Its all true, the boogie girl is real, and you've found her. She knits, sews, spins, does pottery and writes it all down in this blog.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Get Real
There is one thing I forgot to mention in yesterday's post or on the reconstruction page. If you are going to make clothing for yourself the most important thing isn't good scissors or lots of sewing knowledge. The most important thing is to "Get Real" about your size. Once you jump that hurdle, you'll make beautiful clothing.
If you make sweaters that fit you probably already figured this out. I've been sewing clothing for myself, longer than knitting them, so my realization came a few years back when looking at the patterns in a store. I've been sewing for a long time and it still it took me a while to drop the size standards and learn my measurements. My current measurements. They do fluctuate with every 10 lbs or 5 years. First and foremost, pattern sizes run differently than sizes from retail stores. I was stuck on that one number I was used to seeing inside my retail clothing. For a while I made things that didn't fit well and was disappointed in my lack of abilities. Or at least I thought it was my lack of ability.
I'm not a small or a medium or a large top. I am a 36/38 inch chest top. I needed to forget the designations I was used to and really learn my size. I think that is the key thing to making your own clothing weather it's knit, crocheted or sewn. Once I got that down, I had an easier time making clothes taylored to my body. The clothes look good too, not frumpy or too tight. Going by MY measurements, I can make clothes that make me look even better.
If you're picking up a pattern for a template or because you want to make something for yourself, remember, no one knows the size designation except for you. You can make your own tag for your item and call your size 38 chest an "XS" if it makes you feel good. Just make sure to measure yourself and make the size that fits. You'll be happier with what you create, I know I have been.