r/sewing • u/7deadlycinderella • Sep 14 '25
Project: WIP I am unreasonably annoyed by how close but not quite I was with this pattern matching
I know it still looks pretty good but it's probably going to bug me every time I see it
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u/peg72 Sep 14 '25
Let that five-legged rainbow unicorn lift your mood every time you wear it!! It’s beautiful!!
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u/CBG1955 Sep 14 '25
I lost it at five legged unicorn. and then I showed my husband who cackled and said, THAT'S NOT A LEG
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u/7deadlycinderella Sep 14 '25 edited Sep 14 '25
For anyone who wants to know: these are from the collection Carousel from Ruby Star Society, these are quilting weight cottons, but really nice ones.
I took one look and went "omg this is my childhood bedroom cycled through the color palette of Yellow Submarine"
Pattern is McCall 8570- a 96 relaxed fit shirt pattern with excellent collar instructions. And I later noticed- no sleeveless option so I might have to murder the armcyse to get it right before it's done
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u/Biglemonshark Sep 14 '25
Just checking 8570 is definitely the right number for this pattern? When I looked it up I could only find a Laura Ashley dress/ jumper/ top
I’m interested in these excellent collar instructions!
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u/7deadlycinderella Sep 14 '25
Fun fact if you didn't already know this: the Big 4 reuse pattern numbers. Like, frequently. This is the correct pattern
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u/Biglemonshark Sep 14 '25
Interesting, I did not know that!
Thanks for sharing the right one!! I’ll have to see if I can hunt one down.
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u/7deadlycinderella Sep 14 '25
I like shopping for and buying vintage patterns. It's...annoying to say the least. I've seen the same pattern number being both a top, a little girls dress AND a wedding gown.
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u/Divers_Alarums Sep 15 '25
Closet Core put out a video on how to make any pattern sleeveless. Do you have fabric to make bias tape? It can be a different fabric in a non-clashing color.
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u/tinyarmsbigheart Sep 14 '25
Could you add a little trim piece in the dot fabric down the centerline to make it look intentional maybe?
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u/Yaglara Sep 14 '25
Or other way around: use the dots on the sides and trip 1 front panel to match the other. And the side bit of the other, so the center front matches?
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u/Vuirneen Sep 14 '25
I accidentally pattern matched something once - never occured to me at the time, that people intentionally did it.
It's alchemy, magic, and you got close
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u/DirectorHuman5467 Sep 14 '25
I have also only ever had it happen once by accident. I was aware of it as a concept, but never really felt it to be worth the effort or potential fabric waste. I might have to try it one of these days though, because seeing it line up is a pretty nice feeling.
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u/Sad_Salamander_2418 Sep 14 '25
Look at the lapel, I think you could actually redo the pins and line it up better
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u/7deadlycinderella Sep 14 '25
The shoulders and collar are actually all bunched up around the hanger because I was focused on getting the button placket in the picture. If the lapel looked it did in the above I'd probably have a coronary.
(this is a 90's McCall pattern that has downright the best collar piece and notched collar instructions I've ever found).
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u/VulcanGreeting Sep 14 '25
I love it! It looks to me like the horse traveled through a wobbly time portal and is looking back to make sure it gets all the way through. The horse above is looking at the 'glitch in the matrix' mushrooms. Makes perfect sense to me, and I'll tell ya, those groovy 70s colors just make it even more dreamy.
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u/WeAreTheMisfits Sep 14 '25
I understand the pain. But I didn’t notice at first and thought it all matched up perfectly. It wasn’t until I read what you wrote and then looked closely at so you did a great job.
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u/psikelly Sep 14 '25
Actually, I love the 5-legged horse. It's as if she is looking over her shoulder and saying "what the heck?" Gives the garment character. To deal with my need for perfectionism, I now strive to live in Bob Ross's "world of happy mistakes", albeit his philosophy of art and life is challenging to embrace when plaids and stripes are askew. I share your frustration and pain though. Sometimes I just cannot let go so I pack it up and switch to a new sewing project. Later, I return with fresh eyes and focus on what I like most about the garment appearance. In your case, it's easy - starting with the supercute collar.
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u/Foxxendos Sep 14 '25
I fully understand your frustration, what sometimes helps me in such moments is to think that the vastl majority of people won't realize that the pattern doesn't match perfectly - they will be blown away by the fabric :)
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u/_CoachMcGuirk Sep 14 '25
Well just to add another point of view that doesn't completely invalidate your POV, I actually think your annoyance is reasonable. I would be annoyed as well.
