I don't purchase the new indie patterns. There are several reasons for that.
1. Most of them don't grade up to plus size ranges thus eliminating my size group. Many times I just don't feel like spending the money to size up a pattern.
2. Most of them are for a more casual lifestyle - I sew for my work life which is considerably more conservative and tailored than these styles.
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3. I've been sewing a long time so many times I already own a pattern that's similar to one of these styles. Finally...
3. I've been sewing a long time so many times I already own a pattern that's similar to one of these styles. Finally...
4. I really don't believe that I'm their target audience.
But I was intrigued about this Deer & Doe Plaintain t-shirt because a new to me plus size blogger, u & mii, that I've been following (stalking) made several very pretty versions of them, that got me thinking. I printed the pattern out at work and left it on my desk. One of my co-workers saw it and wondered if it would be hard for me to make it for her...so I got this idea...make the pattern changes for her, myself and my boss. We are all different shapes and sizes and I thought it would be a really interesting exercise to see how it fits three different body types.
However, I have to tell you that after taping the pattern together it's going to be so much easier to make this top for my co-workers than for myself. I would have to totally hack this pattern apart to make it work for me...*sigh*...and I realized yet again why I don't use indie patterns.
Here are the pattern pieces taped together...
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A full shot of the pattern pieces on my sewing table to show just how small these pieces are. See all that stuff on the side? It takes up a quarter of the table. My pattern pieces usually take up the entire table...
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Here are my co-workers who will benefit from this exercise because I've decided that there is just too much work involved in sizing this pattern up for me.
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I now have even more admiration for T! I love her versions but I have absolutely no patience or time to mess with this pattern for me. So I will make up two samples this weekend for my co-workers to try and then I'll work on the pink wool crepe dress for myself.
I'm disappointed but not very surprised that this pattern won't work for me. Whenever I see one of my plus size sistahs making one of these indie patterns work, I'm filled with awe and admiration! I'm looking at you Mary and Jenny!
So I will share the finished tees I make for my coworkers but for myself I'm moving on...
...as always more later!
However, I have to tell you that after taping the pattern together it's going to be so much easier to make this top for my co-workers than for myself. I would have to totally hack this pattern apart to make it work for me...*sigh*...and I realized yet again why I don't use indie patterns.
Here are the pattern pieces taped together...
A full shot of the pattern pieces on my sewing table to show just how small these pieces are. See all that stuff on the side? It takes up a quarter of the table. My pattern pieces usually take up the entire table...
Here are my co-workers who will benefit from this exercise because I've decided that there is just too much work involved in sizing this pattern up for me.
I now have even more admiration for T! I love her versions but I have absolutely no patience or time to mess with this pattern for me. So I will make up two samples this weekend for my co-workers to try and then I'll work on the pink wool crepe dress for myself.
I'm disappointed but not very surprised that this pattern won't work for me. Whenever I see one of my plus size sistahs making one of these indie patterns work, I'm filled with awe and admiration! I'm looking at you Mary and Jenny!
So I will share the finished tees I make for my coworkers but for myself I'm moving on...
...as always more later!