How did you learn to sew? Have you had sewing lessons? Were they at school? Did your mum or dad or granny teach you? Have you been to evening classes? College? Or are you self taught? There are loads of different ways that a person can learn to sew, and most people try out a variety of ways as they progress along the long and eventful road to becoming an expert seamstress. This road can be even more eventful if you are curvy….
I am largely self-taught (thanks internet!) and very much still learning, but about six months ago, after making a few fairly dodgy and amateur-looking items of ‘clothing’, I decided I really would like to make something a bit good. So I booked myself on a one day ‘make a dress’ course. When I signed up for the course the instructions said that those up to a size 16 would sew from one pattern (with three different neckline/strap combinations to choose from) and those sized 16-24 would sew a different pattern. There was no mention about what would happen if you were larger than a 24. I thought it was a little strange that they hadn’t just chosen a dress pattern that offered the full range of sizes (which err, loads of them do) so we could all sew and learn together, but whatever.
When I arrived there were four of us in the class: all a bit daunted that we were going to make our first lined dress with a zip. Two women in the smaller size range had chosen a sweetheart neckline and the other had chosen a halterneck. I had no choice and just had to sew the ‘flattering’ style pre-selected for me. (And the dress was quite flattering, though not for anyone with boobs…) But what the hell, I thought between four of us we are sewing three different dresses in a range of different fabrics, so we would all have different experiences.
I didn’t quite realise how different my experience would be until the (slim) teacher started talking about the patterns we would sew. She gave the three smaller women their pattern pieces and talked them through them, which I listened to, and then she loudly and faux jauntily announced that they could all start sewing while she talked me through my ‘SPECIAL PATTERN FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE’. Why I had to be given some kind of separate treatment when we were all making different dresses I don’t want to know. The other ladies looked at me a bit confused as if I had some kind of impairment or had paid for an extra gold-plated service, so I just loudly and faux jauntily announced right back that ‘I AM MAKING A BIGGER SIZE THAN YOU’. For f’s sake. There ain’t no shame in my game.
We also had a joyous moment when my skirt needed gathering. ‘You can’t do this on the machine. With HUGE amounts of fabric like this, it’s just not going to work. You are going to have to do it by hand’. To be fair to her, my hand stitched gathers came out very nicely and we were both pleased, and she was probably right that it wouldn’t have come out as nice on the machine. But she still made sure I knew I was a ‘very special person’. While I got the ‘special’ treatment for my size, she also found other things to pick on with the nervous other women. Let’s just say that she wasn’t a natural nurturer.
I’m tough enough to not take this too personally, and actually made a really awesome dress. I learnt loads about how to do linings, insert zips and ignore snarky teachers with their own body image issues. I had to insert a modesty panel when I got home because the pattern was obviously designed for that rare breed: a plus sized woman with no breasts whatsoever, but I was really pleased with it.
However, I was put off going to another class. This is partly because I don’t want to run the risk of being singled out or humiliated again, partly because sewing classes are really expensive (£100 for a sewing lesson- fabric not included!?), and partly because there aren’t many classes that will accommodate me. Most of the classes I have seen offer to teach you how to sew a specific dress, often one of the trendy indie patterns, and as we know, those trendy indie patterns don’t offer very big size ranges. I have seen one class that will offer to grade up an indie pattern for you, but you have to pay extra for the privilege. With classes already being very expensive, and my ego rather bruised, I don’t want to pay extra for being fat.
I have signed up for some more classes but they are very much based on techniques rather than specific items of clothing. I did a great little course with ‘So Zo What Do you Know’ on how to use commercial patterns, and have one on zips coming up in a couple of weeks with Lladybird. I’m so excited! I’m also booked on a quilting course and a hand embroidery course. Hopefully in none of these classes will my size ‘cause an issue’. I’ve also got some great books (Hi Barbara Deckert!) and I have enrolled in some Craftsy classes where the tutor has no idea who I am or what shape I might be. Susan Khalje is teaching me to make a couture frock, and she is awesome and she doesn’t judge! There are also a million gazillion you tube and blog tutorials that can teach you anything from how to thread a needle to how to make a three piece suit. And there is no snarking.
I had one bad experience, and you may have had a very different experience to me. I hope so! But there is no need to put up with being marginalised or charged extra for lessons when there are so many other wonderful ways to learn. What is your favourite way to learn sewing? Do you have any curvy-positive class recommendations?
