Sunflower Sizing Comparison

Hi, I’m Laura and I usually blog at KittyMakesIt.com. You can check out my Sunflower Tank blog on my personal page, here! I also hosted a Sunflower Tank Sewalong! Find those videos on the Mamma Can Do It Youtube Channel! The Sunflower Tank by Mamma Can Do It just re-released in the full size range. It now spans from 2T-40W!  In celebration, I’d like to do a comparison of the Plus Size versus Women’s Size Sunflower Tanks!

Plus Size versus Women’s Size Blocks

Unlike many designers, Mamma Can Do It designs separately for a women’s block and a plus size block. There’s a lot of feelings out there about drafting for plus sizes and the correct way to do it. One thing I really appreciate about the PDF pattern community is the open dialogue, exchange of ideas and variety of products. Since Mamma Can Do It is one of the few with a separate size chart, it might be a little confusing when you first see it, especially if you’re like me and you fit into both ranges. Hopefully I can shed some light and make it easier to decide which size to make. First, looking at the two size charts – (You can also find them on each of the product listings) You can see where the overlap happens at the top of the women’s size chart and bottom of the plus size chart. I fall within this range.

Swing-Style Dress

This style of dress uses the bust as the lead measurement because there’s a lot of waist and hip ease in the design. It’s called a swing-style dress because it has lots of flowiness in it’s nature. Therefore, you won’t find it tight on your hips, even if you’re at the top of the range for the size you’re making

Side by Side

For those that overlap the size ranges between Women and Plus, I thought it might be helpful to see a side by side comparison of the two size blocks on the same person. Please ignore my length issue. I forgot to add length to the plus size version! Sorry!

But I hope this side by side is helpful. I see a lot more ease in the waist and hip of the 18W versus the 20. These are both double brushed polyester fabric with no pockets. With a plus size block I find myself needing to size down for my shoulders, do a full bust adjustment and grade the waist in often. So in this design I am preferential to the Women’s size 20 versus the plus size 18W. My body shape is quite unique, especially because of my long torso, so I think the lesser ease in the waist flatters me. If my bust and waist measurements were closer to my hip measurement, I think I would prefer the ease in the 18W. What do you think? Was this side by side helpful? Mamma Can Do It Sunflower Tank