First let me say I'm an expert sewist with four decades of experience. I can make wedding gowns, tailored jackets, dress, skirts, bathing suits, pants - everything. I found this pattern so frustrating that I threw out my project for the Lily blouse. F-S patterns have no reference points to be able to petite this pattern for myself. The lack of a front and back waist marking and a bust point marking as in traditional patterns is maddening for anyone like me who needs to make petite size modifications. And no, I do not need to contact F-S for support with my level of expertise - a $45 patterns really needs to have better drafting and reference points for modifications. I will remain a loyal F-S fabric customer but I'll never touch your patterns again.

This is a follow up to my review above which I feel now was hastily given before fully understanding. I have received several emails addressing all my questions and I have made the decission to take my time and follow all of Lauren's expert recommendations! Thanks so much Lauren!

I was very happy with the blouse until I tried to actually wear it. My measurements fit the size 6. But, since the bottom of the armscye is quite low (bust level) and my elbow catches the sleeve cuff, whenever I bend back my elbows a little, it tugs across the front placket. Just not comfortable. I could stitch the placket together toward the bottom for modesty, but the awkward tugging feeling will still be there. Luckily I didn't use amazing fabric, but still I enjoyed all the details in the blouse and am sad that I won't be wearing the blouse. However I am wearing the skirt a lot!

Hello, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the fit of the Blouse. All of our premium patterns come with complimentary fit advice which can include assistance with pattern adjustment. It's also advisable with all patterns to create a trial to check the fit and make adjustments to suit your personal preferences and body shape. What may suit one person with the same body measurements may not suit you. For this reason, we decided to offer the fit advice to help seamstresses discover their repertoire of adjustments to help them make a truly personalised and unique item of clothing, that fits your body :)

Overall, the printed instruction plus this tutorial are very clear! (Especially helpful when making the pockets and the blouse.) I thoroughly enjoy new ways to make pockets and plackets. Love this pattern with details well designed. However there are a few places where they conflict with each other. The tie belt pattern piece says to cut 2, and this tutorial also uses both pieces. But the printed instructions only uses one piece of tie belt. If I had looked more closely to this tutorial, I'd have noticed that the belt is wrapped around the model's waist twice. Oh well, my using only one piece for the tie is long enough to go around once and hang some. I made the blouse and the skirt. The photo in the printed booklet shows skirt belt loops as does the drawing, but the written instructions tell us that the skirt does not have belt loops; however, the pattern layout for cutting does show belt loops to be cut. Lastly, the pattern piece for belt loops says to cut 3. I learned that I only needed to cut one and that that piece (as shown in this tutorial) is then cut into thirds. Veryhappy with my skirt!

Thanks, Lauren! The tutorial helps a lot!

I'm so glad :) If you still have questions feel free to email me; askfabrics-store.com