I am part of the ‘rare breed’, as you said, of curvy lass whom is lacking in the bosom department. I use sizes that will fit my hips & then deconstruct & reassemble or just severely take-in the bodice. It’s a headache & a half for sure >.<
(Wrote a long comment but Disqus disappeared it.)
Private sewing lessons are my first choice when I can afford them. My second choice is classes at FIT. (Construction techniques only, no individual sewing or fitting is available.)
I’m not a standard shape and I need to make extensive changes to the muslin. That takes extra time and when I’m paying, costs more.
Your experience is sadly how many people of anything other than a size 8 seem to be treated. I was skinny all my life… and had a daughter who was very heavy. She really suffered through school because the kids were so harsh, and I used to tell her “it’s whats on the inside that counts” and “your beautiful if people know you” …What can I say, I was ignorant to the problems people have with weight. Then I became ill 12 yrs ago and started putting on lot’s of weight, at first it was because of the medicines and the lack of being mobile on my part and then it just became it vicious cycle that I’ve never gotten out of… And I can say when I was thin the way people looked at me and treated me is very different from how they look at me and treat me now. It’s a shame that we can’t just accept people and not judge. I’ll never forget watching a Project Runway episode where the designers had to sew for a plus size model… these women weren’t fat like me… they were just Amazon Women… gorgeous women… and the designers were fit to be tied… how could they make something for someone that wasn’t a size 0 ?
They were so snarky and mean in their comments I never watched to show again.
I am self teaching myself and have a long way to go. I can’t get out to any sewing classes so maybe the Craftsy site is my best resource for learning how to do better at sewing. I get so confused and really need someone to guide me. I’ll check Craftsy out …
Thanks for your post, you helped me, more than you know.
Carri
Find the local American Sewing Guild group. I’ve been a member for 17 years. If you have a problem, someone there can come up with a solution. They also offer great classes throughout the year. The website is: asg.org.
My private teacher is a member of the American Association of Sewing Professionals, although that’s now how I found her.
Oh wow, so sorry you had that horrible teacher But good that you have moved passed. I’m really loving Craftsy classes (no affiliation, just a happy student). I can take whatever I want whenever I want. Which mostly means in my pj’s after the kids are asleep. 🙂 Some Craftsy instructors are better than others with answering questions but I’ve not had any that were horrible. I’m going to check out the other resources you recommended. Thanks.
Good on you to get past a bad experience with such a good attitude and a fine dress!
Not all sewing and gym teachers are ogres but something about those disciplines does seem to attract sadists. I had the teacher from hell for 8th grade home economics (circa 1968). I’d looked forward to being able to take sewing for a year and was crushed when the only time she paid any attention to me was to- well, crush me. She concentrated her energy on girls who already had some knowledge. No matter whether I asked her why my bobbin thread was tangling or how to make a FBA she blew me off and told me to do the best I could. I sewed, struggled, and cried through the whole course. At the end, we were required to take part in a runway show to model our dresses. Mine cut off the circulation to my head and she had the nerve to criticize me for the poor fit.
A year later, encouraged by a friend who sewed, I chose a pattern, checked fitting books out of the library, did a FBA, and lined my very first real dress (the 8th grade one wasn’t a dress; it was an ordeal). It turned out beautifully and I never looked back except to marvel at all the ridiculous requirements and attitude of that teacher. I’m talking to you, Mrs. Drake.
Wow, that is one extreme bad teacher story! So glad you weren’t scarred for life!
My jaw just dropped reading your email. That shaming or isolating attitude is very shameful!
I have taken sewing classes and have found that so called ‘custom’ clothier. (said sarcastically as it was advertised that the class was taught by a custom clothier) who teach the class had absolutely no experience with dealing with big bust or big bum. A mostly internet-educated newbie-me knew more about Full bust adjustment and full booty adjustment than her! 😮 her fly front technique left me gasping as it was a very lazy ass shoddy technique. I haven’t taken any in person class since.
Hi Rosie. It sounds like you had a pretty horrible experience, and I totally agree with the suggestion to contact the course organiser to give some “feedback”. Something I would note though, sometimes bluntness can come across as rudeness (although it sounds like here it probably was rudeness!), especially if the teacher is an experienced sewer who sees the bodies as just shapes and forgets there’s someone inside who has feelings and hang-ups. I’ve got upset with various teachers and their descriptions of my size and, um, bumpy bits, but have tried to take away the helpful bits and iron out any tone or undertone. Sorry, that all sounds a bit patronising, but I’m trying not to be! I’m tall, busty and I guess a UK size 18ish, so not a “standard” size or shape.