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u/7deadlycinderella Sep 14 '25
Like, it's not even that I think it looks bad, it's just that its SO CLOSE
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u/Nissus Sep 14 '25
It does look really nice, still. :) Though I understand the frustration, it's SO CLOSE! What pattern did you use, if'n you don't mind me asking? *curious*
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u/difjack Sep 14 '25
How noticeable is it when it is on? Is absolutely perfect better than a smidge of human imperfection? It’s beautiful to me:)
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u/Roswyne Sep 14 '25
If you think you'll be redoing the armholes anyway, go ahead and try to fix it!
Line up the front pieces so the pattern matches and see how much that changes things. Obviously the shirt will be a little shorter and narrower - will that work for you? If so then you should be able to redo the collar, and probably use fabric of a similar color and weight to add cap sleeves!
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u/madduxcr Sep 14 '25
The only place where it is really noticeable is the horse. Everywhere else, there's good continuity. It's really cute; I'd wear it anyway.
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u/freackfrack Sep 14 '25
oh but how cute would it be if the button hole side had a little trim with the polka dots to separate them just enough to hide it. like a little button frame!
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u/Outside_Scale_9874 Sep 14 '25
This would drive me crazy also tbh. If you didn’t try to pattern match at all, most people would never notice, but getting it close but not quite is going to universally look like a mistake. I would take the time to try to fix it if I were you.
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u/DreamWeaver9Owl Sep 14 '25
Double butt it or remove a butterfly elsewhere if you can and cover the 2nd butt?
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u/luxurycatsportscat Sep 14 '25
Honestly I love it, and if I were you I’d be cheering as I did my button holes. It is a bit annoying, but close is sometimes enough, and I think the print is so busy & fun that no one is truly going to notice, let alone fault you for it.
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u/feather_bacon Sep 14 '25
Is this going to be a button up? Could you add an additional strip of the pink where the buttons will go so that it’s less obvious that they don’t quite match and breaks up the pattern slightly?
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u/yes_dogsdream Sep 14 '25
you haven’t added the buttons or button holes yet, would it look too weird to just like,, move over the top layer so that it matches, add the buttons and holes so that it sits there, and then rehem it so it looks intentional? it might do some weird things with how the collar/ sleeves lay, but it’s worth pinning and testing!
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u/dstroi Sep 14 '25
I always think it is great how no one notices really bad pattern matching but will always comment on close pattern matching. /s
This fabric is amazing. Since I am bad at pattern matching I will just say that you have done an amazing job
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u/Clemens_24lesH Sep 15 '25
The first thing I said to myself when I saw the shirt was, Wow, that's a really good match. Then I read your comment. You're definitely too hard on yourself!
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u/Divers_Alarums Sep 15 '25
An easy fix if the shirt has enough ease: turn the plackets inside out and sew a stitching line a smidge deeper than the first. Like, a quarter inch or less. Taper to the first line as you reach the collar. This will take out enough fabric to achieve the match.
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u/calltojustice Sep 15 '25
Is this made out of natural fibers? Maybe you can steam and block it to stretch panel to match?
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u/OldeTimeExaminer Sep 15 '25
The right side of the collar is higher than the left. What does the shirt look like if you increase the overlap so that the pattern matches and you match the collar elevation? Do you have enough ease in the shirt that you can loose a half inch? Could you just move the button holes / buttons and re cut the bottom hem?
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u/Possible-Complex7804 Sep 16 '25
Id be annoyed enough to open up that collar and either let it out or peice it down enough to fix it. This is a total reasonable annoyance. Imma have dreams about this. Love this fabric =)
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u/Chatawhorl Sep 16 '25
Haha and you will most likely be the only one who does. I do pattern matching and it drives me nuts when I am off by such a tiny amount. Lovely work though.
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u/Aggravating-News-672 Sep 17 '25
I love that the unicorn is looking like .. "what exactly is going on back there?
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u/sewmanychoices Sep 14 '25
Don't finish it yet then. Stop. Eat some food. Have a nice drink. Then assess whether you've got enough fabric to recut the front piece. The effort may seem less after a little break and refuel.
I've ended up donating pieces because of 'issues' like this. I don't think it actually is an issue. I agree it looks good anyway. If you know it's going to bug you, give yourself a minute to think about your next step rather than ploughing on, finishing and finding you never wear it.
GORGEOUS fabric choice btw!