The hits keep coming; today I was featured at “Sew, Mama, Sew!” for the little Ready Set Robot shirt I made Nels late last summer* – an item that ended up at the Salvation Army eventually because he grew right out of it in about five minutes! Oh and don’t ask or hint for me to mail you my home-sewn clothes after my kids grow out of them. I would forget to mail a replacement liver to my own brother. I am horrible about sending things in the post (reason #243 not to suggest to me I start an Etsy shop of sewn creations).
I’m back in the groove for kid-sewing but my children are growing out of the “cute” pattern styles I’ve spent the last few years mucking about with – or maybe I’m growing out of working with those patterns (keep in mind I’ve had the same dogeared copies my girl Abi bought me years ago; I can’t seem to bring myself to spring for another subscription). Besides this lovely Ottobre line I mention here (because it is rad), it seems most kids’ patterns you find today are shapeless, boring pull-on sacks with little detail or imagination. Interestingly this is also true for plus size women, i.e. women over about a size 14 RTW (interestingly “plus size” is actually only the upper half of the American population. Fashion industry, you suck!).
The relative dearth of great kid and fat lady patterns? I make huge fart-noises with my mouth over this because hello, if anyone has the right to look fabulous, then small child persons and large adult persons do (I am about sick to death of the more fashionable online sewing communities being a huge dose of slim/white/twentysomething ladies posing like mannequins and looking like them too! I mean they look great but lets’ have some actual variety? No? Okay then!)!
So today, thinking about kids’ clothes with persona and interesting design lines I went searching for some vintage patterns. I found a great Etsy shop with some kid offerings and called Phoenix over to make some choices – she chose four out of about ten. And I liked her picks. Which is kind of necessary because I will seriously veto sewing something I just don’t want to sew. I’ve learned this the hard way as I still remember the last small soul-suck of a resentful-sewing episode (fuck you, felt pillow with velcro-appliques)! Weird how even at this stage I find myself getting sucked into sewing projects I don’t want to do.
Anyway, Phoenix chose a 50s tiered skirt dress, a 60s spring coat and a-line dress, a 60s chemise-style dress, and a 50s box jacket suit (total cost including shipping just under $30). I have some pretty devilish ideas about fabric choices too!
Today was balmy and wonderful out. My mother accompanied us to the airport diner. She had I had giant taco wraps. They were good but I couldn’t finish mine. Nels got a shake as big as he is. I seriously love going out to eat with the kids (and my mom). I am fortunate we get this kind of family time often – several times a week.
Phoenix ran off to a slumber party in the evening and Ralph and I made chicken kebabs, grilled artichokes, buttermilk biscuits (an amazing recipe that included, besides the buttermilk, lots of butter, cheese, and cayenne), corn on the cob, and hot tea with lots of sugar. A small family feast. On our tiny-ass coffee table which is our only table.
Happy Friday!
Steamy!
* Psst, extra awesomeness? My project won a slot in a give-away contest with 393 entries; I didn’t even enter the photo; I was head-hunted. I have no idea how I was found actually. Thanks to Shelly from Patterns By Figgys for recommending me!
Grilled artichokes?! What is this deliciousness?!
@k8
You snip the leaves, cut the stem, half the artichoke and cut the choke out. Then you boil the chokes for about 15 minutes. Then slather them with oil or mayo or butter and grill them for 5 – 10 minutes or until done. So delicious!
The way Nels is sucking on that straw makes me want a milkshake sobad.
“The relative dearth of great kid and fat lady patterns? I make huge fart-noises with my mouth over this because hello, if anyone has the right to look fabulous, then small child persons and large adult persons do”
I say “Preach it, sister!” to this.
Ever notice how hard it is to find workout clothing in larger sizes? Or sports bras, for that matter? As if those of us who are larger than a size 14 don’t have any reason to exercise or as if we’re so fat that we’d look awful in exercise wear. I find this really disheartening, since it’s so difficult to exercise in regular clothing and really be comfortable enough to want to exercise every day. If they made a plus-sized workout wear pattern I’d buy it in a heartbeat, I think. Though I will say that Athleta (whose parent company is GAP) is now selling quite a lot of their clothing in a 1x-2x size, which leaves me with hope for the future.
@Jen
Jalie has larger workout patterns. I think they go up to a size 22 or 44 inch waist. Not exactly a full size range but a good start. One cool thing about Jalie is their patterns include 22 size ranges, so from a little baby up to a fairly large adult.
There are some RTW plus-sized clothing lines but you have to know where to find them. I found this site with links. If you find a site that you like, let me know! The fatshionista community also rates and reviews all these online sites. You have to work harder than straight-sized women, but really there are places to find items.
I think things are improving as some mainstream trendy places like Old Navy go up to at least an RTW 20.
It’s neat to see a photo of your mom in profile right underneath the photo of you in profile. Wow, what a resemblance.
Do you ever get the Burda magazine? I ask because the plus-sized patterns are often the best patterns in the magazine — or that’s my view, anyway. I love Phoenix’s pattern choices. I would totally wear that 60s coat.
@Medrie
Yes, my mom and I look a lot alike.We both have flat asses and are both booze-harpies too.
I will take a re-look at Burda. I like Hot Patterns and they have a large size range but I’m a bit intimidated (expensive patterns too!).
@Medrie
Yes, my mom and I look a lot alike. We both have flat asses and are both booze-harpies too.
I will take a re-look at Burda. I like Hot Patterns and they have a large size range but I’m a bit intimidated (expensive patterns too!). Currently I’m happily sewing for the kids.
I’m getting closer to sewing things for myself I like. I just finished a coat but it’s NOT QUITE RIGHT so off in the post it goes to a friend.