As for places to learn to sew, technique focused courses are size-independent, so it doesn’t matter what opinion the teacher there has. If you’re wanting more help with fitting, I found a course on custom pattern drafting was really helpful. Although it doesn’t specifically give you how to do fit alterations, it gives a really good understanding of the basic shape that is needed to fit your body, plus it’s effectively size independent as you’re working from your own measurements. I don’t know where you’re located (but have worked out it’s UK), but I did this course at London College of Fashion, and highly recommend it. Their courses are a bit pricey, but well worth the money.
Whatever course you choose, make sure you check what experience the teachers have. I definitely applaud the grassroots movement in sewing, but it’s always best to learn from someone with as much experience as you can afford 🙂 If you’re outside London, check the colleges/fashion schools/universities in your local town/city for what evening courses they offer.
As a side note, I looked at the “flattering” pattern that you were given, and egads that neckline is LOW. I can’t imagine that would work on anyone with any sort of chestal endowment, and even the smallest bust would need very good posture and/or tape…! Despite the issues with the teaching, you ended up with a lovely dress! If I was being super critical (’cause of course you totally want random internet feedback), the shoulders are a little wide on you, but the fit across your bust looks to be great. And that (hand!) gathering is lovely – I hate gathering…! Someone mentioned it elsewhere in the comments but I’ll repeat it, if you want to gather a wide piece of fabric, run the machine gathering stitches in sections rather than across the whole width.
Ooh, that was a bit long, hope there was something of help in there! Good luck in your future sewing, looking forward to reading about your progress!
I do want random internet feedback: thank you! I really need to get to grips with my small shoulders! Its good to know the LCF course is good. They are quite pricey there, but it’s defo on my wish list…
Don’t worry baby, you will always come across those who think not being thin is a crime.
The teacher should have used the opportunity to demonstate fitting for example a full bust adjustment etc.
I’m used to going to class and being one of the larger ones there. What I do is when they ask for someone to stand in front of the class I volunteer so can give the teacher a challenge in a sway back, and a big bum!
Make a complaint like Corina says and keep it moving!
I’ve started sewing in my late thirties and consider myself really fortunate to have had some wonderful teachers (including the Dreamstress mentioned in Mrs C’s post above). As someone who never felt comfortable in my own body, these teachers, and the classes they have led, have made a huge contribution to my becoming more accepting of my curves and bumps. If there is one thing that I have got out of attending regular sewing lessons with people of all shapes and sizes it’s that there is no such thing as the perfect body. It just doesn’t exist, not even on regular sized bodies.
Quite frankly, if I had the same experience you had, I probably would have thrown in the towel and given up, so I salute you for persevering despite the bad experience. At least you got a lovely dress out of it.
I didn’t learn to sew at school, unfortunately. I was in the science stream and therefore things like art and ‘domestic science’ were excluded. I took up dressmaking when I retired. I started to learn from books, internet and Craftsy classes but sought out and fortunately found some useful teachers – I prefer to see things in person and be able to ask questions. I did sew curtains and so on. ‘m tall and when I was younger I was relatively slim though never below a size 14 RTW (US 10?). Even then I had some problems buying RTW but could clothe myself from shops.. As I’ve got older, my body has changed – it’s bigger but also different – well you all know what I’m talking about! I’ve realised that age more than size is an issue – I’m not interested in the cheap, short, skimpy throw away fashion that’s everywhere – suitable for teens and twenties but who else? I have 2 daughters in their 20s – only one buys the kind of fashion in taking about and that’s because it’s cheap and she has no money. So my new hobby in retirement is sewing with the hope of sewing well made clothes that fit for me and occasionally my 3 daughters, one of whom is 6’ and slim but has problems buying clothes.
I agree with others that you should complain about the teacher unless she’s self employed! Keep on sewing and improving!
I feel really angry on your behalf, Rosie. What an ignorant woman. Who does she think she is?
I feel your pain. I’m self-taught as we don’t get any sewing teachers in this region very often, if at all. I think that is why I’ve enjoyed picking up teaching a few people who are not a standard size. I obviously appear to be someone that doesn’t fit the standard pattern with my plus-size body. I know there are all kinds of classes and tutorials online but occasionally I like an in-person lesson so I can just say “What do I do with this now?”
