I recently had a query from a reader that I thought was super important to address: where can we buy patterns if it looks like the "big 4" companies aren't releasing new patterns for the 14+ woman? Instead of looking forward, I look back for new styles. You might not be able to find a dress in your preferred style in current patterns, but you might be able to find it if you go vintage. If you can't get new patterns you want, and you don't know how to draft, this is a great option!
Check out these sources that I use for vintage patterns in plus sizes:
Decades of Style Pattern Company: Bust sizes through 46" are available on this site.
LanetzLiving.net: Search for vintage patterns up to a size 50" bust
EvaDress.com: Vintage patterns in bust sizes 44", 46", 48"
Also, here are a couple additional contemporary sources: FashionPatterns.com and Burda Style
--Update--
Reader "Carole" sent the following links to the big 4 pattern companies with new patterns out. She writes "I believe each of these companies are bringing out new patterns with each new season. I just bought several new ones from these groups, and each was new from that brand's Fall Collection." Good luck, ladies!
Butterick Connie Crawford patterns (bust 68")
Vogue's Today's Fit Sandra Betzina patterns to size "J" (bust 55")
McCall's Plus Patterns to size 24 (bust 46")
Simplicity Khaliah Ali patterns to size 28
--Update II-- Check out Kwik Sew as well! This was discovered by the reader who sent the question, and I love the hoodie jacket with the short sleeves (2865).
Comments
I sell sewing patterns and my artfire shop has lots of patterns for the woman of ample proportions. I am a firm believer that big can be beautiful, that one does not have to be a pencil to look good, and a woman can dress with pride at any size. Check it out.
Thanks.
Butterick now carries a line by Connie Crawford, which are apparently sized like retail. That line goes up to a 6X, or size 44 retail. The measurements on size 6X are for Bust 68″, waist 58″, and hips 76″.
Vogue now has a line by Sandra Betzina, called “Today’s Fit”, which goes up to 55″ bust.
In the Big4, Simplicity has Khaliah Ali patterns, which run to size 28, or 50″ bust.
McCalls has plus sizing that runs to size 24, or 46″ bust.
I think the pattern companies are currently offering far, far more for the extended sizes than they have ever done before. The extended size patterns now being offered are stylish, and do NOT assume that a larger lady prefers to dress in a tent. Kudos to the Big4 for their realization that we ladies want to look our best, no matter our clothing size!!!
Great info! I would love to get a list of all the 2010 patterns from the Big 4 to streamline our shopping process. I also believe that pattern styles are getting more varied for plus, but it is frustrating if they are not kept fresh and seasonal!
I think these links should go directly to all of the current plus-sized patterns that I mentioned earlier. (I hope that links are not edited out of our comments, so I’ll just cross my fingers that this will work.) I believe each of these companies are bringing out new patterns with each new season. I just bought several new ones from these groups, and each was new from that brand’s Fall Collection. (Disclaimer: I am not affiliated in any way with any of these companies; I just like to look my best and want to share the info with other ladies who have the same goal. *smiles*)
Butterick Connie Crawford patterns (bust 68″):
http://tinyurl.com/26zzz4c
Vogue’s Today’s Fit Sandra Betzina patterns to size “J” (bust 55″):
http://tinyurl.com/2dtz88w
McCall’s plus sized patterns to size 24 (bust 46″):
http://tinyurl.com/23esalx
Simplicity Khaliah Ali patterns to size 28:
http://www.simplicity.com/c-385-khaliah-ali.aspx
I hope this info helps some of the other lushly proportioned divas out there to create a few lovely garments! It absolutely helps my wardrobe to sew some of my pieces.
This comment was in spam, but I rescued it!
Maybe I was the number 5 spam comment, ha! Sorry, didn’t mean to leave something that would get marked spam! I did want to give my links again just in case my original comment got lost in cyberspace though. I sew plus size and I LOVE Ottobre Woman magazine:
http://www.ottobrewoman.com/index_en.html
It features most patterns up to European size 52 (about a bust size 48-49″).
I also use Burda Style magazine (NOT the US Burdastyle website, which is different, more on that in a sec). Burda recently discontinued their English website, but they still publish an English edition of their magazine. Here’s the site (it’s in German):
http://www.burdastyle.de/
They have plus patterns in every issue up to size 52 (bust 48-1/4″ ). It’s a monthly magazine, 4-6 plus size patterns in each issue = lots of choices! They used to do 2 additional Plus only issues each year of all new designs. This year unfortunately they have made the Plus issues into a compilation of what was already in the monthly mags.
Burda is pretty fashion forward too. What I see in Burda magazine one year I’ll see in a Big 4 pattern two years down the road. The Burda Style website was not originally affiliated with the magazine at all. It was a DIY site for open source pattern sharing. Designers of all skill levels shared their pattern designs for free (to download), and the BS community shared garment photos, etc. After the English Burda magazine website was discontinued, the US Burdastyle site began carrying some of the magazine patterns as a download for a fee. Most are $5.99.
I agree that Burda is way, way ahead of the game. I love the shared, free patterns between users as well as the purchased ones. I am impressed that you venture onto the German site, because that can be confusing for many readers/viewers. Burda is amazing, and I will be highlighting your comments in an additional post.
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