Sewing for Everybody

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Home
Appearances
Services
Instagram feed gallery
About me
Contact

Sewing for Everybody

Home
Appearances
Services
Instagram feed gallery
About me
Contact

Appearances

Santa Fe Pants Block Retreat 2020 (cancelled)

The Sewcialists Interview (April 2020)

Love to Sew Podcast (June 2020)

By Hand London Blog (May 2021)

Punk Frockers Podcast (April 2021)

NPR LifeKit (May 2021)

This page is regularly updated. For now, all my live events are on pause

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leila_sews

-Half of @munaandbroad patterns
-Asst Prof Fashion Design and Social Justice @ParsonsSchoolOfDesign

I don’t often get a lazy weekend morning to spen

I don’t often get a lazy weekend morning to spend in the city but here we are (due to a flight cancellation combined with upcoming work travel).

So here’s my “in search of a bakery” outfit.

I hope you’re having a lazy weekend too.

Dress: @munaandbroad #MelbaDress in @aandrfabrics linen
Shoes: @maguireshoes
Sunglasses: @germanogambini from @opticianado

Image: a Fat Asian woman is wearing a blue checked loose fitting dress and sunglasses

#munaandbroad #iwearwhatisew #plussizesewing

It’s still hot af here but also I don’t have a

It’s still hot af here but also I don’t have any clean #DulcieBoxerBriefs which means a dress or skirt was out of the question. So I went with tried and true.

On the bottom are some @munaandbroad #SculthorpePants made in a brushed cotton (not the coolest fabric but I didn’t have any linen!) and on top is what was the precursor to the Torrens. Wearing the comfy shoes again (Hoka bondi) as they were amazing. Didn’t realize what non pinky toe crushing in sneakers was like!
Bag is @bigsoeursupply which is my daily carry but the (lovely) veg tanned strap does mark light garments so I have to be mindful of that.

Image: a Fat Asian woman is wearing ankle@length black pants, a boxy black boat neck top and very clunky black sneakers. There are some pink dining chairs and plants visible in what is clearly her living room

#munaandbroad #plussizesewing #iwearwhatisew

It’s so hot in NYC at the moment. Today the fore

It’s so hot in NYC at the moment. Today the forecast is for 34C/93F.

I honestly was dressing for comfort. Airy skirt and top and comfy shoes. Today will be lots of walking around the studio as it is a 6 hour class.

Also hoping for a goth version of Copenhagen fash week style

Top: @munaandbroad #torrensboxtop in double gauze
Skirt: @munaandbroad #pyrmontskirt plus #dulcieboxerbriefs (unseen!)
Cushy shoes: @hoka bondi 8 extra wides!

Image: a Fat Asian woman in a black and white gingham skirt and black top. Very clumpy black sneakers.

#fatsewing #fatsew #plussizeminimalist #plussizesewing #fatfashion #fatfashionista

Who am I? Daily posting? Actually, I think I’m g

Who am I? Daily posting? Actually, I think I’m going to document some OOTDs (outfits of the day) for work (you probably do t want to know what I wear if I’m not leaving the house).

Continuing with yesterdays RTW theme, here I am in a dress I wear a LOT, that I didn’t make. And comfy shoes for walking as I’m taking my Parsons students on a trip to the NYC garment district.

I call this look “gothic cupcake needs sensible walking shoes” and I’m into it.

Dress: @twodaysoffgoods (but they have sadly over away from apparel)
Shoes: @hoka

Image: a Fat Asian woman is wearing a black dress and pink sneakers. There’s are lots of plants and quite a bit or furniture visible

#fatinfashion #fatfashion #plussizeslowfashion #slowfashion #sustainablefashion #sustainablefashionblogger

When your first day back teaching offer summer con

When your first day back teaching offer summer contains nothing you’ve sewn 😱

One of the best and worst things about working as a fashion prof is outfit planning. I feel a significant amount of pressure to be put together. And a big part of my making practice is the emotion that gets imbued into each garment. So that can mean I adore a garment or that I feel a bit weird about it, if it was tricky to sew or the pattern took a lot of work to get right. So sometimes it’s nice to just take myself out of the equation and have a more neutral experience with my clothes and dressing.

Am I the only one who has more feelings about garments I’ve made compared to bought?

(I’d also like to note my size privilege here as I can fit into some brands size expansions’ biggest size)

Shirt: @nettlestudios
Skirt: @reformation
Shoes: @harkweberstudio
Anti chafing shorts: @munaandbroad #DulcieBoxerBriefs

Image: a Fat Asian woman is standing next to a plant. She’s wearing a long black bias skirt, black shirt, and black shoes

#fatfashion #fatinfashion #fatstyle #plussizeminimalist

It’s been a very heavy few days of intense work

It’s been a very heavy few days of intense work on a secret project and behind me is the evidence!

