Just a couple of quick questions and a poll for today…
I often get asked about how I grade my sewing patterns. I grade pretty much all of my patterns up, so I’ve become a bit of a pro expert deft adept at this skill. I never really planned on posting any sewing tutorials on this site, although I do sometimes do some crafty/DIY tutorials as I do projects. My thoughts are that many other sewists have written (and youtubed) useful tutorials and I often just link their post when someone asks how I do things. However, I was thinking that perhaps I should show you how I do this. Is this something you would be interested in? The Curvy Sewing Collective is diligently working on our upcoming project which will be a one-stop site for tutorials such as this and I am planning on writing one about grading up vintage patterns when I get around to sewing one for myself (it seems that other quick projects get in there first in my sewing queue!). Would you like me to post tutorials like this over here? Or would you rather I just link to other tutorials? Do you have any questions or would you like further information about any techniques that I’ve used and would like to see me elaborate?
I use this blog as a venue to showcase things that I’ve made whilst interacting with the sewing community. My intention never was to teach others how to sew, but I would like to help any burgeoning sewists out there if I can. I have been sewing for nearly 30 years, but I don’t consider myself an expert. I always have been very good at learning skills and figuring things out on my own, but I know others sometimes need some help, so I’m willing to share things that I’ve learned. The most important thing, I think, is to know that there are many ways to do things and I don’t really think there is a wrong way if it works for you. Just my thoughts….. let me know what YOU think!
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PS Tomorrow I am meeting up with a bunch of SoCal sewing bloggers in LA! I am not a SoCal girl, but I’m making the trip down there for the weekend to shop and hang out. I can’t wait!!! 🙂
Just wanted to say YES as well!!! I also grade up…. and not just vintage. I grade up for cornbread? 😉 It’s always so great to see what others do, gives my techniques a good kick in the pants.
Ah, the cornbread! lol! 🙂
I think that’s an amazing idea! This year for me is about working on my skills, and I am such a sponge for great advice and tutorials!
I especially like watching youtube videos as you can watch them over and over again until you get it! I don’t see myself doing those, but I can make some full of photos!
I would definitely love to see your approach to pattern grading and other sewing techniques! I’ve been sewing for about 6 months, and am just now getting to the point where fit is becoming a priority – which means, pattern adjustments, because I fall just outside of the sizing for most patterns. Thanks!!
I’m definitely going to post some! Glad you’re having fun sewing!
I was passed along a vintage Singer machine and I am still debating over whether or not to keep it. Haven’t sewn since college!
Oh, you should keep it, Eleanor! And sew with it! You can have so much fun!
I love seeing the beautiful things that you make and selfishly would love to see how you grade up. I have a ton of vintage patterns but nothng near to my size. Thanks for so generously offering to share your skills. xx
Grading up the vintage patterns definitely takes time, especially if they are quite smaller than you, thus the reason why it’s taken me a while to get around to do one again…. I’ve never been a fan of tracing patterns, but I’m going to!
The thing is, if you’ve been sewing for 30 years, then you have knowledge and experience you can share and pass on to others, would be pretty much appreciated, by a large number of newbie and experienced sewers reading your blog, for instance the pattern grading you have mentioned.
I wish your survey results and any comments will give you the impetus and encouragement to put out those tutorials.
Thanks, Tanya, it definitely looks like this is something that people want, so I will try my hand at it. 🙂
Yes, yes, yes! I would like (and appreciate) any tutorials on grading patterns. I have a weird-shaped body ( heavy-ish on top but not big boobs, rounded belly and a flat butt) and patterns just aren’t made for my shape. I’m am so afraid of altering patterns, though, so any tutorials would be helpful. By the way, I love the dresses you’ve sewn and modeled.
Ah, that sounds similar to my shape, Cindy! Sometimes you just have to take the plunge and try altering it. If you cut up some cheap fabric that you don’t care about, it will make it easier!
I really appreciate seeing a blogger who has a similar body type to my own. I also grade just about everything and would love to see how you accomplish things.
