Matching prints

[Mule]

The fabric I'm using for my dress has a large, kind of random circle print. I already decided not to worry about matching bodice and skirt since there's going to be elastic at the waist, but I planned on matching the skirt at the side seams. I made full-sized pattern pieces for the skirt front and back. I laid the front out single layer (which also avoided the hassle of getting my soft knit fabric to fold on grain. My plan was to take the cut front piece with the side seam allowance pinned back and lay the right side against the right side of the remaining fabric so I could get it positioned in approximately the right place, and then substitute the back piece for it. Then make minor adjustments to account for back piece seam allowance.

No matter what I do, I can't get this to match even approximately! And the fabric being a soft, stretchy knit that moves all over doesn't really help.... Are some prints just impossible to match up?

[MartySews2]

Yes, some prints are not meant to be matched. Try laying tissue paper under the fabric to help keep it from slipping on the cutting table.
Marty

[lendube]

Maybe not impossible but really, really hard. You also need lots of extra fabric. I would first play around with the pattern pieces to see if it was even possible. Having a bit of trouble following you but generally you don't need to fold back the seam allowance when matching. (It does make sense however. ) Matching circles, and larger ones at that, sounds really tough. Boy, not much of an answer, huh? Find out where the pattern repeats and go from there.

[Mule]

I don't think this can be matched. I thought the pattern repeated, but when I look closer things are angled differently etc. It doesn't seem to be an exact repeat. Any way, I think I'm just going to assume it can't be matched and move on before I just bang my head against the wall. Especially since I just realized that out of 10 unopened packages of needles, none of them are the type I need right now...

[Mom of Six]

sometimes the repeat can be yards instead of inches & it just isn't worth it to match it unless you want to make a lot of the same thing!

[lendube]

And sometimes it just makes sense to call it a night and have a glass of wine!

[Mule]

Yeah, I just turned off the light in the sewing room and went downstairs to watch So You Think You Can Dance. I've had enough fun for one day...