top of page

Math is really important

So recently I have been very inspired by YouTube videos by Bernadette Banner (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSHtaUm-FjUps090S7crO4Q), Cathy Hay (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWmQGoSY-lmWlakti_Br3cQ), and Enchanted Rose Cosumes (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTCC06epSupQR7Fc_a7dBag) to draft and sew my own Victorian walking skirt pattern. I purchased the book Authentic Victorian Dressmaking Techniques Dover Fashion and Costumes and then started marking the patterns and styles that I was interested in. I selected my favorite which was a seven panel skirt. So what does this have to do with math? Read on...


I set up my kitchen table to hold my drafting paper. Got my waist measurements, the lengths I wanted measured, and my hips. No problem right? Well here is the math part. In order to accurately have a waist that will not be too big or too small you do need to divide your waist measurement by the number of panels in the skirt. This would seem like a no brainer however here is where I messed up. I made my four pattern pieces (front piece cut on a fold, two side pieces and a back piece) and then started my muslin (aka ducky-bunny, aka mock up). I had allowed for 1/2 inch seam allowances. Sewed up my muslin and....I could fit at least 4 of me in the muslin. OMG! I am no toothpick but I am not that big. So where did I go wrong? It was all in the math.


If you note the bold text above I state that you divide your waist by the number of panels in the skirt. I divided my waist by the number of pattern pieces I was making. Trust me the difference between dividing my waist between 7 and dividing by 4 is HUGE. Thankfully since I was using an old sheet as a muslin to test my pattern it was easy to adjust and correct. I took the muslin and set each seam where on my body I wanted them to fall. I then adjusted my muslin to fit. Transferred these changes to my pattern and then cut my actual skirt fabric.


So now I have the perfect fitting skirt right? Well yes and no. I added a zipper which was not in the original pattern so this did adjust my fit. I also had changed my diet and exercise level which meant that between the time I made my muslin and started wearing my skirt I had actually lost weight. This change of size is actually one thing I like about making my own clothing, I can easily adjust the size to refit myself. So I definitely learned from this experience that math is important.

2 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

I have had a love of Victorian and Steampunk fashion for years. Recently I decided to start drafting my own patterns based off the original patterns found in the book Authentic Victorian Dressmaking

So if you are like me you have a bunch of old either stained or ripped (or both) old sheets. You feel bad about throwing them away and you are totally full on cleaning rags. So what to do with this

Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page