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Posted on: 9/1/08 2:07 PM ET
OK, in Ody's post about fitting, she mentions taking your hip measurement sitting down. This is the second time I've heard this advice in about 4 days. How the heck do I do that!!!
I'm sitting on the generously sized backside I want to measure. The closest I can figure is the I can place the tape measure across my backside at the widest part when standing and then sit and bring it up at an angle around my lap, below my stomach.
I ask because I'm struggling through the whole pants fitting thing. I am plus sized but it is all in the back. My stomach is pretty flat (by comparison). But the shelf in the back is ginormous.

Thanks, in advance
Kathryn
I'm sitting on the generously sized backside I want to measure. The closest I can figure is the I can place the tape measure across my backside at the widest part when standing and then sit and bring it up at an angle around my lap, below my stomach.
I ask because I'm struggling through the whole pants fitting thing. I am plus sized but it is all in the back. My stomach is pretty flat (by comparison). But the shelf in the back is ginormous.


Thanks, in advance
Kathryn
Posted on: 9/1/08 2:15 PM ET
In reply to Doctor Sister
You've described the only method I know of for taking this brutal measurement. 
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“Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.” -Robert Heinlein and Ann's father. Thanks for the reminder, Ann.
Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handbasket?
Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handbasket?
Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Posted on: 9/1/08 3:34 PM ET
In reply to Doctor Sister
Brutal is a basic description of this vanity crushing measurement. At least you are not one of us that could wear your pants backwards and they would fit.
Peggy Sagers explains that you hold the tape loosely and as you sit, you let it slide as you sit down. Now, if there is a large desparity between the front and the back, I might hold the tape on your sides where your seam should go and then sit down and let it slide and compare the measurements to the pattern.
Now PS does say that what you describe is just a circumfrance issue and it does not matter which is bigger. I don't always agree with Peggy. You might want to take the whole measurement sitting down and then use that pattern for the back with that measurement, and the next smaller size for the front. Just an idea bc I (as do a lot of us) mix around with sizes.
No pattern is probably going to fit you out of the package. You need a halfway decent pair to get on your body that you can start making adjustments to. Once again, make the pants out of either real muslin, or crappy material you won't have to grieve when you have to slash and chop, change darts. Also know that this can be a long process, but you are going to end up with pants that fit at some point. Heidi Cooper from my tagline did as well. You can always take those side seams in, but if you make the pants to small, you have to add fabric to the sides. You want them to be comfortable to sit down in as well, besides looking good walking around.
One more thought I just had. One of the pants classes I took with OP Gal, or Sondra, was Cynthia Guffey's. She is not a plus size person, but in her classes I noticed that she gave the plus size women particular attention. That is bc her sister is very plus and she fits her clothes for her. She knows how we feel and how hard it is to get RTW to look good. In her class I saw many plus (and non-plus) women visually have pounds taken off bc their pants now fit. None of us looked like tall svelte super models in our pants, but having fitted pants gave us all an element of class, besides well fitted pants just feel great.
This is to encourage you to keep on going! I am still working on my pants and tweaking and sewing. Great pants won't make you look skinny, but at least you will look like you paid a lot for them. Good luck and post some pictures.
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Peggy Sagers explains that you hold the tape loosely and as you sit, you let it slide as you sit down. Now, if there is a large desparity between the front and the back, I might hold the tape on your sides where your seam should go and then sit down and let it slide and compare the measurements to the pattern.
Now PS does say that what you describe is just a circumfrance issue and it does not matter which is bigger. I don't always agree with Peggy. You might want to take the whole measurement sitting down and then use that pattern for the back with that measurement, and the next smaller size for the front. Just an idea bc I (as do a lot of us) mix around with sizes.
No pattern is probably going to fit you out of the package. You need a halfway decent pair to get on your body that you can start making adjustments to. Once again, make the pants out of either real muslin, or crappy material you won't have to grieve when you have to slash and chop, change darts. Also know that this can be a long process, but you are going to end up with pants that fit at some point. Heidi Cooper from my tagline did as well. You can always take those side seams in, but if you make the pants to small, you have to add fabric to the sides. You want them to be comfortable to sit down in as well, besides looking good walking around.
One more thought I just had. One of the pants classes I took with OP Gal, or Sondra, was Cynthia Guffey's. She is not a plus size person, but in her classes I noticed that she gave the plus size women particular attention. That is bc her sister is very plus and she fits her clothes for her. She knows how we feel and how hard it is to get RTW to look good. In her class I saw many plus (and non-plus) women visually have pounds taken off bc their pants now fit. None of us looked like tall svelte super models in our pants, but having fitted pants gave us all an element of class, besides well fitted pants just feel great.
This is to encourage you to keep on going! I am still working on my pants and tweaking and sewing. Great pants won't make you look skinny, but at least you will look like you paid a lot for them. Good luck and post some pictures.

