Sewing, Blogging and Feeling Fabulous
February 2, 2017 7:06 AM Subscribe
The Curvy Sewing Collective is a group blog that addresses the particular needs of curvy sewists.
From pattern reviews and comparisons to tutorials on the kinds of fit adjustments that are often required for curvy garments to inspirational monthly roundups of garments completed by readers, the site aims to be a comprehensive resource for curvy women (whether plus-size or straight size) who sew for themselves.
They've done theme months on lingerie, swimwear and shirtmaking. Now, for Pants month, they've published a list of every plus-size pants pattern available.
From pattern reviews and comparisons to tutorials on the kinds of fit adjustments that are often required for curvy garments to inspirational monthly roundups of garments completed by readers, the site aims to be a comprehensive resource for curvy women (whether plus-size or straight size) who sew for themselves.
They've done theme months on lingerie, swimwear and shirtmaking. Now, for Pants month, they've published a list of every plus-size pants pattern available.
Thank you! This is great!!
posted by Malla at 8:37 AM on February 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Malla at 8:37 AM on February 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Wow! so many ideas! thank you!
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 8:43 AM on February 2, 2017
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 8:43 AM on February 2, 2017
I am a guy who wants to sew my first real thing, so I was searching the web for help about a week ago. I stumbled on this site and was amazed how clear and friendly and useful their tutorials are. Their instructions gave my the confidence to start. (I have the patterns made, and next will cut the fabric. Eeek.)
Three cheers for the Collective!
posted by wenestvedt at 9:44 AM on February 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
Three cheers for the Collective!
posted by wenestvedt at 9:44 AM on February 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
Right now my sewing skills are strictly aspirational, but still: Thank you! So much!
posted by rewil at 10:36 AM on February 2, 2017
posted by rewil at 10:36 AM on February 2, 2017
They do have great tutorials. I need to get on with teaching myself the full bust adjustment one, but I'm a little lazy.
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:39 AM on February 2, 2017
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:39 AM on February 2, 2017
That's cool, wenestvedt. As I was making the post, I thought about how gendered it is and wondered if I could do anything to make it seem more welcoming to men, but as far as I can tell, this is the only post CSC has ever done on menswear. I'm glad to know that there are men who find the site useful despite the focus on women.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:41 AM on February 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jacquilynne at 10:41 AM on February 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm a guy and I liked this post because sewing is a hobby I enjoy but haven't really done much in the last 20 or so years. When I was a kid the sewing machine was always out and often in use. So I like reading about sewing and it doesn't matter if I won't use the patterns because I won't use any patterns most likely. Also, I don't know that it has to be more welcoming to men in the first place, but that's a whole other thing.
I wear a peacoat daily and I'm quite tall with a 50" chest. My coat is pretty worn, but it's nearly impossible to buy a coat that's long enough and with long enough sleeves to wear like I'm a normal person. So if there's going to be only one post there about men's patterns, the one they have is perfect for me. I may have to drag the Singer back out for a new project.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 11:06 AM on February 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
I wear a peacoat daily and I'm quite tall with a 50" chest. My coat is pretty worn, but it's nearly impossible to buy a coat that's long enough and with long enough sleeves to wear like I'm a normal person. So if there's going to be only one post there about men's patterns, the one they have is perfect for me. I may have to drag the Singer back out for a new project.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 11:06 AM on February 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Thanks, jacquilynne! This looks terrific.
My daughter is taking a sewing class through 4-H and there's not a single boy there. *Everybody* should know at least a little bit about sewing!
posted by MonkeyToes at 11:06 AM on February 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
My daughter is taking a sewing class through 4-H and there's not a single boy there. *Everybody* should know at least a little bit about sewing!
posted by MonkeyToes at 11:06 AM on February 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
When I was in the 8th grade, my high school made everyone take cooking, sewing, woodwork and metalwork instead of letting people choose, which generally resulted in highly gendered splits between the classes. Quite a lot of the guys liked cooking, but getting them to take sewing seriously was difficult. Still, even the basics of sewing -- sewing buttons, hemming, etc -- are useful skills that really all people could stand to have.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:34 AM on February 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 11:34 AM on February 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
Checked the sewing website I've been a member of for a while, and they have a Men who Sew forum -- it's not very busy, but a number of the men in it are very active on the site in general. Do not mean to stomp on OP or CSC, just to point to a resource that might be helpful.
posted by clew at 12:07 PM on February 2, 2017
posted by clew at 12:07 PM on February 2, 2017
My dad learned how to darn during the War, but he still did it occasionally when I was growing up. He found it soothing.
posted by Joe in Australia at 12:44 PM on February 2, 2017
posted by Joe in Australia at 12:44 PM on February 2, 2017
I darn hole-y socks while my (thrifty, don't get me wrong) wife scoffs.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:20 PM on February 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:20 PM on February 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
I love the idea of sewing, and I have the supplies packed into my craft room that prove it, but ADHD makes it oddly difficult. I'm a visual thinker and patterns make sense to me just fine, but I tend to get distracted and thus end up doing things like sewing the wrong sides together or an armhole closed, or measuring twice (thrice), cutting once, and still ending up with a garment that doesn't fit (this measuring thing is also a problem that plagues me in my woodworking).
Long story short, this is an excellent resource and I thank you!
posted by elsietheeel at 5:21 PM on February 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Long story short, this is an excellent resource and I thank you!
posted by elsietheeel at 5:21 PM on February 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
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