I like your dress and what is it with all of the low-cut large sizes? I think we need some sort of decency in some our clothing. Not all of us want to show our complete FBA to the public. LOL
Hahaha: I’m going to start a booby decency campaign!
I learnt to sew at high school but never really took it any further. Only as an adult did I get back into it.
From there I am pretty much self taught with a few classes thrown in.
I am now lucky enough to spend 2 Saturdays a month with an amazing instructor who would never ever make the same comments as your instructor.
It is now more than a sewing group and I love going there.
Good for you though.. Hope she got the message.
I’ve been loving your posts Rosie! It’s always interesting to hear how people get started in sewing and the struggles of being a beginner. Sounds like even though the class you mentioned was often humiliating, you learned a lot and were strong enough to know to know that she had the problem, not you.
My sewing story is a bit different: I first learned to sew as a 20-something adult working in a professional costume shop. There I learned how to draft patterns and create custom garments for people of all sizes and clothes of all eras. I very quickly worked my way up to sewing for Broadway shows before starting my own custom wedding dress business!
Not long after that, people would ask me about teaching sewing, and only then did I start to realize how limited the options were for people learning to sew as adults who didn’t fit a standard size. I unfolded my first commercial pattern, tried to make it work for me, and gave up. Here I was, a woman who was making a living creating custom couture wedding dresses for individual women of all different silhouettes, but I could not complete a simple commercial pattern. To me, the methods were not logical and the sizes were not inclusive. I could tell why so many people never get past the beginner level! Had this been my introduction, I probably would have never gotten past the first project. I feel really lucky to have learned professional custom garment creation FIRST. I truly love it and think so many others would too!
That’s why I recently started teaching an online course for beginners that allows you to never even think about “sizes”. Students learn to design, draft, and create custom skirts to fit their unique bodies, rather than ever having to alter something that was originally designed for a dress form.
I’m not sure if it is cool to include the link to my course in your comments, (if it is, let me know and I’ll add it!) but I just wanted to mention that there are inclusive “start from scratch” ways of learning to sew fitted garments that can be very rewarding and not as hard for a beginner as you might think. It’s just a different process. If you love it and stick with it, you’ll never be put in the “Very Special Sizes” section of class. With custom, everyone is special!
Keep up the good work Curvy Sewing Collective!
I’m fascinated to hear about your class: it sounds as if you have got a really good understanding of some of the struggled of being a non-standard sized beginner! Please do post a link, if that’s ok with you CSC mods??
I have taught sewing for more than ten years. I have been sewing for almost fifty. You definitely need to let management know of her behavior. It is unacceptable! I am a size 18/20 in ready to wear, I usually have to grade up my patterns and do a very full bust adjustment. It really isn’t any different to teach you to make a dress. Shame on her. Bravo to you for not letting stupid people hurt your feelings or stop you from doing what you like!
Our business includes a sewing school and our teacher, who blogs under The Dreamstress, is the perfect teacher because she simply doesn’t give a crap if you have three heads and four legs, she simply helps you to work out how to incorporate the extra neck holes and trouser legs into the pattern. And it’s not a front, she REALLY doesn’t care. She thinks all women are beautiful and perfect and unique.
Like I don’t care. Being plus size has always been a huge advantage to me as a teacher and dressmaker too, as my customers and students can tell I am not going to be sitting in judgement of them no matter what size or shape they are. This means that of all the 100s of wedding dresses I made, the vast majority were for women over a size 14, under a size 10 or with very specific fit issues that they were self conscious about. I am pretty proud of that, though it made for a lot more work!
Anyway, I wish you were here! And what a stupid woman, do complain please. Maybe she needs help to understand how to teach curvy sizes? AND of course it is easy to gather a skirt like that, you simply divide it into 3 or 4 sections instead of just front and back, stopping and starting your two rows of gathering stitch at those points. If she can’t handle teaching plus size people then she ought not to be. Please don’t give up, you will learn so much more from a good, live teacher, I promise. You can ask the specific questions you have and then apply the knowledge, and this immediate feedback response is the strongest learning experience you can have.
That is really terrible that you had such an awful teacher. Thankfully it didn’t put you off of sewing! I think I’ve learned more from books, youtube, craftsy and blogs than sewing teachers could have ever taught me! I learned how to sew from my grandma, mom, 4-H leader and HS teacher and they don’t do many of the techniques that I’ve learned on my own. Being a person that can learn without their hand having to be held is a good thing!
