Just how does the the Curvy Sewing Collective work? We thought we’d take you behind the scenes to find out – and just maybe convince you to take part!
Who is “we”?
The CSC is run by six volunteer editors, who are currently Jenny, Mary, Tanya, Michelle, Meg, and Gillian. (Much love to T, Laurence, Sophie-Lee, and Rosie who have been editors in the past!) We all have our own blogs and full-time careers, so we do this as a labour of love. Here’s what that involves:
- writing posts of our own, or editing those of our amazing volunteer contributors (more on that later!)
- answering comments from our awesome readers
- organising theme months, surveys, giveaways etc
- answering email, updating Instagram, and monitoring the Flickr group
- moderating and offering advice on the Facebook group (now over 6000 strong, and very active daily)
- chipping in our own money for hosting fees every month
- keeping the website running smoothly and efficiently – Thank you, Tanya and Michelle!
All in all, we each spend at least 10-20 hours a month on Curvy Sewing Collective. We hope it’s worth it to have a safe space on the internet for curvy sewists of all sizes to feel valued and represented!
Volunteer Contributors
We couldn’t do this alone! (No, literally. We’d burn out and shut it down in a month if it wasn’t for the people who help!)
Including:
- people who write reviews, tutorials, or posts like “Sewing For My Curves” or “CSC Sewing Spaces“
- volunteer moderators on the Facebook group
- a team of frequent contributors who also help us organise theme months
All of these volunteers are people who value the community, and want to give back. Some are totally new to sewing, and others are industry professionals, and everything in between. They bring a diversity to our voice, and highlight the perspectives of people of every age, shape, and background. Check out out list of contributors here!
Readers
Whether you just read from time to time, only belong to the Facebook group, or are an active commenter, we appreciate you. You set the atmosphere for each other, and make it possible to have a safe space for people to post about their sewing.
Want To Help?
Let’s us know! If there’s a particular type of post you’d like to read, write it! If you have thoughts on a pattern, review it! If you’ve got a skill, write a tutorial about it. Heck, if you have a question or an opinion, write it up and we’ll all chime in! We aren’t professionals, and you don’t have to be either.
If you are interested in contributing, check out our guidelines then email us at curvysewingcollective@gmail.com . We’d love to have you on the team!
If you can’t commit right now, then just keep doing what you are doing: encouraging each other and supporting this community by being kind online!
Just want to say that this page and the FB community have been a great resource. I have been sewing for 33 of my almost 44 year for fun and professionally – and there is always something new to learn. And the pattern recommendations are the best – really – i love that the Contributors are vintage sewers, pattern makers and just pepole who love to create – plus so much more – so thank you all!
We just discovered this website and my husband and I are shocked at how great this community is!
We both are fashion industry professionals. My husband still works for a huge premium denim company and I was a designer before as well.
We have our own business as well selling apparel on Amazon.
We would love to help this amazing community maybe sometime.
I just discovered your comment. 😉
I’m not sure yet whether I’m “curvy enough to be curvy” (‘spoon’ shape, small on top and larger on bottom), but I would like to offer this up in case it’s useful. You say that your husband works for a denim company and that you have been a designer.
My #1 problem with jeans is one that other women might share, so I’d like to offer it just in case.
Are there any plans among companies that work with denim to offer jeans specifically for curvy women with ‘high hips’?
That’s my biggest problem with finding jeans that fit. My waist is 34″ and my hip is 42″, which doesn’t sound like such an extreme shape, but that widest measurement on my hips occurs barely two or three inches below my waist. Curvy-styled jeans take too long to widen from waist to hip. I can’t ‘hold up’ low-rise jeans, because the waist is below the slope of my hip. (Probably not a good idea for me anyways, because after three large pregnancies, my stomach overlaps.)
I’m setting up to learn how to sew my own jeans, once I figure out how to fit them for my figure. If a company offered (affordable) jeans designed for that “spoon shape”, though, I would definitely be interested!