But today I need to leave the house so I decided to put together a new combo. It’s inspired by Japanese sewing books and “natural” style but with a crisper, almost uniform like bent. I like it.

Also introducing my wild new glasses (which are nicknamed “the raccoon glasses”) which I kind of adore.

Top: #LobethalShirt @munaandbroad
Skirt: #PyrmontSkirt @munaandbroad (fabric gifted from @aandrfabrics)
Glasses: @kalaeyewear from @fabulousfannysnyc
Sandals: @maguireshoes

Image: a fat Asian woman is wearing a black and white checked skirt and a very oversized white shirt. Behind her is evidence of work: paper, muslins, envelopes, mess. There is also a lovely green plant and she has very huge glasses on.

#munaandbroad #goliathglasses #dadsandals #fatstyle #fatinfashion #fatfashion

I whipped up this tencel @munaandbroad #PyrmontSki

I whipped up this tencel @munaandbroad #PyrmontSkirt yesterday and I’m very happy with it. Although this tencel twill was…ahem…not the easiest to cut out, the result is really lovely. The innate bounciness of the fabric really enhances the pleating, I think.

It’s also a really different mood to the casual vibes of the linen gingham one I shared the other day. This version feels very grown up and polished. I love how much a fabric can change the personality of a pattern!

I’m also wearing an #AtraxTop in merino and will 100% be taking this outfit to wear to some more formal events I have to attend this week.

Overall I’m so happy with the versatility of this pattern and am looking forward to making a warmer one once the weather cools down

Image: a fat Asian woman wearing a sleeveless black top tucked into a black midi length pleated skirt. She’s got her hands in her pockets and looks relaxed but polished.

#munaandbroad #curvysewing #plussizesewing #plussizeminimalist #sewingforcurves

A skirt pattern! This is the @munaandbroad #Pyrmon

A skirt pattern! This is the @munaandbroad #PyrmontSkirt!

It has inverted box pleats and a flat waistband in the front and an elasticated back waistband. There is also some shaping to help your hem hang level and generous pockets (of course!).

Pleating can be a bit of a brain drain so the pieces are shaded to help you pleat to perfection (and they aren’t nested so no confusion!).

I love this version of the skirt and it easily dresses up or down. It’s sewn up in a gorgeous linen gingham from @aandrfabrics (gifted).

I like wearing it with a loose top with a little quarter tuck or a simple tee.

Image: a fat Asian woman is wearing a black and white checked tea length skirt and a boxy black top. She has bare feet and is next to a large indoor plant

#munaandbroad #indiepatterndesigner #plussizesewing #curvysewing #fatsewing

This was todays outfit and I like to call it “Wi

This was todays outfit and I like to call it “Williamsburg camouflage”. I’m in NYC for a few days and it is really hot and humid. My goal was to wear the fewest possible garments but maintain sun protection.

The bottoms are the hero of the day and are my #DulcieBoxerBriefs as bike shorts and wow - best ever bike shorts because they are modal/spandex so soft and breathable and basically way nicer to wear than any other bike short. On top I wanted white to reflect the rays and this very oversized #LobethalShirt fit the bill perfectly. I have a simple rtw tank underneath and the shirt looked good open and also with a button or two.

To really punctuate this millennial ‘fit please observe these millennial pink trainers from @hoka) which I think puts this look even further away from my usual.

Overall this outfit was super out of character but also fun and comfy and dare I say, cute. 10/10 will re-wear this look.

@munaandbroad #munaandbroad #whatfatgirlsactuallywear #fatgirlsummer #iwearwhatisew #fuckflattering #fatsewing #sewvisiblyfat #fatflatshoe

Sewing tips coming in hot at the moment! Here is a

Sewing tips coming in hot at the moment!
Here is a quick pressing tip that’s useful for fabrics that tend to have the seam allowances show through when you press. It definitely adds a bit of work but makes your work look lovely

#sewingtip #sewingtipsandtricks #sewingtutorial

Fat panic sewing! Today is a graduation ceremony

Fat panic sewing!

Today is a graduation ceremony at my work and I realized I didn’t have anything to wear!