Oh FFS. I thought that we were past this garbage now. I hope that you complained, as another poster put it, to save future plus sized customers who lived outside of that woman’s tiny bubble of size.
I had a sort of similar experience, although mine was more passive-aggressive and less blatant in a sewing class. I used to occasionally take classes from a Palmer-Pletsch certified instructor. Unfortunately, she basically taught fitting straight from the FFRP book. There were several of us in that class with very large busts, and she’d gasp every time she did our measurements and tell us that we’d each need an 4″ FBA, like it was something that she’d never seen before. And then she’d just leave us with that Big Honkin’ Dart to sew (no rotation or anything). As a then-newbie, I just took what she said as gospel and wound up with an unwearable jacket. She was very good at teaching techniques, though, and I loved the camraderie in the classes (plus the classes were very cheap), so I did take a few more with her. Thankfully, I learned to take her fitting advice with a grain of salt.
Big Honkin’ Dart sounds like a brilliant name for the CSC House band!
HAHAHAHHA!
Hello everyone!
I just wanted to say sorry it has taken me so long to respond you all your brilliant advice and support! I really appreciate it and have enjoyed being outraged hearing about all your weird and not-so-wonderful experiences.I have also been heartened to hear of people’s more positive experiences. I think Andie got it right when she said ‘I think plus size sewing really baffles people who aren’t used to it’. Thank goodness we have CSC and an army of skilled plus size sewists to learn from. We’ll be taking over the world soon, so amazing is our power to learn and improvise in the face of adversity!
Oh and as for complaining: you are all right, I should have. However the teacher was pregnant (god help her children!) and soon to go on maternity leave and I think wasn’t going back, so I have missed my window of opportunity with her. I have made a promise to myself (and you guys) to complain if anything like this happens again.
Wow. I’m shocked by the teacher’s behavior. She should be disciplined at the very least; I hope you notified the management. That said, your dress is lovely. Wonderful work!
This makes me angry! Maybe the instructor just wasn’t skilled enough to sew on the curve. Or maybe she was intimidated by a confident intelligent curvy woman who may know a few things about sewing that she doesn’t! Here is my thing…she obviously makes a living with these classes, so a bit of customer service/bedside manner would behoove her lively hood. Who would come back and pay for another class when they are treated that way?
You look great in that dress! Thank goodness we have so many resources at our finger tips, where we don’t have to worry about being judged or singled out.
First, your dress looks great and, you look fabulous in it . Second,, I do hope that there was a critique for that sewing class. I also hope that you let the instructor know that she was not being helpful and was, in fact, inhibiting your education. You may save a less secure person from her torture. I think you were very courageous to stay for the lesson. I probably would have escaped at the first bathroom break. It seem that, for women, no matter what your intelligence or achievements are, you are not worthy if you are not slender. Thank-you for this positive, and helpful, post.
I, too, am a teacher, but of non-sewing things. I teach a course designed for students who have failed their first biology exam and need something more to help them before they continue on.
All I can say is that shaming students is literally a last resort and should never ever be used on a personal characteristic, such as body type or abilities. The only time I *ever* shame a student is when their attitude is beyond unacceptable. Even then, I feel so awful about it, I normally end up crying in my office later.
I agree with some above opinions. If she’s shaming you, she’s shaming others. Luckily, you have a thicker skin and decided it was a “her” problem, but she could truly damage someone else. Please tell her bosses (anonymously if you can) about her behavior. You could put it as innocuously as, “she was inconsiderate about body types in class”.
Most importantly: You look great in your dress. The neckline, shoulders and gathers are all very flattering!
I’m so glad that you’re a trouper and not someone to get put off by a bad class! I can’t say I’ve had anything quite like that happen to me, but I have had sketchy advice – like someone telling me it was a waste of time to do FBAs and to just add to the side seams instead… err, no! Luckily there’s so much info out there – and the CSC 😉 – that hopefully people can get the advice they need now
Agh no! GIANT SIDES.
Praise be for CSC <3
Whoa….the teacher was sadly lacking any sort of bedside manner, or common sense! I’m a regular (read that school) teacher, and I have to be non-judgmental in working with my students, who all have varying abilities. My mouth actually fell open when I read your post. I’m afraid I would have been badly bruised by the whole experience, but I’m stoked that you rose above all of that, AND made a dress that fits and looks great.
