Fitopedia: an Update.

Why in the heck isn't this finished yet?

Thank you so much for your interest and enjoyment of Fitopedia so far. I never expected how popular it'd be and I'm so happy it speaks to you! And by the end of this, I hope you'll be able to continue to have patience with me once you understand a bit more about what's happening behind the scenes. And, I think it'll speak to even more people with some of the things I plan to add to it.

Trust me, no one is more frustrated than I am that it is not complete.

The VERY short answer as to why it is not done and no new updates has happened is two distinct items I can hopefully overcome and one I'm grappling with: 

1. In the 18 months since it has launched, a TON of life things happened that took up a lot of time. Everything from preparing kits for and teaching at a show I lost money on and had to make up somehow, a gravely sick pet, moving my office....twice, and doing all the things I normally need to do to keep Sew Sew moving forward.
2. Graphic Design Skills. I do not have them. I fake it really well. The content is easy. Formatting it is not. And the first section was built on the wrong platform- so I need to build it again on the right one. And I'd love this to be a book one day and have no idea about how to do that. (okay I'm grappling with this one too)
3. ???

For the most part, that's it....just kidding.

Okay yes... there is a bit more. And it, of course, involves some of my own personal opinions about Fitting.

Keep reading.

TL;DR

You'll be the first to know when Fitopedia is finished. I will likely finish in only two sections: Upper Body and Lower Body. My hope is to 'finish' the Upper Body by Fall 2025 and the Lower Body Spring 2026. I have given myself padding with this timeline, and I put finish in quotes because I want to get something to you, but I'll refine it more after it's released to be more graphically pleasing.

When I first came to the home sewing space I learned a lot about how different it is than the garment industry. But heck, my industry experience is pretty outdated now. I know what I know. 

When we fit patterns in commercial spaces, we are not fitting for one individual like we do in home sewing. We're trying to get the most general fit for the largest number of people. That's probably why you're here sewing for yourself.

We didn't have these fitting expressions like those you see in the graphic above. When we 'fit' things we just...fit them. I don't know how else to say it. We looked at it as too long or short, too tight or loose. There's A LOT of ways to do that. I feel like I'm sounding like an older person, 'back in my dayyy we fit things with duct tape and a sundial."

When I came to the home sewing space I felt a bit behind when I saw all those titles. Low Neck Base? Who would even know that they have one of those? Round Back?

Had you ever even looked at your upper back and noticed if it was rounded? Of course it's rounded- you have shoulder blades! (yes I know some are more rounded than others) We each may have areas that are fairly consistently a fitting challenge. So yes, you know you have flat buttocks, or a large chest-or maybe a rounded back. But a Large Elbow? How would you know that? I'm laughing just thinking about the first time I saw some of these titles. 

I'm not disputing these body attributes exist. On the contrary, I'm not comfortable with labeling a fit adjustment based on them since the person may not even have that attribute-it's beside the point.

The pattern needs something for the wearer. Period.

I didn't even know what an FBA (Full Bust Adjustment) was when someone mentioned it in my live stream. I knew how to do the adjustment- but I'd never heard it called that. And again, I was confused. Was it that we were adjusting the pattern for a wearer who has a fuller bust than the pattern. Or was it that we were adjusting the pattern to not be so full?

When you're in need of fitting help, you might be searching for-tight across my back, or drooping wrinkles under my bum....not large elbow adjustment. Well maybe you are if you've always had this issue...but our bodies change and things sneak up on us, let alone I don't have four other elbows from which to compare mine and know mine might be on the large side. All I know about my elbow is my young daughter liked to play with the wrinkles on the back. Apparently they've always been there and I had no clue. Is there a fitting adjustment for that?

In a world where we're already dealing with so much, how did this happen? Who decided to label these things? I can already hear some judgmental etiquette instructor from the 50's telling Jane she has a prominent derriere. She probably knew that already. She didn't need Ms. Trunchbull labeling her attributes as if they're negative to the whole world. Depending upon the pattern or pattern company, Jane might find one that accommodates her assets!

The names of these adjustment click for many people who sew. But I will be very transparent when I say that I was so confused I often wasn't sure what the adjustment title meant; are we fitting someone with a prominent collarbone, or are we saying the pattern is ideal for someone with a prominent collarbone. I was embarrassed to admit this! It was logical to so many of you. 

When I wrote the first section of Fitopedia, I wrote it in language that made sense to me. And RIGHT before I launched it..... I changed my whole guide to be worded the style the home sewing world uses. With regret. I was often confused by my own guide when I wanted to refer to a page for someone. It was a panic decision- I wasn't sure anyone would even like my fitting guide and I didn't want to throw something 'new' at them. 

Why can't we talk about fitting in a way that is more literal?

"My garment is tight/loose here, what do I do?" Instead of the medical diagnoses.

Well. This is partly why I haven't finished the next sections. Some are close to done but I don't feel comfortable using language that doesn't speak to me.

This project is a labor of love and legacy.My aim is to help people feel confident, curious and tenacious about their sewing, drafting and fitting. There are many ways to do the same things. Sewing is amazing. We don't need the fitting or sewing police telling us what we can't do. And Sewing is for EVERY PERSON and EVERY BODY.

I'm committed to finishing. But I may be changing the layout and terminology quite significantly with the aim of it being more approachable and easier to relate to and search within. And maybe this could speed things up as I might table the graphics elements and make it quite basic to start.

I'm not trying to solve the world's fitting issues. There is plenty of accurate and helpful information available that no doubt speaks to many many many sewists! And yes, I'll say it, there is plenty of misinformation or misleading information out there too! Just keep trying! What works for you is correct. You're not trying to sell a pattern- you're trying to fit your perfect self. It's okay if the drafting isn't industry accurate if it fits you and it's on grain and sews together.

I want to add my two cents to the fitting conversation because I feel like I have something to add based on 35 years of sewing, drafting and fitting. Will it make sense to everyone? Probably not! But that's the best part. It'll speak to someone- and that someone probably didn't understand the other stuff out there- like I didn't!

So I thank you for sticking with me, supporting me through my Sew Sew Guild community, and understanding I'm just one person trying to work six part time jobs so that I can help and encourage as many people as possible.

You'll be the first to know when Fitopedia is finished. I will likely finish in only two sections: Upper Body and Lower Body. My hope is to 'finish' the Upper Body by Fall 2025 and the Lower Body Spring 2026. I have given myself padding, and I put finish in quotes because I want to get something to you, but I'll refine it more after it's released to be more graphically pleasing.

Fitting you can Access Now

I know it's taking me away from this project, but I do have a weekly series on YouTube called Quick Fit if you need your fitting fix. This series is great for me since it lets me hear what you're thinking about with Fitting! It's Thursdays 2:00 p.m. Pacific almost every week. Check out the schedule on Instagram or RSVP to the Events in the Sew Sew Guild. I am focusing on usable fitting steps that help you understand what's happening and hopefully empower you to experiment! (There are some links below to some recent Quick Fits). If this is a useful series, I'll keep at it. And I'm fitting Fitopedia (see what I did there?) in between! 

And if you want help fitting, join my Sew Sew Guild and become a Sew Sew Guildies paid member. There are two workshops every other week (in different time zones) where you can bring any sewing or fitting problem to me and I'll solve it for you. 

Happy sewing and fitting!

xoxo Saremy