Have you heard of StyleArc patterns? StyleArc is an Australian independent pattern company with a huge number of very modern and fresh RTW style patterns, and, best of all, they go up to an Australian size 30. For their great size range across all their interesting styles, StyleArc is officially in the CSC Hall of Fame!
Here are the pros:
– Very wide size range
– Great styles, including catwalk and street-style inspired styles, and really interesting options for outerwear
– A huge number of patterns – and all of them up to the size 30!
Here are the cons:
– They only send you one size rather than a multi sized pattern – this means you can’t grade between sizes easily, although something like an FBA would still be fairly easy
– They are on the pricier side for patterns, at up to USD $20 for coat patterns, plus postage
– The instructions aren’t that clear, so if you’re a beginner, you’d be best to stick at first to garments you already know how to construct like tops. For intermediate sewists, you should be fine. You can also check out the great blog of Anne the Clothing Engineer who has sewn up dozens of StyleArc patterns and often has tips!
Here are some great patterns that are on the site right now:
I recently made my first StyleArc pattern, the Rosie Top for my friend Andrea (who has the same measurements as me!), and I must say I love it! You can read more details here.
Here’s the full size chart in all its glory! (Also available in cm on the StyleArc site)
Have you sewn with StyleArc patterns, CSC readers? What has your experience been? Has the single sizing worked for you?
StyleArc now sell on Amazon and the paper patterns are multi-size. I have had a few from them so far, the Franki and the Danni Dolman dresses are my absolute favourites. I am currently working on the Mason Knit jacket in cord with leather bias binding.
StyleArc has an Etsy shop and you can download PDF files of their patterns. They appear to be multi-sized, and the prices are also more reasonable than buying a printed pattern and having it sent. I just found it today, thanks to the Japanese-based blogger verypurpleperson. I think this will encourage me to try my first StyleArc. Thank you for doing a post on it.
I’m a fan- I’ve posted some of my latest makes on The Sewing Forum and on Style Arc’s Facebook page. In the last month alone I’ve made 2 Twiggy dresses [highly recommended for my top heavy apple shape] a Tootsie top an Ursula skirt [amazing] and an Emily top. All of them will be used again, and I’m waiting eagerly for 2 more jacket patterns. Almost everything I’ve made has been great, and where it hasn’t it’s been my error. Love ’em!
Elle pants, I would never use this pattern again. Waist band did not keep the pants up. Crotch fit really bad. Leg width huge.There is only one way to get a great pants pattern, your measurements compared with the pattern you are working with and then adjust before cutting. Make a muslin and fit. Elle May fit
5ft 6″ balanced young body but even with bengaline fabric if you have a taller older “bumpier body” this pattern may not work for you.
Demi drape blouse, binned never to be reserected, for a 5ft 9″size 16 pattern this pattern was a really bad fit for me.
But it’s not all negative, the cruise dress and the ollie top are awesome, I have made and drafted many garments from this pattern, the basic shape of both of them serve very well as a block pattern. I love the cruise dress for an under slip pattern.
I am tall, I need a size 12 for a perfect upper body fit, bust area is wide rather than full , need size 16, I have a wide arm measurement size18 and a high hip line between an 18 and 20. Style arc patterns do not, in the fitting garments cater for uneven bodies but if you are prepared to measure and adjust they may work .
I do like Style Arc designs. Purchase for your high bust measurement if it measures smaller than your full bust measurement or your shoulder measurement for bodice patterns. It is far easier to adjust bust and hip size than your arm,neck and shoulder lines.
I sew a LOT of Style Arc patterns – if you go to my blog and use the search box lots will pop up. I rather like the single size now, and have worked out my standard alterations (which is a lot less of alterations than I make with other brands). The instructions certainly aren’t for beginners – and sometimes they leave things out or get them wrong – BUT the drafting and fashion-forward aspects are so good that I am very happy to overlook that aspect. Actually, six patterns arrived in the mail yesterday…..
I totally agree! I wouldn’t recommend them to beginners, but once you have some experience it’s fantastic to be able to make fashion-forward clothes in your size!
I love StyleArc – so much so that I put a badge on my blog and gave away StyleArc vouchers for my blogiversary. Most of my makes are from StyleArc as they HAVE MY SIZE!!!!!!! I actually like the one size per pattern because I don’t have to trace the pattern then.
My faves are the Creative Cate top and the Barb Pants, however I have made many others.
I really like a lot of Style Arc patterns but I WISH that they’d at least include the size up/below the size you order “just in case” you need to grade; or their sizing is off. It’s put me off buying anything from them…
I love StyleArc, and I love that they have a “freebie” (with order) pattern every month. To get the most bang for my buck, I usually order 2 patterns + freebie (3 patterns total) a few times a year in a month where I really like the freebie. Speaking of which, I’m thinking about placing an order this month because I really like the Molly knit top freebie but haven’t been able to decide what patterns to order to go along with it.
