Madscouser
Style Rookie
Loving the idea of the website so far.
However it's not going to be much use to me as a pattern site - as far as I can see your sizing stops at a UK 18 & as I'm a fair bit bigger than that none of the patterns are going to fit me! :-(
Any chance of you doing either a seperate plus size competition, or just increasing the size range of your patterns? - I'd prefer the later!
Sade
Style Rookie
I want to second this!
Kim
Style Goddess
Thanks for the suggestion! As much as we'd like to have something for everybody on our website, plus sizes are not exactly our speciality and it is something we need to look into.
What we are aiming for with our website is to offer free patterns of really high quality that will look good and fit well in the sizes we provide - and that is something we could not guarantee if we just increased the size range.
In the future we do, however, plan to offer patterns in addition to the ones designed by our contest winners, basic pieces as well as items that we know there is a demand for, so we are thankful for your suggestion and we promise we won't forget you!
As for a special plus size competition - we'll keep that in mind as well. At the moment we're still struggling to spread the word about our standard contest and the free patterns we already have. But we do still have plenty of ideas for our website and having special extra contests like the one you are suggesting is one thing that we are looking forward to do once everything else runs smoothly!
nehmah
Style Rookie
I really hope that you folks will consider that there are many of us in the Plus-size range, both in the US and UK. I regularly purchase Hot Patterns from Jeremy and Trudy Gibbs' great line. Even their "beginner" patterns show a sense of style, not fads or rages, but style. Cordially, Nehmah-age 66+
lila_
Style Rockstar
hey kim
I trawl the web regularly for free sewing patterns and i only managed to find your site recently because it was referred to on someone's blog...maybe advertise yourself to people with popular sewing blogs like dressaday? patternschool.com's 'Places to go' section is another really good one. otherwise it might be helpful if you had a facebook page or a facebook 'like' function - im sure current users would be happy to add your site and then all our friends would get to see it.
Kim
Style Goddess
Hi lila_, thanks for all the ideas! I do spend a lot of time sending mails to sewing websites, asking them to feature us but unfortunately I rarely get a reply (or a mention) and we don't really have the money to buy advertising space. I am going to try with the sites you mentioned though! I just hope that over time more and more people will discover us and recommend us on their blogs and in forums. We do have a Facebook page (which I haven't updated in a while, shame on me!) and also a "like" function at the bottom of each page - but the fact that you overlooked it probably means others have too, so maybe we should move it somewhere else!
nehmah
Style Rookie
So, how do I put you on my blog page? The site deserves free advertising. Free is always good. Nehmah
Amare19
Style Rookie
i think plus size patterns should be looked into asap lol hi im Angie im new but i have heaps of designs i just need to learn how to get them off the pages so help would be much appreciated cheers.
Angie
Weezie
Style Rookie
I agree about the plus size issue too. It's almost as if larger people are ostracised.
mitch1066
Style Rookie
Im going to try and upsize your "tails " pattern because its gorgious!
Im also going to mention your site on my blog as your site is so great!
Kim
Style Goddess
Thank you very much, mitch1066! Do let me know when you've managed to make an upsized version, so I can post a link to it!
Louiseree
Style Rookie
I'll second that emotion on the plus sizes. No pressure just another amen here....
czintx
Style Rookie
I just found your website and so far it is wonderful. I agree with adding plus sizes as well. And I plan to let all my crafty friends know what you have here!
K2005Success
Style Rookie
Nancy Zieman has authored a book titled Pattern Fitting with Confidence which should make it possible for ANY of us plus sized gals to adapt almost any pattern to fit our more generous curves. She says to start with whatever size will fit your upper chest (above the bustline) between the creases where your arms attach to your torso. I buy a 3X top but, by my measurement Nancy's way, I should buy a size 14 pattern! Her book shows you exactly how to "pivot and slide" the purchased pattern to build the changes needed for our larger bodies into the paper pattern we will use to create our garment in the style of the original pattern. She works from commercial patterns but I see no reason why her method shouldn't work with the patterns on this or any other site. AND ... if you need paper or "carbon paper" for your own patterns drafted Nancy's way, I recommend you shop at your local ART SUPPLY store. They have paper of different kinds on rolls of different widths at reasonable prices, plus colored pencils that don't smear so you can distinguish a redrawn line from the original line AND rolls of various colors of what they call "transfer paper" that work like old carbon typing paper but make marks that will wash out of cloth. I found similar supplies at sewing stores to be outrageously priced for what you got so I've become an art supply store shopper!
