I'm a 40-32-40 and I tend to take a 14 in store-bought clothing, but maybe we have different pickynesses about fit. I tend to be a size 18 in sewing patterns.
Sewing-pattern sizes are *always* alwaysalwaysalways massively smaller than retail sizes. No, I don't know why, but they are.
You should go with your measurements, but you might need to alter the final garment to fit better, since you are an E not a B which is quite a big difference - easiest would be to go for the size that fits on the bust and then take it in under the bust. You might find that the pattern allows more "ease" than you prefer (ease is the difference between the size you are and the size the garment will be when made), again, taking in is a lot easier than letting out so make the size it suggests and see what it ends up like (I have yet to encounter a pattern that runs small).
Their 'high bust' thing sounds a bit crazy - I'd go with the bust measurement, but use darts to fit it above and below. Sewing patterns are as bad as retail clothes for failing to account for all sizes - drafting a pattern to fit *you* is quite tricky though.
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dancing_serpent
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-16 06:16 pm (UTC)Sewing-pattern sizes are *always* alwaysalwaysalways massively smaller than retail sizes. No, I don't know why, but they are.
You should go with your measurements, but you might need to alter the final garment to fit better, since you are an E not a B which is quite a big difference - easiest would be to go for the size that fits on the bust and then take it in under the bust. You might find that the pattern allows more "ease" than you prefer (ease is the difference between the size you are and the size the garment will be when made), again, taking in is a lot easier than letting out so make the size it suggests and see what it ends up like (I have yet to encounter a pattern that runs small).
Their 'high bust' thing sounds a bit crazy - I'd go with the bust measurement, but use darts to fit it above and below. Sewing patterns are as bad as retail clothes for failing to account for all sizes - drafting a pattern to fit *you* is quite tricky though.