Great post! I absolutely adore this website. Seeing patterns on real life plus size women is the thing that inspires me most to sew my own clothes. I hope to submit a guest post of my own one day… if I pluck up the courage. 🙂 xxx
You guys are awesome and there are no words that can describe how grateful I am for the valuable resource you provide in a industry that sometimes overlooks the curvy side of things. Thank you!! #biggestfan
Thank you for being one of the people who goes from being a reader and fan to contributing content! <3
Can I contribute to the hosting fees somehow?
That is very kind! We’ve looked at a few options for collecting money for hosting fees before, but I think it would require us to register in a country as a non-profit, and right now, it’s easier for us to just pay it ourselves. Appreciate the offer though!
I come to this site regularly for inspiration. Whenever my sewjo meter is low I come to CSC and always find a renewed love of sewing. I am currently enthralled with making espadrilles(supplies and videos galore, but no actual shoes yet), and wonder if anyone has made their own. If there are any tips or hints you lovely ladies can provide I would be thrilled.
I’d love to make my own, too! Are you considering a kit or did you find information elsewhere?
I have the Dritz soles, (Walmart is cheapest right now.) The fabric, thread, etc recommended will come from the insane amount of scraps I have. I knew that last piece of glitter denim would be used somehow…. The instructions are everywhere, I first saw them on a program called Its sew easy. I think I am just going to bite the bullet and jump on in. Please post if you do make any, I love seeing all of your dresses, coats and jackets. Here’s to a me made life!
Yes, I will definitely post if I make any! Espadrilles are my favorite, so I really should!
You guys rock! I am so impressed by the information you present consistently. This is such a valuable site. I love it – keep up the good work!!
Thank you! It seems so long ago that it lunched, but it really wasn’t… I was a big fan but never thought I’d end up an editor! Which means any one of you just might take it over someday! 😉
Love the CSC and so happy to contribute when I can. This site was very needed in the sewing community and I’m proud of how much it has grown!
Thank you for being an active part of it! <3
Just to say how much I appreciate all that you guys do. You rock!
We appreciate you too! Our online community definitely keeps us motivated!
I appreciate the beautiful styling and photography that is part of the work you do. I am still gathering up enough courage to sew with confidence and I can not do that without you. How would anything I sew look like the skinny models on pattern covers? You show me how I can hope to be pretty being who I am. You show me how to sew beautiful things, many are still to complicated. You show me how even simple sewing can be gorgeous when it is accessorized or “styled”. Please know how you and your contributors are appreciated! Barbara Klink in Saint Louis
Aww, thank you! I”m a huge fan of simple sewing myself, and I feel so much better (and as you say, prettier, and also more confident) when I’m wearing me-mades! Best of luck to you on your journey – remember we were all beginners once, and maybe someday you’ll be the one cheering on new sewists!
Thanks for all you do and volunteering your time and talents. I know it can’t possible be easy. I have learned a wealth of knowledge from so many of you.
I”m so glad you find the website helpful!
I love you all too. I’ve been big my whole life. Nice to see fashion on plus women, not just thin models, and not potato sacks but fashion with style and color. Whether it’s something as simple as a shirt, or one of those gorgeous dresses, it’s inspiring and beautiful. Although I never stopped sewing, I gave up on jackets and pants due to fitting issues. Mostly I sewed pullover summer dresses. Cute, nice fabrics, but always needed a jacket over it. You’ve inspired me to tackle these fitting issues head on again and I’m starting my jacket sewing again.
Keep on!
Don’t let those fit issues win! I hope you enjoy getting back into sewing jackets and pants!
I look forward to your posts everyday. I have learned so much and I have been sewing for 40 years.The women who contribute are so very generous with sharing of their knowledge and talents. I don’t comment on every post but, I do enjoy them.Thank-you!
I’m so glad! Do let us know if you’d like to write a post – I’d love to know what you’ve learned from 40 years of sewing!
All of you ladies are totally AWESOME!!! Finding this blog and the CSC community has been fantastic resource and brought new friends with it.
Thanks Abby! I’m made a lot of new friends through the CSC too – it’s nice to feel part of a big community of wonderful sewists around the world!