Breaking the Rules | House of Curves

{Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It costs you nothing, but helps support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.}

When you're plus sized there's A LOT of rules that are supposed to be followed so you can look thinner.

Last month I joined other House of Curves bloggers to telling our stories of why we test patterns and how we got started.  As we discussed what we wanted to see from House of Curves and the plus size pattern testing community, we really wanted to see us blow the "fashion rules" out of the water.  

Plus sized women don't have to be put in a box just to try to look thinner.  

It's taken a long time for me to be proud of my body.  

According to Medical News Today, the average American Woman is 5'4".  That shocked me a little.  Perhaps I always told myself the average woman was 5'8" because I'm so tall.  Either way, I've always felt like an amazon woman next to most other woman.  At 5'11", I'm not just plus sized, I'm also about 6" taller than most patterns are drafted for.  

Once I started sewing I realized I can be proud of my body and who I am.  Yes, I'm plus sized.  Yes, I'm really tall.  But, that doesn't diminish who I am and I won't be defined by the rules society has dictated.  

So, I present to you Horizontal Stripes!

In rainbow none the less!  If only it had glitter... then it would be perfect!  Both of these fabrics came from So Sew English in a bundle that I couldn't resist!  I'm a sucker for bright and rainbow!

I am in LOVE with these Rainbow stripes! Really, rainbow anything is fabulous, but in stripes?  Even better!  

I used the Stella Pullover from Halla Patterns.  I made a basic cowl, tunic length with waistband, and hemmed long sleeve.  

The next "stripe" I made is a Fair Isle Pattern from Vintage Lace.  It was designed by the fabulous Katy McKinley and I've been hoarding, ahem I mean saving it for an amazing project.  I decided to break it out for this one.  I used Patterns for Pirates Slim Fit Raglan pattern for this beauty.

While not technically a stripe, it has the same effect as a stripe as it goes horizontally across my body.  

I meant to make a tunic length top.  However, I had a "happy accident" and made it a lot longer than planned.  

Custom cotton lycra is amazing paired with heavy athletic brushed poly from Zenith and Quasar, this is the coziest raglan!

For this raglan I used the add-on ruched funnel collar, long  banded sleeve , quite a bit longer than tunic length banded bottom.

The ruched funnel collar is...LOVE!  I haven't actually worn it with a bow, it's just the best picture we took with it.  I'm not sure I would wear it tied.  

I love both of my new tops, stripes are fantastic!!

I think I'll keep using stripes.  

How about you?  What's your take on stripes?

I'd love to hear your comments and see your pictures!

{Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It costs you nothing, but helps support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.}