Meet the People Behind the Curvy Sewing Collective

Back in 2014, sewing bloggers Jenny Rushmore (Cashmerette) and Mary Danielson Perry (Idle Fancy) heard that Colette Patterns was expanding their size range. Before that, it was extremely difficult to find patterns in plus sizes — especially by indie patternmakers. Looking around at the sewing blogosphere at the time, there was hardly any representation of women with curvy figures. Jenny and Mary approached Colette and asked if they were interested in hosting a blog tour with their new patterns featuring plus-size sewists. Colette agreed and the Curvy Colette Plus Size Blog Tour was formed. Out of that group we created the Curvy Sewing Collective. Along with Jenny and Mary, the initial group of bloggers that created the CSC were: Tanya (Mrs. Hughes), T (uandMii), Laurence (QuirkyPrettyCute), Sophie-Lee (Two Random Words) and Mary N. (Young Broke and Fabulous).

The Curvy Sewing Collective is a volunteer-run not-for-profit blog. Our editor team pays for the website hosting ourselves and we do our own website maintenance. We write our posts and delegate our social media and email duties. We don’t get paid and any “freebies” are either reviewed on our blog with full disclosures or given away to readers.

Our editor team currently consists of eight members. The CSC editor group has adapted as editors resign, leaving an opening for another contributor to join our core team. Other past editors include: Rosie (Sparkleneedles), Meg (Cookin’ and Craftin’), Gillian (Crafting a Rainbow), Paige (Very Paige), and Mary Alice (Well Sewn Style). We thought this would be a good time to tell you a little more about the volunteer editors that keep this site afloat.

Jenny
Cashmerette

Jenny is a curvy sewist based in Boston, Massachusetts, who discovered sewing at age 30 and quickly became obsessed with its infinite possibilities. Equipped with the tools and skills to make clothes that she loved and fit her body, Jenny began noticing a transformation in not only her wardrobe, but her confidence. The simple realization that we should be changing our clothes to fit our bodies, rather than the other way around, was life-changing. Jenny founded the Curvy Sewing Collective to share her inspirations, tips and sewalongs with fellow curvy bloggers. As her craft evolved from sewing to designing, Jenny launched Cashmerette Patterns, where she now creates sewing patterns designed for curves with comfort and style in mind.

Mary
Idle Fancy

Hello, kittens! I’m Mary, a writer and academic from Texas. I learned to sew from my grandmother, making ruffled, neon Barbie clothes on her old Singer machine, then picked it up again in my early twenties. A friend’s wedding loomed on the horizon and I couldn’t find anything in stores that actually fit. So, I jumped back into sewing and made myself a dress!

That first dress was a bit of horror (imagine FIVE different colors of thread!), but it turned my love of fashion into a love of making my own perfectly fitted, perfectly me wardrobe. Sewing also provided a much needed creative outlet during graduate school, keeping my hands busy when I couldn’t bear to look at my dissertation one minute longer. Living in Texas means I sew a lot of sundresses and floaty cotton blouses, but I do throw the occasional velvet riding coat into the mix. When not sewing, I bake lemon pies, read anything set in the 1920’s, and run after my daughter and two geriatric, but energetic dogs.

You can also find me on Instagram @Idle Fancy.  

Tanya
Mrs. Hughes

Hello, I’m Tanya and I sew on a cattle ranch in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. I sew mostly vintage clothing (I’m usually stuck in the 1920’s-50’s) for my wardrobe and delved into the world of historical costuming a couple of years ago. I dress quite often in 1840’s/50’s California Gold Rush attire as a living history interpreter and docent at my local museum and I’m getting ready to start on a 1760 crewel embroidered Robe a la Francaise (dream dress!). I love hand embroidery and adding embroidered elements to the clothes that I make. I collect vintage patterns, notions and fabrics and try to sew with them as much as I can. Being plus-sized, finding true vintage clothing is difficult, but I can recreate vintage looks, which is just as good in my book. 🙂 I love thrifting, antiquing and estate sale-ing and am always searching for vintage pyrex and all sorts of vintage kitsch. I live with my husband and our menagerie in a mid-century house where I love to turn discarded furniture (a plus if I find it in the barn!) into treasures.

You can also find me on IG @tanyamaile.

Michelle
happily caffeinated

Hi, I’m Michelle! I live in the northern suburbs of Seattle, WA. I started sewing in 2007 after an ill-fated visit to a Loft dressing room put me in a dress that was sizes larger on my top half than on my bottom half. I immediately enrolled in a beginning sewing class at my local community college and have been hooked every since!

