Date: 11/8/09 2:56 AM

After 20 years, I'm going back to school and I almost literally have nothing to wear. I mostly have old ratty t-shirts that are giving up the ghost and sweats. I used to have nice clothes but over the years, I've fallen into SAHM complex.... plus, I'm plus sized and it's hard to find things in my hip size.
Any suggestions? I've got about 2 months and a fairly supportive husband for sewing stuff or should I just ask for some things for xmas? I have a really hard time pants Should I concentrate on that? I've got the pattern to Connie Crawford's Butterick jeans all cut out and ready to go. I'm just trying to budget in the fabic. y'know?
Panicing,
Sabrina

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Reply to Sabrina
Date: 11/8/09 3:30 AM

Sabrina,

Congratulations on returning to school! What a great adventure!

Now, for the wardrobe part. You will need pants, tops and jackets. It's worth your time and energy to perfect a pants pattern because pants can be made in a couple of hours once you have the fitting problems sorted out. I'd go ahead with the Butterick jeans but pay more attention to the fit, rather than worrying too much about the styling details. Get that TNT pattern done and you'll be ready to churn out a pair of pants on demand.

In the same way, find a top pattern that you can develop into TNT. I'd recommend Vogue 8151. It's been reviewed a lot, fits plus sizes, and has Sandra's excellent instructions.

Now, you need a jacket. Again, I'd try SB's patterns. Pick one that appeals to you, Vogue 7976 is an option, ditto Vogue 2949. Depending on your shape, this one could work, too, although I wouldn't make it in denim. One piece of denim worn at a time is enough. Wool would be lovely for winter.

Now, with three TNT's in your arsenal you're prepared for almost any occasion. If you need skirts for any reason, SB had several to pick from and her sizing is plus-size friendly.

Hope this works and let us know what you decide. My choices are based on what has worked best for me in the past, and SB patterns have been great successes in my wardobe. I take a G or an H and they fit me with minimal alterations. I hope they work for you. Best of luck returning to school, and enjoy the preparations.

ETA: Sandra's patterns go up to a 57" hip.



Sue
-- Edited on 11/8/09 3:38 AM --

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Date: 11/8/09 11:28 AM

Sue hit this nail on the head! She made some great recommendations on patterns and a plan.

The only thing I would add as a suggestion is that as you sew, you try to do so with the concept of the "endless combination" in mind. Since I am quick posting, I can't put the link in, but here's the url that gets you to the list of topics about EC. Essentially, you make one garment and the second one needs to go with the first. The third only need to work with either the first or second and so on. If you are doing this, you will find that most of your pieces will work with one another extending your wardrobe. My suggestion would be to mix it up a bit and have a couple simple jackets, a few pairs of slacks and several tops that all coordinate. You do not need to blend in with what the typicaly college age student is wearing. You are most likely in your 30s and it is possible to dress nicely and not look matronly.

http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/sewingclasses/search.pl

Go for it and have fun!

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"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." Anais Nin

"Attitude is the difference between an adventure and an ordeal." unknown

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Reply to Sabrina
Date: 11/8/09 2:18 PM

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-- Edited on 7/7/10 7:51 AM --

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From what others have said, the nasty message came from Fitting Woes, NOT Misc Hot Topics or the Civility thread.

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Reply to Sabrina
Date: 11/8/09 3:20 PM

I remember thinking this way when I started back to school, what the people wear to class varies widely depending on the school, the major and the time of the class. One thing constant is that what people wear to class tends to go down hill over the course of the semester. No matter how well everyone spruces up for the first couple weeks of class, by the time you get to finals week people will be there in sweat pants, ratty old Tshirts, poney tails and most of the girls can't even remember where they put their make-up.
I second the notion of buying some nice, durable RTW pants/jeans. Knock out some nice, comfortable shirts and maybe a jacket (some classes will be hot, others cold). My strongest suggestion is for things with longevity. I worked full time, and schooled 3 semesters a year so I got in about 8 weeks of sewing/sleeping/vacation a year.

Please share what you are studying and where. Kudos on the courage and stamina, we are pulling for you!

