Top Tips For Sewing Plus Size Clothes | Make Your Own Plus Size Clothes

#plussizesewing #plussizeclothes #memade
Hey Party People! I have been sewing and making clothes for 25+ years and I've picked up a few tricks over that time on how to sew plus size clothes and get a plus size wardrobe you actually like. Sewing for plus size bodies is a bit different when it comes to fit, fabric, etc.

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Disclosure: I use affiliate links for products I am talking about and linking. This means if you click the link and buy the product I will earn a small commission.

[daniellemcallister]

Question: For future Sewing videos is there anything you want to see me make? No promises but I would love the suggestions.

[spacetree]

“If you’re making pants and they don’t have pockets, don’t waste your time”

This is probably the best advice I’ve ever heard (sewing or otherwise)

[kimberlycohen]

"no butt, lots of gut" finally some representation 🙌 haha thank you this was really informative!

[musthavemoxie]

Love what you said: you’re making luxury clothes for yourself.

Get good materials. Take your time sewing. You’re not necessarily in a rush and you deserve to make something that will last and feel amazing. Great advice!

[brat]

I haven't watched your taking your measurements video yet so maybe you address it there. 1. When taking measurements include your sitting down measurements for plus size ppl. If you are using a non stretch fabric those maybe the measurements you need to go by. Also take in account on how you stand. I am disabled and have to use canes. That makes me lean forward so I have to do the hi/low hem otherwise the back will ride up.

[ajhebard]

there is so much amazing about this video:
1) the sort of low, simmering rage you can feel beneath the words
2) the honesty and unapologetic discussion of body shapes and sizes (couples with #1 at how no one will talk about these things frankly and just pretend that fat people dont exist)
3) the extremely helpful, practical advice (like how you cant make a plus size circle skirt all in one circle - seems obvious when you say it)
4) the sheer amount of knowledge and experience you can tell this person has!!

[TheSongwritingCat]

If you ever have the time for it, I would really appreciate seeing a tutorial of how to draft a pattern from start to finish. I can learn some things from straight size youtubers but there's always a limit.

[jorieshouse]

I really liked the comment, "You are making yourself a luxury item." A reminder that sewing can be self-care.

[MathPiHanan]

those tips are so useful. I just finished sewing a dress and was frustrated because when it’s on, the back is visibly shorter! I had to shorten the front to make it look presentable.
Also, the tip to mix and match sizes on a pattern is gold!!
🌹

[QueenB]

OMG this is the first video that I seen of you and I love it you are strait forwarder and tell it like it is.

[FaerieDust]

I really appreciate this video - the more weight I've gained over the years, the more difficult it's become to find nice, well-fitting clothes. It's even worse now that I'm older and more aware of environmental and ethical concerns in the fashion industry, and I've basically decided to try doing it myself 🤷 it's been fifteen years and almost literally half my current weight ago since I sewed anything (a lime green corduroy blazer, bc that's what fourteen year old me liked 😂).

There's so many great sewing channels around, but there's definitely a lot that I can immediately tell won't work for my much chunkier body. I'll be starting out practicing on some cheap cotton just until I figure out the technicalities and am comfortable spending a bit more on proper fabric - as you say, we use more fabric than thinner people = more money per item = I'll definitely be making mock-ups to start 😂

[llondriga]

I’ve had the idea of making my own capsule wardrobe on the back of my mind for months now. I’m tired of ill fitting clothes that don’t last for more than a season and having to wait for the trends to change to find clothes I actually like. I don’t really know anything about making clothes, so I better start learning haha. Thank you for this video, it’s really helpful to hear from someone who know what is dealing with plus size.

[Kanelle]

I'm a 'pear shaped' person. Personally I call it duck shaped because my feet are really big at the toes and thinner at the heel. Duck just fits better. It makes an awesome running gag for me. I have to walk my niece home and to get a little more exercise I go the long way around the lake. She hates it and asked me why once. I told her I must commune with my people. 8)

[annahibbert]

I’ve been watching for five minutes, and I already love you. I’m making a skirt for the first time, and I can’t wait to get started! Thank you for this video!