I love sewing tops and dresses–two types of garments that I have particular trouble with in ready-to-wear. These days, I also sew a lot for my mermaid and unicorn obsessed 6-year-old daughter. To support my sewing/fabric habit, I work as a technical writer for a large tech company. When I’m not sewing, I enjoy spending time with my husband, daughter, our three cats, and two dogs. I used to blog at http://happilycaffeinated.blogspot.com/, but these days, you can more reliably find me on Instagram: @happily_caffeinated.

 Andie
Sew Pretty in Pink

Hi, I’m Andie. I blog at Sew Pretty in Pink. I live in Toronto, Canada, and have lived in several provinces on the east coast of Canada. My day job is in project management, but in my spare time I enjoy performing improv and stand-up comedy and taking part in geek culture around the city.

My sewing includes a range of things from costumes/casual cosplay to vintage dresses to everyday basics to bramaking. Impacting all of this, I am disabled and identify as bisexual/queer & genderqueer. I have a rare genetic disease called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome; accessibility and representation are always in my mind. I created @chronicallysewn on Instagram for people with chronic mental and physical illnesses and disabilities to help us connect with other sewists, share information on what helps, and enhance our representation in the wider sewing community.

You can find Andie on Instagram @sewprettyinpink

Jessica
Always a Crafty Lady

Hi! I’m Jessica and I taught myself to sew in middle school. I started sewing more seriously in college, mostly costumes including ballet and theater. Since having my daughters, finding clothing that fits my body and style has become increasing difficult, so now I make my own! I love making summer clothing, so its a good thing I live in the Los Angeles area where the weather is often very warm.

In addition to sewing, I also knit (mostly sweaters) and cross stitch. I volunteer at a local living history museum and make a few historical ensembles each year. My style is vintage-ish and I love employing theater shortcuts in my sewing practice. I also work full time in non-profit arts education administration. I’m happiest when I’m very busy!

You can find me on Instagram @alwaysacraftylady or my blog at the same name. 

Megan
The Green Violet

Hello curvy sewing friends, Megan here. It has been such an honor to be part of this group of fantastic and inspiring women over the past year. I can’t adequately put into words how much sewing my own clothes has changed my life and given me confidence to be comfortable in my body. 

I learned to sew from my mother, who learned to sew from her mother. I remember a particularly unfortunate looking dress that she helped me sew while I was in college, but didn’t start sewing in earnest until 2012, shortly after I moved to New Mexico and found my plus size shopping options severely limited (as in non-existent). I started off with knits and that is still my comfort zone of sewing, but I also LOVE sewing bras and jeans. I’d say I’m at the point right now where I have sewn about 90% of my wardrobe- I haven’t tackled coats or technical gear yet, but that might be on the horizon!

When I’m not sewing, I can be found endlessly redecorating my mid-century home, skiing or rafting (depending on the season), and seeking out the best hot springs in the southwestern US. To keep the fabric stash full and happy, I spend my days working as a hydrologist in the environmental field. You can also find me on my other internet home or on instagram @thegreenviolet.

Maggie

Maggie is our newest editor and recently joined our team. She actively moderates our Facebook group and writes wonderful pattern review posts on our blog. Welcome Maggie!

I’m a lifelong New Yorker who moved from the city to the suburbs about 15 years ago. I’m a married stay-at-home parent with two daughters and five cats.

I taught myself quilting and patchwork after college. I started sewing garments for my daughters when they were little. It seemed less daunting to start with small pieces of fabric and loose garments for little bodies. I finally made something for myself in 2015 after trying on a jacket a friend had sewn for herself.

I’ve never taken an in-person class, so I’ve learned everything by sewing and by reading and watching lessons online. I still have a lot to learn, and I’m trying to challenge myself to sew new fabrics and new types of garments.

I mostly sew separates, because that’s what I like to wear. My stay-at-home mom lifestyle is casual, but I grew up in downtown Manhattan. I’m still trying to get back a little of that aesthetic. I challenged myself to stop buying ready-to-wear. Everything new has been me made for the last two years with exceptions for underthings and some black leggings. What will I wear if I can make anything? That’s a question I’m still figuring out.

In addition to sewing, I volunteer at a children’s clothing bank which provides seasonal clothing to children in need. I get to spend even more time with stacks of clothes!

You can find Maggie on Instagram @maggiewhosews

If you’re interested in being considered as part of our editor team in the future, please fill out this form. We ask prospective editors to join us that have contributed posts to our website. If you’d like to become a contributor, please email us at: mail@curvysewingcollective.com. Submission guidelines can be found here.