Why are all sewing patterns for younger women?

DD, size 20, makes a lot of her clothes. She has a marvellous book that explains how to alter clothes to fit your shape. She also bought a second hand dressmakers dummy for when she makes clothes for her niece.

She got onto a website that discussed how to adjust a standard dummy to your own shape. Hints like that when the waist is too small, the extra width is mainly needed at the front because expanding waists usually mean expanding tummies and discussed stapling padding onto the stomach of the dummy,also putting one of your bras on it and then filling the bra with wadding to match your bra size.

This is so true.

I do pattern cutting classes and have made patterns from some of my favourite garments without taking them apart.

1974cookie - try your local college. If it has a dressmaking course or something similar, the students might appreciate the chance to do some real life work (& earn some money) and would easily be able to replicate your dress.

Is there an evening class in your area for dressmaking? They usually do pattern making so you design and make your own patterns to suit yourself, size, styles you like etc.
Financially a bit of a hit at the start but MUCH cheaper and less frustrating in the long run.
Alternatively research local dressmakers - they do still exist and will make you a dress that fits well and suits you for not much more than the cost of a decent dress these days.

Thanks maisiegreen !

I have a bright red and white polka dot summer dress with a matching red long sleeved shrug that I bought from M+S several years ago ( in the days when they used to make fabulous clothes ).
It is the only outfit that even after all of these years, when I put it on, it makes me feel like a million dollars. It is timeless and flattering.
I wish that I could buy a pattern of this outfit and have a few more made in various colours, but no such pattern exists.?
What I need is someone who can replicate it without a pattern.
I know that it is very much a long shot, in fact, probably impossible, but:
If any of you know of such a Miracle worker, Genius, please could you let me know?
?

get there quick lew the lease runs out in May and it's closing. Apparently Calico in Bedminster is now stocking dress fabric as well as furnishing fabrics.

maisiegreen Thank you for posting about Sewn in Bristol. I did not know that store. I had only been to Fabric Land... so this is a good find!

I couldn't agree more. Fashion itself is targeted at the young. Look at most of the fashion pages in the Sunday supplements - full of expensive rubbish that is so laughable only a fashion victim would consider it.
I have made several summer dresses with Burda style 7093 which goes up to size 22. Picture on the front of the pack has a silly cape which I ignored. The main drawback is that it is sleeveless.
I think I look reasonably ok in it even though my body looks like a sack of potatoes.

Yes Yorkshiregel I would love to know where they get their dresses.

Ebay sell patterns in larger sizes. I'm unsure of the ranges though. I bought a pack of 4 patterns (tops ) for £6 up to size 24. Must say I haven't tried them yet as I'm just learning and not there yet!

There are a few specialist monthly magazines now in the shops and those patterns quite often go up to size 20 (if buying one though do check as sometimes they only go up to 14). Ignore the age of the model and look at the style you will find that most will suit you.

Have you noticed the weather girls' and newsreader girls' dresses? They all seem to be the same pattern too with little changes here and there.

My MIL's sister used to make all my MIL's clothes for her. She was a teacher at the local comprehensive and they had a sewing class once a week. MIL went for the same pattern with subtle changes and different materials. She always looked very smart. I learnt to sew bra's at my school, such a faff. I have never tried since. Used to make all the clothes for my boys until they were about 9yrs old. They suddenly wanted shop bought stuff so I stopped and only now fix things on my sewing machine.

I agree, and you could say the same thing about clothes in general. All designed for 20 somethings, no accounting for the older woman at all.

Th great thing about making your own garments is you can make them to fit, have what length you want, type of neckline, sleeves or not or whatever. Its not just for younger women!

I subscribe to Prima magazine every month thet send free patterns to go with outfits in the magazine. The patterns go to size 20.If you buy one issue at the shop you can send for a pattern.

Try Pinterest too. Lots of sewing info on there.

I am just getting back into sewing after a long break away from my sewing machine, I have found a site called Sewing in the Uk, it's full of like minded dressmakers who give lots of tips and put photos of their finished garments on and they are all different sized women,
I think one of the reasons I gave up sewing was that I couldn't find patterns to suit me , also being somewhat lumpier and older, i was never really happy with my garment and didn't wear it, Hopefully this time and wi th the help of our wonderful local sewing cafe staff ,my garments will turn out well , otherwise it's back to making placemats, tea cosies etc !!!!? Good luck with your sewing

I agree HildaW. The Oxford Street Branch used to have almost the whole of the ground floor for haberdashery, now it is a tiny area in the basement. The department at Watford seems to get smaller and less interesting every time I go. They do have some good sales of wool every so often so I still pop in when I go that way.

Yes, John Lewis fabric and haberdashery is not what it was.

went to John Lewis today - was shocked to see that they only stock Vogue and one more (Simplicity I think) patterns.
However after that went to a lovely independent shop in Bristol (Sewn) and the owner told me that, if you buy a pattern online, you can get it printed off really cheaply at print shops on large sheets (i.e. no sticking together).

The pattern I had was similar to this:
www.silverstah.com/2014/12/04/vintage-vogue-2569-a-1943-wool-dress/
You can see the cut and seaming are very complicated.

I so often wish I could get back to making my own clothes and the sewing machines look great nowadays.
I could go as far as cutting them out but to see if I am running in a straight line would be now too strainful. So I now get a lot of my clothes fron charity shops, some skirts have been fantastic, but thanks for the website
Cath