What Sewing pattern size do you wear?

If someone asked you what sewing pattern size you wear, you would probably be inclined to tell them to mind their own business. Most of us, if asked this question by anyone other than a loved one, would do anything rather than reveal such intimate details about ourselves. That probably includes age and how much money you spent on fabric this month too!

What do you see when you stand in front of a mirror?

Women have been trained to be self conscious of their size. Most women are quite aware of how they are perceived by the outside world, but that’s not the problem. The problem is how they see their own bodies. As I stand in front of a mirror, I am not celebrating my body. I am criticizing it. My eyes fixate on the body parts I don’t like. My mean inner talk tells me I shouldn’t have eaten those sweet potato fries yesterday (as if that’s going to change my body).

You make choices every morning. If you look in the mirror and decide your body is not good, you’re going to cover it up. So you wear your most comfortable baggy clothes, and out you go. Or you’re standing in a dressing room trying on the latest jean style, and you squeeze into the jeans, and decide the flesh rollover on top doesn’t matter, because at least you’re still able to zip up those pants labeled "8".

Fit and style = Comfort

Clothes have everything to do with how we think of ourselves. All those “what to wear” shows on TV come to this same conclusion: what you wear and how it fits truly matters in how you feel about yourself. You want to be comfortable, fashionable, and proud of what you wear. Fit and style – the two most important elements of any piece of clothing.

This is why sewing my own clothes is important to me. Sewing clothes allows me to make the most of what my body is. Clothes that fit – that I am proud to wear because I made them. I feel magnificent when I’m wearing something that I made myself! I finally convinced myself that pattern size isn’t what matters – what fits me perfectly does.

Does Vanity Have it's grip on you?

Even if you don’t agree with all this – if you start sewing your own clothes, you’re going to be very disappointed if you decide to buy your ready-to-wear sewing pattern size to make your first outfit. Surprise! “Vanity sizing” has its grip on you.

Pattern sizing has absolutely nothing to do with the numbers on the labels of clothing at the mall. But luckily, pattern companies have listed their measurements, and that’s what you should be looking at – the numbers nearest to your measurements. It’s a difficult step to take – from a "perfect 10" at the mall to a "16" in a sewing pattern. Maybe we should start a club of vanity sizing sufferers!

Time to find out your true measurements

Here’s a sewing must: Take your real measurements (Here's how.) Using the metric side of the tape measure might help you write down the real numbers. Next, look for the right body type as well as sewing pattern size. Then buy the right sewing pattern size - usually they are graded to accommodate a large range of measurements, so you can make small adjustments.

All successful garment sewing starts with knowing, and admitting, your true measurements.