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http://beccabeckstuff.blogspot.com/

"Clothes do not exist to humiliate their owners. Please do not force garments into performing psychological tasks for which they are not designed." Tim Gunn, A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style

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Date: 11/8/09 4:04 PM

Before you select clothing, a few questions to decide what you will need. ( I work at a university )
What type of school? vocational, trade, college, university
Where is the school? climate will dictate your choices
Are you driving, walking or taking public transit to school? (outer clothing and footwear)
What program or courses are you taking? do they have a dress code? many lab classes do
Campus? how many buildings to walk between for classes? (footwear)
Newer or older buildings? temperature inside can differ inside buildings and between classrooms/labs (layer your clothing)

If you can, visit the school during school hours and just see what others in your age group and program are wearing.

Clothing is a personal choice and you have to take your personality and style into consideration. What look do you want to project?
I have seen everything from pj bottoms with flipflops (just got out of bed look) to micro minis with 4 inch heels (look at me, I want attention look). Most older students (30+) here wear jeans, sweatshirts, hoodies, sneakers in winter and jeans, casual shirts, sneakers in spring/fall, shorts, shirts and sandals in summer.

Good luck with school and enjoy.

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Reply to Re Becca
Date: 11/8/09 6:08 PM

Quote: Re Becca

Please share what you are studying and where. Kudos on the courage and stamina, we are pulling for you!

Rebecca,
I'm starting kind of a pre-Pharmacy, getting-all-the-prereqs-done at the Community college before I transfer to the much more expensive state college thing....If I don't get accepted to the actual pharmacy school in a couple years, I can roll my classes so far into a chem degree.
I've wanted to go to this program for several years but We are stuck here in SWMO(Springfield area) until this house falls down around us. There was no way I could uproot the family to run off to KCMU....But they are going to expand the satellite program to include MSU-Spfld next year. Sooo I took it as a sign from Somebody and printed out the page listing the equivilants classes from the community college that they accept and went to talk to an advisor. Got a little off track when we got a flu-like illness around Halloween. I should be set to get my classes next Thurday tho'.
I'm planning on just taking it one semester at a time because I start to freak when I think that i'm embarking on a 6 year program.....

Sabrina

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Reply to andrea.m
Date: 11/8/09 6:41 PM

Quote: andrea.m

Before you select clothing, a few questions to decide what you will need. ( I work at a university ) What type of school? vocational, trade, college, university Where is the school? climate will dictate your choices Are you driving, walking or taking public transit to school? (outer clothing and footwear) What program or courses are you taking? do they have a dress code? many lab classes do Campus? how many buildings to walk between for classes? (footwear) Newer or older buildings? temperature inside can differ inside buildings and between classrooms/labs (layer your clothing) If you can, visit the school during school hours and just see what others in your age group and program are wearing. Clothing is a personal choice and you have to take your personality and style into consideration. What look do you want to project? I have seen everything from pj bottoms with flipflops (just got out of bed look) to micro minis with 4 inch heels (look at me, I want attention look). Most older students (30+) here wear jeans, sweatshirts, hoodies, sneakers in winter and jeans, casual shirts, sneakers in spring/fall, shorts, shirts and sandals in summer. Good luck with school and enjoy.

Andrea-
It's a vocational school that grew up to be an accredited community college in SWMO. Hot summers and coldish winters....
I hopefully will be driving my car there. If we had a better PT system, I might try to go that route because parking is terrible!lol....
No dress code yet and tennis shoes or boots should do fine.
I'm happiest with button down shirts and vests or poet shirts with corsets(or vests) and jeans. Or polo shirts...LOL,what can I say, I was a teen in the late in the '80's And I'm in the SCA....There are a few long skirts I'd like to get made but I think pants would be better in a school enviroment. I know I'm going to have to come up with a new black cardigan as I chill easily. My old one is 10yo and pretty ratty
All in all, I'd say business casual should do fine. Even most of the teachers don't dress up.

Sabrina

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Reply to Sabrina
Date: 11/8/09 6:42 PM

Quote:

I start to freak when I think that i'm embarking on a 6 year program

Makes me remember a great rhetorical question from an advice column: How old will you be in 6 years if you DON'T go to school?

JEF

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Date: 11/8/09 7:09 PM

LOL...
6 years older and even less likely to go.....

I turn 40 in Feb. so it feels like a now or never deal. I've been feeling that way about a lot of stuff lately and now that we have a house, I'm trying to get some stuff dealt with.
Sabrina

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