Luckily I’d found this most beautiful rayon satin backed crepe at @metrotextiles so quickly whipped up this dress on the weekend. I used the Melba dress as a base but cocooned it and used the reverse fabric for a panel. Swipe for a closer shot

Dress: @munaandbroad modified #MelbaDress in rayon satin backed crepe
Shoes: @empressaustralia
Necklace: @aster_fields

Image: a fat Asian woman is standing in the corridor of a university. You can see some dress forms through a window

Mending inner thigh wear on pants using the origin

Mending inner thigh wear on pants using the original. This is the best way to do it if you sewed the pants as it ensures your patches conform perfectly to the leg shaping

#mendingmatters #sewingtips #sewingtipsandtricks #fatsewing

In which I cosplay as Jess @fat.bobbin.girl

It’s been suddenly hot lately and so today I wore my #melbadress and then added my new comfy shoes which are millennial pink. I’ve never owned pink shoes before LOL.

Once I put this outfit on I realized I was basically being Jess. Is she a bad influence?

Dress: @munaandbroad #melbadress in mulberry linen from @aandrfabrics
Shoes: @hoka

Image: a Fat Asian woman is wearing a fuschia dress with pink sneakers in front of a pink sofa!
#munaandbroad #memademay #memademay2023 #memademayplus #fatsewingclub

The Alistra Dress is live over on @munaandbroad!

The Alistra Dress is live over on @munaandbroad!

This is a deceptively simple column dress with a heart of engineering. After being very pleased with how the Whitlam skirt turned out, with its bum hugging but not tum hugging shape, we wanted to try a dress style. We have it a scoopy neck in one view and a funnel in the other one. The scoop has a delicate and more elevated neckband.

I sewed this up in a lovely heavy modal/spandex and it’s a dress that looks effortlessly chic. In my mind it’s a bit “model day off” with white sneakers and a baseball cap.

What you see in these photos is what you get. A silhouette that skims the body without clinging. I’ve been wearing it non stop!

Image: a Fat Asian woman is wearing a dark grey column dress. The sleeves are pushed up. In the other slides, you see the side and back views. The side and back views of the dress are deliciously curvy. The front view is sleek.

#alistradress #munaandbroad #plussizesewing

Blue! Not my usual black scene but instead a very

Blue!
Not my usual black scene but instead a very dark navy outfit, which is entirely different, of course! The top is a #TorrensBoxTop out of @merchantandmills woolsey. The skirt is a #WhitlamSkirt from a merino jersey from my stash. Necklace is from @aster_fields

Leaning into the art teacher vibes for sure (I suppose I am officially an art teacher now, so here we are).

Has the change of seasons elicited a change in your wardrobe?

Image: a Fat Asian woman is standing in front of a white wall. She’s wearing a very dark navy, almost black, outfit consisting of a column skirt and a boxy long sleeved top. Her hair is a bit wild

#munaandbroad @munaandbroad @empressaustralia #sewingforme #whatfatgirlsactuallywear #sewover40 #plussizeminimalist

Tale of a sewing fail. I bought this most wonder

Tale of a sewing fail.

I bought this most wonderful fabric from one of my favourite places in the NYC garment district. It’s a wonderful, pleated taffeta, however, in order to have permanent pleating, the fabric needs to be a synthetic. I don’t generally buy synthetic fabrics because I prefer the breathability and sustainability of natural fibers, but I made an exception here because I love this fabric so much. it has an irregular, almost broomstick pleat, but then also has an inverted broomstick pleat in a slight wave pattern.

I knew that I wanted the garment I made from it to be as simple as possible so I modified the Lobethal shirt, omitting the pockets and the centre back seam. I also was undecided about whether to cut relaxed or stretched. I decided to cut relaxed because I was concerned that cutting stretched would mean that the garment would end up smaller than I wanted.

As soon as I started sewing this, I suspected that it wasn’t going to be the best garment for me. It ended up more oversized than the intention and due to the hand of the fabric, it remains fairly… stiff, but not really stiff, more just that it really holds its shape. The neckline also ended up growing a fair bit.

I think it’s not a terrible garment but just not my preference.

I doubt this will be staying in my wardrobe not least because the fabric is not a natural fibre and my preferences have been confirmed. Fortunately, I do have more of this fabric, and I think that I may have to do something different with it, perhaps a skirt, so it is not around my upper body.

Image: a Fat Asian woman is wearing an oversized pleated black shirt. She’s smiling and looking up

#sewingproject #sewfat #fatsewing #fatsewingclub

I can’t believe I haven’t shared what has been

I can’t believe I haven’t shared what has been a staple this winter! I’ve worn it at least once a week, with boots, with sneakers, with clogs.

This is a greatly lengthened cocoon #HexhamDress with a funnel neck (a patreon bonus for the Tarlee). I love a funnel for the comfort but also for the ease of sewing and wearing because it can be dressed up or down depending on how your fold it.

I made it in gorgeous merino jersey and it has the most wonderful drape. My love affair with wool jersey began in the 90s and shows no sign of letting up.

