Hi, this is my first visit to the discussion forum. I am a seamstress with a problem. I have been hired to create some clothing for a client that is a size 60. I want to give this woman some tops that look good despite her large size. I have drafted one pattern, with front and back yokes, and simple set-in sleeves. However, I want to be able to find something else to give her. So far, I have been working with polyester/spandex fabric, and want to know if someone out there has ever made a good-fitting blouse from polyester/cotton for a size 60.
I also need to make her some pants.
thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope to hear from you.
mnp007
Replies
Is the polyester-cotton a knit or woven? Does the yoked top have gathers below the yoke, both front & back? It should also have a button (or other closure) front to draw the eye down. Have you considered a princess-style top with a contrasting/complementing colour front panel? This could be a pullover top or buttoned to the side of the panel - these would also draw the eye down, & could be made to look casual or dressy.
You may have to be careful with the polyester-spandex fabric, as it would have to be cut with enough ease not to be form-fitting, yet it can become very static-y & clingy, which wouldn't do at all.
Hi,
yes, there are gathers below the yoke, front and back. And I am using a polyester/spandex blend for most of the tops. I did make one from "slinky", but my customer did not care for the fabric. She found it to be too heavy on her body (it takes 3 meters of 60" wide fabric to make a top, and that was too much extra weight on her body.
mnp007
Yes, the slinky can be heavy (& maybe too warm, as well). If she's looking for cool summer blouses, the polyester/cotton or plain cotton (more wrinkling, alas) would be best. You could go for lighter weight fashion fabrics for dressier styles where you might want the slimmer-looking front panel style, or embellish the yoke blouses (either front, back or both, with embroidery or appliques) to draw the eye down. Vertical strips may work, too.
thanks for all the suggestions for fabric choices. We are, and have, worked with all those fabrics. What we're trying to come up with now are patterns that will fit larger women. I am working with one pattern that I drafted and refined to fit her, but would like to find other existing patterns, or a website that caters to size 60 women. She realizes that it's difficult to come up with a variety of clothing that will fit, but does not want all her clothing to look the same.
Have you tried the various pattern websites? Check the back of the Threads mags in the ads section - there are some there. (I don't have my mag handy right now, but I'll research them for you when I have a couple of minutes). The suggestions I made were so that you may adapt your present pattern to incorporate those ideas - & they would be for a large woman.
Personally, I think polyester/spandex is awfully hot to wear. I find rayon/spandex more comfortable and it hangs nicely.
Hello, mnp007 and everyone else! Could the following information help you? I am quoting from "Sewing for Plus Sizes" by Barbara Deckert. She lists patterns for plus-sizes: Burda Plus, Fashion Patterns by Coni (502)-204-9362,Unique Ptterns, Paw Prints Patterns Company, Sewgrand (604)-274-3274, and The Sewing Workshop (800)-466-1599. I hope that this helps! If you are doing ANY sewing for plus-sized gals, you absolutely must get Barbra's book. Let us know how things progress!
thank you for those leads. I will check them out, and will also look for Barbara's book.
Another source for design possibilities is plus-size catalogs. Even if the sizes don't go up to 60, the styles are generally carefully thought-out for plus-size women and can be a great source of inspiration.If you find you don't have a wide variety of styles (many of us stick to a favorite few anyway), you can vary the garments with different fabrics, colors, and patterns so that the same pattern can create completely different garments. If it fits and has a beautiful fabric, she will love it.One wardrobe consultant recommended avoiding highly-memorable patterns or colors so that you can wear the same garment more frequently; another recommended using plain colors for garments and adding pattern and variation through accessories. Both recommendations have greatly simplified and improved my work wardrobe; I get variation without needing a lot of different garments.
I was just at a sew/quilt/craft fair in Del Mar, CA where Mary Lou Rankin of Park Bench Patterns gave a workshop. I think her patterns might work well for the large size that you need. She used a lot of rayon type fabrics that drape well.Sewing for size 60 must be quite a challenge.Jgrue
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