You stick with it, Rosie! I’ve only taken online classes, but there are differences between people who teach a skill (like the lady you had) and someone who understands the different body types and their challenges. We won’t even go into preserving students’ self worth and body image while teaching…she obviously has no clue there.
It’s crazy too, because those slim typical figures are so easy to sew for. Its we curvy girls who need help with fitting issues. I’ve taken Susan Khalje’s class and loved it. Great for technique, although she doesn’t talk a lot about fit per se. I’ve never heard about Barbara Deckert. I’ll have to check her out.
Your dress turned out lovely, so that’s a win.
Ramona
I’ve taken Sandra Betzina’s pants fitting Craftsy course, and it was helpful. She’s a bit flighty and all over the board, but she gave good tips. I’ve also taken Adjust the Bust with Kathleen Cheetham. Her’s was a good course.
Oooh thanks for the tips!
I am really sad to hear about this although I am sure all of us “special” people understand. I am teaching sewing to beginners and make a special emphasis that ALL bodies have issues – even tall, willowy models have a hard time finding clothes that fit. I just had a 16 year old, 6 foot tall girl in my class who came because she couldn’t find skirts that matched the finger-tip length school requirement and she had been embarrassed when called out by the principal about having a skirt too short and sent home to change clothes. All of my students are worried when their measurements don’t match up to the patterns and all are horrified at the sizes they are because Ready to Wear has made sizing so ridiculous. I have to keep reminding them that we are all different but there are solutions for fit – the great thing about sewing!! Your dress, for instance, is absolutely beautiful…. love the flowers and the style.
Yes, it’s true, I’ve been quite amazed to hear of even the most ‘standard sized’ people’s fit issues. I wish we could just get rid of the idea that there is a standard size at all. I really feel for the school girl! I hope she made a lovely skirt that she can feel confident in.
Taking courses on techniques is a good solution. The techniques can be applied to any project, regardless of size.
I have learned to sew through many avenues, my mom, home ec, college, fabric stores, on my own, and books. YouTube and the Internet were not invented yet. I am very curvy just under plus size. I haven’t had your experience, but many of the of my instructors were not slim.
The only bad experience I had was from a fellow student who mocked my sewing machine every week. I had a Singer everyone else had a Bernina.
Keep learning, you will have good experiences.
Ha oh man, my John Lewis own brand machine is staying at home!
Dear Rosie. Don’t give up. Choose beautiful happy fabrics for your projects. And if you need help, I’ll be here for you. I restarted sewing again after a long absence. The first books I bought were the Singer Sewing Library and they are still my go to books after all these years. Others are Ms Deckert (yea), Sandra Betzina’s book on Fabric Savy, Claire Schaeffer’s massive book on all techniques, fabric information and other stuff I can’t remember. The whir of the machine can be so relaxing, don’t you agree ??
Yes yes it can 🙂 Thanks for the tips!
I totally sympathize with this experience. I’ve never taken a sewing class (I learned from the internet yeay!), but I’ve been in several other kinds of classes where my size became an issue for no one except the instructor. A yoga class where I’ve been told I could never do the position and told the instructor yes and did it for her and properly. Hula hoop and dance classes where I was told to sit to the side if I can’t keep up, but I kept up without issue while other, slimmer people sat to the side. The best classes I ever took were belly dancing and burlesque dancing where the focus is on the curves.
I think plus size sewing really baffles people who aren’t used to it. You could have gathered that skirt on the machine. She just didn’t know how to do it with that much fabric.
Thanks for sharing your experience. 🙂
Hi Rosie,
As Andie says, I have been in some classes where size has been an issue… A pitty since sewing is supposed to enable the world of acceptance…
However, after taking Barbara’s class in craftsy, I learned to modify patterns for my size and my needs.
I’ve now started my bolg and I hope to contribute to our understanding of style and pattern grading to feel good in the garments we make.
Best,
M
Hi Rosie, I am so sorry to hear of your bad experience. I would consider calling the store and speaking to management. You could remain anonymous. I to am a voluptuous babe and restarted my sewing because of a lack of good quality clothing in my sizes. Chronic illness and medications caused the “growth spurt” and I make myself blouses or sometimes trousers. I too am benefitting from You Tube, Barbara Deckert and so many more. I foll