Hm. I sat looking at the Simplicity pattern which was adorable. I knew I had some GREAT, hard to find and expensive Heather Ross Munki Munki fabric waiting to be made into something fabulous. Flipping the pattern over, I checked out which pattern I should purchase and cut out. I stopped short. According to my measurements, I should purchase a size 18. 18? Are you KIDDING ME? There's nothing wrong with 18, 22, etc, but I wear a 12 in 'real life'.
Pffft.
I figured I knew better than these sometimes out of date pattern companies and bought the 12. Knowing nothing of FBA (Full Bust Adjustment), and feeling too much of a time crunch to waste time with a muslin, let's just say this item of clothing has never been worn. It sits in my closet as a reminder of my vanity and pride -- which go beforeth a fall or something.
Now I know better. When you find a new pattern I recommend:
- Make a muslin (a muslin is like a rough draft, you use muslin or gingham fabrics to figure out if it fits you, and to make adjustments).
- Measure yourself exactly as they tell you and use those measurements to purchase the pattern.
- Make the FBA. I'm a D/DD, so the girls need some room to move and breathe.
- You can always slap in whatever size you want into your garment!
As the mother of three girls I take raising them to feel good about themselves seriously. I guess I missed it, but February 22 was "Be Kind to your Body" day. I was taking care of myself, having gotten the stomach flu on the 21st (my birthday of all things). I napped a lot ;).
Glamour Magazine has a lot to say about beauty -- at least in this article. One of the online groups I belong to did a write up about the article. I think it's worth a read, for women, men and those with or without children.
There are more articles here, to make peace with ourselves. Now perhaps I'll go cut out that top in my actual size, not my fantasy size!
