Replies

1. 
   carolfresia | Sep 24, 2004 08:58pm | #1

   Hi, Cheryl,

   We don't cover topics as specialized as that, usually, I'm afraid--unless we discover that a big proportion of our readers are interested! However, I know that there are people who sew equestrian clothing, and there's a pattern line (Suitability) that's devoted to riding clothes (although I don't know if it's English or Western).

   Carol

2. 
   kayl | Sep 27, 2004 05:41am | #2

   You might want to go back to the Threads homepage and click on the

   link for The Creative Machine (just above or below the "gatherings"

   link. I believe this week's guest host has expertise in your area.

   Kay

3. 
   Barbaran8 | Sep 28, 2004 08:59pm | #3

   there are also the Jean Hardy patterns. And there's an early issue of Threads that has an article on... maybe Charles somebody or other??? The king of cowboy or western wear.... shows a bunch of western jackets - each one done representing a different state, perhaps for the bicenntennial? Detailed descriptions of how they do their embroidery on the jackets. Also at the sewing expo in Puyallup last year, there was a company there that sold all the accessories for sewing Western wear - they had horsehair tassels and rhinestone studded zippers - all kinds of stuff.

4. 
   anneelsberry | Sep 29, 2004 12:05am | #4

   This site seems to have a lot of different patterns for riders and some good information:  http://www.suitability.com

5. 
   foxfyreutk | Sep 29, 2004 07:33pm | #5

   I hesitate to suggest the mundane, BUT I grew up with a family of riders and sewers. The oldest daughter has won national awards for her sewing and she has made the Western riding wear for her entire family (when her kids were younger, that included 5 adults men and women and 4 children, ). She never used anything except McCalls, Simplicity, and Butterick and, possibly a very few Vogue, patterns and her own creative skills. I've known her to go to large Western wear stores with sketch pad and camera to take pictures of general wear and sketch details. While I won't mention which contest and what state, she won so many first place awards at a state fair, she was barred for life from ever again entering that particular contest!! She is truly a marvel.

   While we can't all be like HER, I have sewn Western shirts from the basic BIG three pattern companies. The first couple were a bit of a challenge, but I learned from my mistakes and my second husband, who when I met him, wore ONLY tailored shirts from his favorite maker in London, wore almost exclusively the Western gear I made him the last few years of his life. These are FUN and you can get totally outrageous with fabrics and embellishments. You don't have to buy EXCLUSIVE and EXPENSIVE patterns; you can use the old standards, just apply good technique and lots of imagination! Marlene

6. 
   Libby86 | Oct 05, 2004 03:25am | #6

   I sew a great deal for my daughter who shows quarter horses.  The cost of show clothes is high so it makes the sport a little bit more affordable.

   I have found the  suitability patterns for the upper body need a lot of alteration to be usable.  I have had better success altering a "regular" pattern (using various articles from Threads to help me!).  I have settled on a basic vest, turtle neck, and (still in the works) blouse/cowboy shirt.

   The chaps patterns have worked out better--I have made three pairs using the Suitability pattern.

   The greater challenge is finding fabric.

7. 
   user-240725 | Oct 10, 2004 02:27am | #7

   I have bought fabrics and patterns for other things from a company in Canada called Textile Outfitters.  You can look at their website at justmakeit.com.  I am looking at an old catalogue right now and they have lots of horse and rider patterns.