M7279 Sheath Fit Pattern with the Palmer/Pletsch Tissue Fitting Method

 We are so excited about the launch of our new McCall’s fit pattern. It’s been 22 years since the last one came out. This new one reflects how we are fitting and sewing NOW! This pattern not only has updated fitting information in the guide sheet but also includes a fashion dress with length and sleeve variations and an optional collar. Melissa, Marta and I had a great time brainstorming what this should be. Tissue fitting is the modern fitting method and the ONLY way to fit. It’s fast, easy and what you see is what you get! 

A month ago Melissa debuted the pattern at Camp Workroom Social in her “Fit for your Style and Body” fitting class. 

Last week Marta and Pati used the new pattern as they film a new three-day online fit workshop that will be available on creativelive.com. Below is the press release we’re sending out about it, with details about the pattern and our upcoming online workshop.

THE PRESS RELEASE:

Pati Palmer, longtime designer for The McCall Pattern Co., has designed a new dress fit pattern with complete instructions on the Palmer/Pletsch Tissue-Fitting Method for dresses, tops and skirts. The new pattern – McCall’s first Palmer/Pletsch dress fit pattern since 1983 – teaches fashion-sewers how to fit patterns to their body. It also includes a fashion dress pattern to sew after the alterations have been made for a custom fit.

A dress fit pattern, says Palmer, enables fashion-sewers to make their own “body map” to learn the alterations they require to sew any dress, top or skirt pattern. The need for a new pattern, she says, came from the fact that the fit pattern she designed for McCall’s in 1983 no longer represented much of what she and other Palmer/Pletsch instructors currently teach in their fitting classes. “The previous pattern, though revolutionary at the time, was now only good for the shape of the pieces,” says Palmer, who first designed for Vogue in 1975, “it looked nothing like our new patterns.”

The new dress fit pattern, McCall’s 7279, like all current Palmer/Pletsch designs for McCall’s, is multisize, has alteration lines on the tissue, and includes complete tissue-fitting instructions in the guidesheet. (The old pattern called for sewing a gingham shell and fitting from that, which Palmer/Pletsch no longer teaches.)

McCall’s agreed on the need for a new Palmer/Pletsch dress fit pattern and also wanted it to be a fashion dress to sew after altering. So M7279 is really two patterns in one. Everyone can use the fit pattern to make their own body map to learn what alterations are needed to fit other styles.

And then those desiring a fitted dress can go on to make this fashion classic in multiple ways by varying the design details and fabric choice. The fashion dress pattern can be made sleeveless or with various sleeve and skirt lengths. It even includes an optional collar for the round neckline.

Palmer points out that another valuable feature of the new pattern, especially for teachers, is that all sizes 6–22 are in one envelope. There are three sizes per sheet of tissue. This means teachers will not have to guess which sizes to have on hand for their classes.

These are new pages designed by Melissa Watson and Pati Palmer that will go in the back of the McCall’s catalog. They are meant to educate people on the correct way to buy the right pattern size.

Pati Palmer and Marta Alto will use this pattern in their new online 3-day Fit Workshop for www.CreativeLive.com. The class will show four figure types fitted in the bodice, sleeve, and skirt from McCall’s 7279. One figure will be pin-fitted in fabric for this design. The other three figures will be fitted in other fashion styles based on what they learned from their body map, first in tissue and then in fabric. For hands-on fit classes, check the Certified Palmer/Pletsch Teachers at www.palmerpletsch.com or attend a 4-day Fit Workshop and the optional Teacher Training in Portland, Seattle, Richland (MI), and Philadelphia.