Anyone ever adjusted pattern were you please with the outcome?

First you're smart in using a cheap fabric to make the altered pattern. What I have done with the patterns is (if it's a three size pattern) to first copy the smallest of the three sizes on paper (news print is great for this. You can get rolls of it from your local paper for a small amount)then I measure the differences in sizes and take that from the smallest pattern til I get it measured down to my size. I would have someone help me check out the size 16 against your body to see how much adjustment it really needs. If the garment has darts, you are going to have to make the adjustments for those too. What I would suggest is to go to sites like DYI.com and see if you can locate Sewing with Nancy online...she had segments about altering patterns which were really informative. A lot of altering patterns is simply measuring and fitting.

Do you normally wear a 12 in pattern sizing, or in store-bought clothing? I ask because I am a 7/8 in store-bought clothing, which translates to I believe a 16 in pattern sizes--at least in my case. That being said, I have altered a pattern with the help of a friend's mom, once. It was a fairly loose fitting dress (meant to be tied to fit with an apron), and it came out fine when we altered it. I'm sure, though, that I couldn't have done it without her help. I'm not very good with using patterns. :)

i love making my own clothes and most of the time i do have to adjust the pattern i am a very petite person and i have really long legs and a short torso/midsection to me the whole point of making your own clothes is to be able to taper them to your exact body type i do think that it would be a good idea to practice on a really inexpensive fabric though especially if you are not used to having to adjust the patterns sometimes it can be easy to do sometimes it can be hard to do depending on the pattern that you are using