Iridescentkiss
Style Rookie
I hope your on pinterest !
Faye
Style Rookie
I totally agree with the need for larger sizes - btw, the US 18 is a UK 16 - I'm going to try to upsize the Eva dress...I'm a pretty new sewer, but I think I can get it to work x
Kite
Style Rookie
I also want to see plus sizes. There are a million and one cute dresses already made out there for smaller sizes - whereas plus size dresses either are hard to find, not cute, not fitting properly, or are really expensive. So a lot of "plus size" women are especially motivated to sew. You're missing out on a large, keen, group of women here.
Might I also add that unless your target audience is really young, the majority of women won't fall into your sizes range?
By the way, your Australian size comparisons are wrong. I'm a size 16-18 Australian, and I am too large for your Australian "size 20" - the maximum size offered. Also, no one calls me "fat" except the fashion industry, I'm just tall, like Western women increasingly are over time.
I am tired of the stigma surrounding fatshion. I am tired of the fact that it is a taboo subject in most fashion schools, or added as an afterthought. It is not considered "glamourous". It is all very straightforward to make basic fit patterns conforming close to the skeleton (thin women); the deep knowledge required to *really* fit the contours of the body seems to be unimportant because fat (or rather, not thin) is considered uninteresting or unattractive. I am tired of the fact that only private companies seem to have proper biometric data on larger women, and won't share it.
I understand you don't have technical knowledge of larger sizes, and the probable reason why. That is a shame. I get that it's not as simple as just grading up, you'd have to redesign the block to accurately go much larger.
I was all set to recommend this site on my twitter when I thought you really were offering up to an Australian size 20 - but only really an Australian size 14 - the maximum size available in most shops. So redundant to most sewers I know. Sigh, not another one, etc.
But thankyou very much for the free patterns anyway.
Coachclare
Style Rookie
I came to this site because of the Eva dress which was exactly what i'm looking for - please, please,please can you size it up?
slbrim
Style Rookie
I'm going to add my voice to the chorus here, but in a slightly different way: I'd like to see a tutorial on how to alter the patterns for different measurements.
Like...the Eva dress would fit me in a 16 in everything but the bust. I'm going to have to alter that by 2.5-3" to actually fit my chest. I've also had two kids, so I have a non-flat stomach to deal with, too.
Basically, I'm going to have to alter patterns from the beginning (I just ordered my first sewing machine since high school earlier today and it should be here in a week or so). It would be invaluable for someone to go through the best ways to do this in a set of free tutorials (maybe a separate one for each garment?) on the finished patterns.
Just another thought.
Wednesdey
Style Rookie
I also vote for larger sizes. I usually wear a 14 or 16 US, but your sizes run smaller than what I'm used to.
I love the idea of learning how to adjust pattern sizes, as well!
slbrim
Style Rookie
Sizes in patterns and sizes in off the rack clothing are different. They tend to go by the older way of measuring whereas the new clothing we can buy at every Target store, for example, does vanity sizing a bit. I'm a 12 there. I was a 12 at 15 pounds less than I weigh now 10 years ago. Heh.
shela
Style Rookie
I, too, am a plus size. I would love to see some of the patterns in larger sizes. I love what I have seen so far and hope that women sizes are in its future.
Scheri
Style Rookie
I really love the "tails pattern". I to am a plus size gal 42" 37" 42". Think I will give the pattern a try (will upsize) if I am unable to do by myself I start classes for pattern drafting in Sept and will get assistance in making this pattern for plus size. Wish me luck!
Yes I will post if successful and would be happy to share.
Estelle
Style Rookie
Thank you for updating the Eva dress with a few sizes! :)
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