The Great British Sewing Bee

I love The Great British Sewing Bee. Oh My word, this is perfect for me. Project runway is wonderful but here in the Sewing bee are regular home sewers. I could have coffee with these people and remind me how much I miss having sewing friends. This is the show for home sewers. It really is my favorite show of all time. I hope it never ends.

Clara, maybe Bea, our plus size apron dress form

She is here, finally, after years of trying to purchase the expensive working professional dress form. She is here after we gave up and went with inexpensive Dritz. And we love her. She is a welcomed new figure in our Apron Company family. We are still working on a name. It’s interesting how many people suggest Bertha. We are playing with Clara or Beatrice, it sounds like Aunt Bea of Mayberry, who if you remember, lived in Aprons. The new website is live so that has us busy but I can’t wait for my assigned day of nothing but me and Clara and new designs made especially for women who share her size. It is so much easier to design for a shape that stands in front of you. I am aching to design for her.

Plus Size dress form

Dritz Dress Form

Sometimes you can’t move forward because you have a tool missing. Whether due to lack of funds to make the purchase, time, or sometimes you simply can’t find what you need. I have needed a dress form for large ladies. I mean large, not a size 14 or 18, I mean size 28 or 32. It  has been a solitary road filled with mishaps, unavailability, unreliable sources and simply misadventures. I finally gave up on a professional form. On average a professional form is $250 up to size 18. It jumps to $800-$1200 when you want it  6″ wider and a size 28. With all the larger ladies we have in our culture, you wouldn’t think it would be this difficult. But it is. And quite frankly a testament to why large clothes fit so badly. Who is testing anything?
I now have lowered the bar and have a plastic adjustable Dritz on its way. At least it goes from size 20 up to size 28.  I am thrilled to finally get my hands on one, draping, fitting and making something beautiful for our larger customers. Our website will finally bring presence and recognition to the whole range of sizes. I’m excited to begin a new line to our collection.