Thanks, Heather! I will definitely show you some of my methods, whether they are “right” or “wrong”!
I would love to see how you make a pattern fit your body. You make very cute clothes, I am impressed! I am just learning how to sew and any help is always appreciated.
Thanks, Natasha! I hope you’re having fun sewing! The new indie patterns are so much easier to work with, especially if you’re learning to sew on your own. I remember before the internet having to ask my grandma everything! Now you can just type in a few words in the search box and find anything you need to know! And with patterns like Colette, they explain all of the techniques, which is super cool.
I’m just starting out with sewing, so I often find that I need to search out two or three tutorials for the same technique because each person explains it slightly differently and takes different pictures that form a complete mental image for me. I can often get a new idea more easily if someone I’m used to reading explains it.
That’s great to hear your perspective. Some people are easier for me to understand than others, that’s for sure!
It’s always encouraging to sew curvy sewists in the blogosphere. Offering tutorials from a curvy point of view would be wonderful, especially when you have so many viewers who like what you’re creating–myself included. When I see a curvy sewist upsize a pattern and wear the garment, it sends a positive message to me that says yes, I can do this, too.
Yes, Robin, you can! The next time I sew up a new pattern, I will document the process that I generally use to grade it up.
Links are fine, but if you do something special (i.e., not for the Collective) feel free to share it over here!
del xx
Yes, I think I will! 🙂
Grading patterns is not a skill that most budding seamstresses have (and it is kind of silly for pattern makers to assume that us curvy girls will just all go naked), so any tips or tutorials would be great. I would love to see yours, but I also appreciate when someone points me to the answers on another site. I have 3 new dresses due to your inspiration (and the gals at the Curvy Sewing Collective). Now, I have to get used to wearing pretty things again 🙂
I guess they think that curvy girls don’t sew…. lol…. or they just want to sew shapeless garments…. I’m happy that I’ve inspired you! That’s awesome! 🙂
I voted “yes” simply because it’s nice to have all of that info in one place, if there’s going to be a one-shop stop for curvy tutorials. Plus, I like to browse/blog surf, and sometimes you find tutorials that you can note for later use.
Thanks, Michelle. There will be a tab on the top of this page when I post some. If they are curvy related, I will cross post on the CSC site as well.
I d love some tutorials……I love everything you make and it always fits so well! I still can’t master fitting!!!
Thanks, Amanda! Definitely going to make a few tutorials.
I would love to see your tutorials, because I love everything you make and you always have such a great fit on things. I’m relatively new to the whole pattern manipulation thing so any guidance would be great. 🙂
Awe, thank you, Andie! It looks like I will be making this happen! 🙂
Wherever you post them, I will definitely be reading them if they are available! I am OK at grading up basic stuff, but am intimidated by more complicated patterns. I feel like there are a million tutorials out there about FBAs, but its harder to find them about an all around grading up of a couple of sizes, which is typically what i need and seems to be what you do to most of your patterns. I would be greatly appreciative of any type of tutorial about that! If you do know of some good one already out there, could you share the links too? Thanks so much for putting so much thought into this!
Hi Megan! I have no problem showing y’all how I do things and some different ways to do them as well. I pretty much had to learn the hard way how to do it at first and then found some tutorials online and read a bit in my sewing books. Of course, this was long after I had been grading up patterns on my own! I often refer others to Megan Nielsens’ grading tutorials. Here’s a link you can check out: http://blog.megannielsen.com/2011/10/easy-pattern-grading-the-quick-and-dirty-method/
Thanks, Tanya Maile! I think I saw that when I first started sewing and was totally confused… its time to check it out again!
I would love to see your methods. It’s true that there are other tutorials, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have something new to offer. I’ve seen a million fba tutorials but I never really “got it” until I saw one by Megan Nielsen. For whatever reason, the others hadn’t clicked in my brain.
Thanks, Cindy! I love Megan Nielson’s tutorials. She especially has a good series about grading patterns.