I have great results with Style Arc patterns so far. Except for the Elle pants, but I think that’s because pants are tricky beasts unto themselves. Single size has worked well for me even though with most patterns I have to lengthen them significantly. I have added any length to the SA pieces I’ve made. I also made a Maggie, it’s on the Flickr group. I agree with Rosie about the instructions. I consider myself a fairly experience sewist and I had to watch several YouTube tutorials in how to construct a button placket before I kinda maybe understood the instructions.
I have a few patterns on my wish list and I’m just waiting for a freebie that I like before ordering.
Sounds like we’re in the same boat! I actually just bought the Elle together with some bengaline, so I’m very interested to see how they work out…
Agree with every word of your SA patterns description !!
What didn’t you like about the Elle pants? I was seriously considering buying those as part of the stretch bengaline bundle.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, I like the pants and I like the pattern. It comes together really well. My problems stem from the fact that there’s a lot of complicated geometry going on with pants. I ordered a size 22 based on my measurements, but I think a 20 or 18 would fit better without alterations. So far, on the 22, I’ve take 4 inches off the hips and thighs, flattened the back crotch curve by about 1.5 inches, the front crotch curve by about 1 inch, done a tall rise alteration and lowered the knees. Next, I need to add about 1.5 to 2 inches in the calfs with a wide calf adjustment.
I am 6′ tall, have a genetically flat arse, a fair flat tummy, slightly narrow thighs (I guess, loosely fitting thighs is something that I often have problems with), wider than average calves (again, I often find that pants are tight on the calves and super baggy at the knees), and a 35″ inseam.
But the Elle is exactly the kind of pants I wear all the time. And other than the muslin having fit issues, I do like the pattern.
Oh Faustina, that makes me feel a lot better! Stupid placket. Good luck with the Elle pants if you decide to try again!
Ooh, I’ve made about 10 pairs of Elle pants! I love ’em! They really need fabric with 30%+ stretch, and I do have to scoop out the back crotch and add some length back there.. but I have to do that with any pattern. I”m a big fan!
I love Style Arc. Just a tip – they will send you a grading sheet if you ask for it in your order. I’ve found that helpful as I’m an 18 in the shoulders, a 16 in the hips, and a 20 in the waist area. They are usually close fitting, but all of mine have been extremely well drafted and I can usually figure out the directions just fine, though I have several years of experience sewing my own clothes.
What is a grading sheet?
The grading sheet shows how much they go up/down per size. So I order tops/dresses in an 18 and use their grading sheet to tell me how much to add on to the waist. This helps to preserve the style lines/ease of the garment as intended by the designer.
That is a great tip–that you for sharing this!
Fantastic! I’m going to do that from now on, especially with bottoms.
Oh yes, I made the Style Arc Maggie shirt recently (V=http://www.stylearc.com.au/stylearc/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=7&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=607&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44) and when I blog about it it is going to be called ‘The Shirt That Nearly Destroyed My Love of Sewing’. It is a gorgeous pattern, with a really nice contrast yoke and concealed buttons, but OMG the instructions. I am a beginner, and it took me two destroyed and very confused muslins and a lot of swearing to get my wearable third version. I didn’t manage to finish the collar right on that either. With no diagrams apart from a pattern piece layout and the most minimal instructions I found it really really hard. You really do need knowledge and experience to fall back on. Also, it all comes on one sheet, and if you are making a size 24 loose shirt, that means you end up with the unwieldiest piece of paper ever. It’s not a huge problem, but was quite funny when I spread it out across the table….and the ironing board….and the floor.
That said, I am so proud of the finished shirt, it is such a cool design and I got the free Rosie top pattern alongside. I like the way they send you suggested fabric samples too. I will definitely order from them again, once I’ve got a bit more sewing experience under my belt.
Ah sorry you struggled Rosie, but I’m not surprised – I just made the twist front Jessica dress (soon to be blogged on Cashmerette) and despite making a muslin i’m still not sure I did it right! I suspect that StyleArc are trying to balance getting patterns out quickly with how much effort they can put into the instructions.. but this feedback might help them reconsider!
Oh man, if you can’t understand them, no one can! Such lovely designs though. I can’t wait to see your frock 🙂
I feel your pain with the Maggie – the placket almost defeated me but the final result was sooo worth it and having made it for my daughter I am buying it in my size.
Ha, I feel so much better knowing other people found it stupidly confusing! It is a lovely shirt though, and will be making one for my friend. Downgrading by about 6 sizes is going to be an interesting challenge from a pattern with only one size! I think I need that grading sheet……
Hey Rosie – actually, I really wouldn’t recommend downgrading that much – as a rule of thumb, you should only grade up or down 2 – 3 sizes. After that, you’ll find it doesn’t work any more, because people start to be proportioned really differently. Don’t want to put you off making something for your friend, but you might be better off finding a different pattern!
Yes, I thought as much. Thanks for the advice: it gets me out of a horrible job! I’ll either have to order one in her size which is a nice excuse for buying some more patterns or make her something else.