[tori]

Watching now because I’m a 21 year old plus size girl who’s never enjoyed shopping or clothing beyond leggings and hoodies. I want to start putting effort into my appearance to feel better about myself but I have a low budget and thrift stores only sell grandma clothes in my size. I’ve never made clothing by hand or even sewn before but I’m an artist of a ton of different mediums so I hope I can catch on. Thank you for the jump start of helpful information!

[kimlightfoot]

I am learning how to draft and make my own patterns. I bought a plus sized pattern for my daughter, and it was woefully underwhelming, and went straight into the bin. lol. I am actually excited for learning to do this for her. She is in a JJJ cup bra size, has a tummy, and a slim back and no tush. Plus, she is going from wearing uniforms, to wearing professional clothes for an office environment very soon, so the push is on, for slimming skirts, and pretty well fitted tops, and especially she wants those coverup cardigans. So the cardigan is where I am starting. I took one of her cardigans, that was too small, although she insisted it fitted. But it was pulling on all the seams in weird ways that ready to wear plus size clothes do when encountering a body shape that has very large busts generally do. I have copied the pattern, and found that by adding four inches all around, two in the front, two in the back center seams, along with changing the width of the drapey portion of the cardigan, I added an extra six inches to that. The pattern piece actually fit better, aside from the sleeve portion. I had to add an extra two inches to the sleeve opening itself. I have never done this before. I am a beginner at patterns in general, having only made a few things for myself over the years, transferring skills from quilting and crafting, is very different than drafting patterns. But I am armed with a desire to see my daughter look AMAZING, and the drive to make it happen. happy to find your channel!!

[k.-tv]

I love this video! I’ve been searching far and wide (accidental but appropriate pun) for plus size sewing and I’m excited to make my way through your past videos! And await future ones!

[cantankeroushousewife]

I know this is an older video, I hope you are well. Anyway, one piece of advice I was told was get an old sheet and make the pattern up and wear it noting adjustments and fit of size while doing things around the house to see where it might cause issues with movement. might take a little extra time but then you have notes etc, and if it is a pattern you are reusing for a basic wardrobe...might be worth the time.

[cheryfajamal]

Hilarious! I love your video. I suck at sewing, but love to make my own clothes, my own style. So, even though my sewing machine makes me crazy, I still keep slamming my head against that stone wall.

Being a plus sized, diabetic-buddah-belly-mommy, NOTHING FITS! Squared off mu-mus are great for bed or flopping around the house doing the dishes or laundry, but I want long, flowing, pretty, lacy, old fashioned dresses and tops, circle skirts and plaza pants. Bohemian, funky, originals. Middle ages meets comfort and roomy modern.

I really hope I can learn how to adjust plus sized patterns to fit my body, and still look professional; draping well, flowing, and beautifying my beautiful me. I really want to learn how to make little personalized adjustments to bought patterns, mixing and matching different pattern pieces (like sleeves or collars), etc, adding pieces to the pattern to broaden coverage here and there...

I will enjoy watching your videos, Insha'Allah (God willing), and learn lots of tips and tricks. Keep up the fabulous videos.

We need a sewing revolution!!! Plus sized women need dignity in fashion, not just cookie cutter clothes with extra seam allowance. (Who designs this stuff???) Plus sized women need draping, longer pieces to look elegant, not stuffed. Who decided butt crack was a fashion statement?

Crop tops and leggings just won't cut it for older women. We need elegance in our comfortable daily wear. We need to dignify our larger bodies with beautiful, flowing fabrics, not exaggerate every fold and pocket of fat.

Think overweight grandmothers who don't want to go clubbing, who don't care what men think, who just want to be comfortable, but beautiful, all day long, at home, at work and at the grocery store.

[barbarakessler]

You my dear are beautiful! You're so real and straightforward, a breath of fresh air to plus sized seamstresses everywhere. Just subscribed and looking forward to watching more of your videos.