Just Stuff

What’s My Size?

8 Comments

Meridian, Idaho

I’m sewing a shirt for myself, and it’s been at least a decade since I’ve sewn clothing.

I’d rather buy clothing already made, but I’m having a hard time finding summer shirts that are made from a fabric that doesn’t contain rayon, polyester, or some other fabric that doesn’t breathe and help keep me cool. So I bought some 100% cotton and a pattern.

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All the patterns I looked at contain multiple sizes, from 6 through 16. And that’s a good thing because I was not really sure what size I needed.

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I’m not a clothes horse and HATE shopping, so I buy most of my clothes at Walmart.

I have always suspected that Walmart uses a different ruler to measure their sizes than other stores.

I’ve almost finished sewing my shirt and tried it on last night. It’s a little snug, and according to the pattern it’s FOUR sizes LARGER than the last shirt I bought at Walmart.

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I think Walmart and other stores want their shoppers to think they are not as fat as they are.  So we feel good thinking that we’re “only a size 12” when really we’re a size 16.

The pattern company I bought is called New Look, but they aren’t using new sizing.  🙂

8 thoughts on “What’s My Size?”

  2. From the article:

    In 2003, a study that measured over 1,000 pairs of women’s pants found that pants from more expensive brands tended to be smaller than those from cheaper brands with the same nominal size.

    So I guess that means that the pants I buy at Walmart are the largest for their “size” because they are so cheaply priced. 🙂

    I didn’t know it was called vanity sizing, and now my vanity has been bruised…

  3. Giggle. I hate shopping for clothes, too. I can’t sew worth beans either because I am too impatient to sew and cut straight. Also, patterns baffle me. I think I sew like Lucy in the “I Love Lucy” episode where she tries to make her own clothes and fix her own hair…

  4. Also, the sizes never mention shoulders. I have linebacker shoulders, and always needed a larger size even when I weighed 20 pounds or more less….

    1. I had no idea about your shoulders, Joanne. Do you want the shoulder pads styles of the 70’s to come back? I always ripped the pads out and everyone commented how good they looked even though I wasn’t wearing any. 😉

  6. OK, Joanne, I’m showing my anal side now. I have to respond to every comment on my post. So here’s my reply to your “Giggle.” Hee hee…

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