be your bust measurement + about 2" + seam allowance. If this isnt the case then the seam allowance is not on the pattern. Does this make sense? I always find it make sense to measure the pattern before I start to make sure it is going to fit. Hope this helps

flissh

Yes that makes sense. I seem to remember from when I last used a pattern (about thirty years ago, at school!!!!) that patterns had an obvious margin on them that was the seam allowance. But as this one is for multi sizes from 10 - 22 it can't have that.
I have taken your advice and measured and I think it does include the seam allowance.

Mrs_Flittersnoop

Yes, New Look have seam allowances (5/8" or 1.5cm depending on whether you're metric or not;)) already built in. In fact I don't know offhand of any commercial pattern company which doesn't include them now. Burda used to be allowance-less but bowed to pressure in the end. I prefer the patterns without seam allowance, you get a more accurate fit if you alter the patterns and then add them yourself but for many people that was a step too far. The patterns in Burda monthly magazine are allowance-less.

HTH
Mrs F x

champys

Mrs_Flittersnoop wrote: »

. Burda used to be allowance-less but bowed to pressure in the end. I prefer the patterns without seam allowance, you get a more accurate fit if you alter the patterns and then add them yourself but for many people that was a step too far. The patterns in Burda monthly magazine are allowance-less.

HTH
Mrs F x

Interesting, Mrs F - the Burda patterns I buy here on the Continent are still without seam allowance. So if you would order them from say a French or German website you would get them allowance-less. (The instructions are in all languages but no English, though. I guess you are such a pro you wouldn't need them anyway!)

flissh

Thanks everyone. I have made the shirt. I worked it out in the end with all your help and I'm really pleased with it.:j