------
"Sewing should be fun; make it that way!" Margaret Islander
Flying through life by the seat of my pants and hoping I get my crotch curve right.
"No humiliation is too great for a well fitting pair of pants!" Heidi Cooper
J6500P,
J1600P
J3160DC
J350E
JCP1000
Babylock Enlighten serger
My grandmother's Feather Weight
Flying through life by the seat of my pants and hoping I get my crotch curve right.
"No humiliation is too great for a well fitting pair of pants!" Heidi Cooper
J6500P,
J1600P
J3160DC
J350E
JCP1000
Babylock Enlighten serger
My grandmother's Feather Weight
Posted on: 9/1/08 3:49 PM ET
In reply to Ody
So, Ody, I guess this means I should drag out Cynthia Guffey's pants fitting book and actually use it? And I'm horrified enough at my standing hip measurement. It'll take a few glasses of wine before I'm ready to try the sitting one! 
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Patti
R-r-r-ripping my way to fitting success
R-r-r-ripping my way to fitting success
Posted on: 9/1/08 4:41 PM ET
In reply to Patti B
Patti, when I take a measurement that I really don't want to know, I take it in metric. Those metric numbers mean nothing to me as I have no reference point. However, I can use them instead of the imperial measure easily enough.
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Visit my blog at http://sewingsaga.blogspot.com
If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well;
and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well;
and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
Posted on: 9/1/08 6:22 PM ET
In reply to Sherril Miller
Sherril, what a devious and clever idea! I'll have to try that!
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Patti
R-r-r-ripping my way to fitting success
R-r-r-ripping my way to fitting success
Posted on: 9/1/08 6:38 PM ET
And to add to the odious sitting measurement, I also take my abdomen measurement also sitting and use the bigger of the two measurements...I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised that the sitting measurement is a little "fuller"
If I start with the truest set of measurements, I end up with better fitting garments.
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If I start with the truest set of measurements, I end up with better fitting garments.------
Carolyn
My blog: http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.com/
"I've always maintained that freedom of speech does not mean freedom from responsibility. Choose your words carefully ~ Susan”
My blog: http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.com/
"I've always maintained that freedom of speech does not mean freedom from responsibility. Choose your words carefully ~ Susan”
Re: How do you take a sitting hip measure (posted on 9/1/08 6:41 PM ET)
Too much honesty for me to stomach...so to speak. Maybe I could use unmarked ribbon and just make little marks on it. I don't want to know the numbers! When they insisted on weighing and measuring me at the gym, I averted my eyes and told them to write it all down without telling me the bad news.
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------
“Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.” -Robert Heinlein and Ann's father. Thanks for the reminder, Ann.
Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handbasket?
Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handbasket?
Matthew 25:40 (New International Version)
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Posted on: 9/1/08 10:47 PM ET
In reply to Sherril Miller
Metric measurements are terrific for us here in the U.S.A. Sherril is right, the numbers mean nothing to people and it makes the math so much easier! Try dividing 2 5/8 inches by 2 versus 6.6 cm by 2. I'm trying to switch all my thinking to metric, as it's so much better!
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Suo ergo maledicto
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. - Steve Jobs
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. - Steve Jobs
Posted on: 9/2/08 9:43 AM ET
In reply to Luckylibbet
Wow! Thanks so much. You guys are just terrific. Sometimes on PR I feel like there this huge brain trust that knows everything.
Thanks for sharing, until a week ago I didn't even know about a sitting measurement. And such a good idea to use the metric, much less psychic trauma.
Thanks, again, to Ody for starting me on the path and everyone for sharing. I'm truly grateful.
Thanks for sharing, until a week ago I didn't even know about a sitting measurement. And such a good idea to use the metric, much less psychic trauma.
Thanks, again, to Ody for starting me on the path and everyone for sharing. I'm truly grateful.
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