Dress: @munaandbroad #hexhamdress in @aandrfabrics merino jersey

Shoes: @empressaustralia (not spon)

Image: a Fat Asian woman is wearing a long black dress and is in front of a white wall

#munaandbroad #munaandbroadpatreon #sewvisiblyfat #plussizesewing

I like to add Ban Roll (a special waistband stiffe

I like to add Ban Roll (a special waistband stiffener) to my trousers as I find they always get bunched up with the shape of my tummy. I tend to use a 2 piece waistband as it’s curved at the back. For this one I only used it on the front because I did an elasticated back waistband but next time I do a curved back I’ll take pics of how I apply it there.

You’ll sew it to the seam allowance just a hair away from the stitching line (to give space for the turn of the cloth). When you apply the inner waistband, be sure to leave that space too.
Hope this helps you get a crisp and tailored finish that will last and defy your B belly!

#sewingtipsandtricks #munaandbroad #sewingtutorial

I cut some pants out yesterday and thought it migh

I cut some pants out yesterday and thought it might be interesting for people to see the two approaches I typically taken when cutting fabric

Image: a sped up video showing different approaches to cutting out fabric: using card and using paper

#sewingtipsandtricks #sewingtechniques #fashionprofessor

Please enjoy this outfit I wore last week (NYC is

Please enjoy this outfit I wore last week (NYC is not a v cold place!). Even though the #LobethalShirt is very very oversized, it fits under the #BelmoreJacket nicely. Incidentally, I’ve been wearing my lined Belmore almost every day (lining was a Patreon bonus) this “winter”. Sometimes I have to layer it more but that day was beautiful. I also finally steamed my #WillandraPants which hadn’t seen the light of day for quite some time due to pure laziness.

For me, this outfit was perfect for work - comfy but also cool-ish. I like it when my clothing has a point of view, and honestly I always feel like an elastic waist and an oversized silhouette is a big middle finger to fatphobia.

Image: a Fat Asian woman is wearing black pants, shirt, and a boxy jacket. There’s a pink couch and an indistrial beam in the background

#munaandbroad #munaandbroadpatreon @munaandbroad #fatfashion #plussizeminimalist

Fabric choice is so amazing, isn’t it? I sewed u

Fabric choice is so amazing, isn’t it? I sewed up this #LobethalShirt in the most gorgeous sandwashed silk from @aandrfabrics (it’s wide too!) and it’s drapey deliciousness. I think it really changes the personality of the shirt from architectural to relaxed and luxe.

I’m wearing it today and managed not to spill anything on it (so far!). And I’m wearing it with #SculthorpePants so it’s honestly like wear pyjamas to work but the super slinky version.

Image: a Fat Asian woman is wearing a black drapey shirt, black pants and shoes. She’s tucking her hair behind her ear and is in front of a pink couch

#munaandbroad #sculthorpepants #plussizeminimalist #plussizecapsulewardrobe #sewvisiblyfat

This was a long simmer! And the @munaandbroad Lobe

This was a long simmer! And the @munaandbroad Lobethal Shirt is out in the wild!

I originally designed this for myself, long before M and B. I wanted a big big big, architectural shirt with pockets and no collar. That was the garment where I figured out how to sew what is now the M and B sleeve band. From time to time, I’d share a pic of me in it and we would have some enquires (I usually called it the “oversized shirt”).

The time has come though and Jess and I workshopped it (as we always do) and it’s materially improved. The pockets are topstitched which gives a lovely detail. There’s a small side slit for interest. The neckline is clean finished with a bias facing and the instructions and accompanying video walk you through some tips to a beautiful result. All aspects as considered to make this a straightforward sew - a great choice for a first button up shirt. I think this one was worth the wait.

P.S. I’m super into this styling with the #NoiceJeans

Image: a fat Asian woman is wearing light blue jeans and a white shirt. The shirt is very oversized and half tucked in to the front of her jeans. The sleeves are elbow length.

#lobethalshirt #munaandbroad #plussizesewing #isewmyownclothes #bipocsewcialists #fatsewingclub

Thank you everyone! Current co creation session is

Hi. It’s me! I’m alive but trying to work out

Hi. It’s me! I’m alive but trying to work out what’s wrong with the feed. I’ve been MIA a bit (a death in the fam, illness etc) but now my posts are not even showing for me so let’s see if these repost works. Would you mind liking this one?

Dress: merino jersey dress, loosely based on the @munaandbroad #hexhamdress but longer and with a funnel neck. Made in merino jersey
Jacket: #belmorejacket in cotton canvas

Image: a fat Asian woman is wearing an all black outfit, a dress and jacket, with a brown shearling bag she’s in front of a pink couch. There’s a stack of books on the coffee table and the top one is called “Fat, Gay, Men” if you zoom in

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