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You are here: Home / Clothing / “Love Yourself” Linden

“Love Yourself” Linden

March 7, 2016 by Jodi 31 Comments

I heart this Linden sweatshirt so ridiculously much. I’m glad to be finally sharing it with you.

Quilted Jersey Linden by Sew Fearless

For such a simple project, I certainly learned a lot from it. I had two major break throughs with this project – one technical, one emotional.

Quilted Jersey Linden by Sew Fearless

Firstly, reading Iconic Patterns blog post about  the difference between Fitting and Flattering, completely shifted my view of how I adjust patterns to fit me. I used to think “good fit” meant “following the curves of my body” or “having the correct amount of ease” or even “not having any wrinkles”. I have rather extreme differences between my shoulder and hip measurements and to maintain the design ease as drafted required equally extreme adjustments around my hips. Then, when it was all said in done, I usually hated how the finished garment looked on me. After reading Lena’s article, I know realize what I really wanted was to have just enough ease for it to be comfortable, but at the same time maintain the flow of the garment so the difference my shoulder-hip ratio looked more “ideal/average/normal”. The less adjustments made, the better.

Quilted Jersey Linden by Sew Fearless

This Linden sweatshirt was my first attempt at this concept, and I’ll detail my changes toward the end of this post.

Quilted Jersey Linden by Sew Fearless

Secondly, I realized how much I have been worried lately about “looking big” and how this fear has been keeping me from sewing certain styles of clothes for myself. Or even posting about the things that I have been sewing.

Quilted Jersey Linden by Sew Fearless

I saw Baste + Gather’s aaaammmaaazing quilted Linden, and wanted to make one for myself, but then I told myself wearing something so loose and baggy would look wrong on me. I mean, I couldn’t be more differently proportioned than Lauren. Instead, I tried to solace myself by making quilted jersey sweatpants for my daughters instead. As I was sewing those pants, I fell more and more in love the fabric. I wanted to drape me in its soft squishy beauty!!! And when I really let myself think about it, I wondered why can’t I wear a loose baggy sweatshirt? Does it make me look super skinny and waifish? nope. But why should it? I am not skinny or small or petite. I would never consider size to be a source of shame in another person. Why should it be shameful for me?

Quilted Jersey Linden by Sew Fearless

I don’t need to portray myself as smaller than I am, or even rationalize my size, past or present, to others. I am a worthy, loved, and beautiful person. period.

Quilted Jersey Linden by Sew Fearless

In the end, this sweatshirt is my own personal jubilant act of rebellion against those ridiculous cruel voices that were whispering in my ear. I had been giving them credibility that they didn’t deserve, and I love that sewing has allowed me the opportunity to grow in this area. This, somewhat ridiculously twee, quilted-heart sweatshirt is now like wearing a great big hug of self confidence. One that I wear as many days of a week as I can.

Linden Sweatshirt Details

  • Fabric: Quilted Jersey from Jo-Ann Fabrics “Doodles” collection
  • Pattern: Grainline Studio’s Linden Sweatshirt
  • Measurements: High Bust – 41 in; Bust – 43.5 in; Waist – 42; Hips – 52 in; Height – 5 ft 10 in
  • Added 6 inches to sleeve length, and left of wristbands.
  • Cut size 18, but graded up to an extra 1 1/8 inch at side seams for hips
  • Lengthened front 3 1/2 inches, and back 5 inches.
  • Left off waistband, and added 5 1/2 inch side vent.

Quilted Jersey Linden by Sew Fearless

Filed Under: Clothing, Women's Clothing Tagged With: clothing, jersey, quilted, sweatshirt

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather Feather says

    March 7, 2016 at 5:55 pm

    I love this sweatshirt! It looks amazing on you and super comfortable! I love what you learned about yourself and were brave enough to share it! This is what makes the sewing community so great, appreciating our bodies for what they can do and sewing for whatever shape we are.

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:34 pm

      It is a good community to be in.

      Reply
  2. Rachel Harold says

    March 7, 2016 at 6:25 pm

    Adorable shirt! Great job, great post. You’re a great writer, too. I can relate with your “emotional” breakthrough. Finally I thought to myself, who am I kidding? Haha!

    Reply
    • Rachel Harold says

      March 7, 2016 at 8:39 pm

      P.S. Cute shoes!!!

      Reply
      • Jodi says

        March 9, 2016 at 3:33 pm

        oh my gosh. I love them so much.

    • Jodi says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:35 pm

      Seriously, why do we feel like we need to look like we are 18 again? 😛

      Reply
  3. Gillian says

    March 7, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    I’ve had these moments too! Like only cute/pretty/little women could wear trendy styles, and I should stick with more conventional flattering styles. We are our own worst critics! You look fab (and seriously, how to you GLOW so much in every picture I’ve ever seen of you, with all those kiddos to look after?) Keep the selfish sewing coming! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:36 pm

      We are. so sad.

      And thank you for the sweet compliments. I’m glad to know that i don’t look old and haggard at age 32. haha!

      Reply
  4. Beth M says

    March 7, 2016 at 8:47 pm

    Super cute sweatshirt and you look great in it! I have felt the same way, thank you for sharing!!!

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:36 pm

      THank you. 😉

      Reply
  5. Jackie says

    March 8, 2016 at 7:37 am

    Excellent post! Excellent looking sweatshirt! Excellent revelation!!

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:31 pm

      Why, thank you, jackie!

      Reply
  6. Masha says

    March 8, 2016 at 8:05 am

    Sing it sister! Thanks for posting this. I, too, have struggled with worries about “looking big” lately, and it has kept me from sewing much for myself at all. Which, paradoxically, results in my having fewer choices, many of them ill-fitting, which compounds the problem of not liking what I see when I look in the mirror. Your sweatshirt is lovely and now I want to hit up the Doodles aisle at Joann’s!

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:27 pm

      I hope you do sew for yourself soon! It is so worth it!

      Reply
  7. Kathy says

    March 8, 2016 at 11:57 am

    I love it! And even more, I appreciate you sharing it, especially those pictures of you and your boy.

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:27 pm

      Thank you. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Jenya says

    March 9, 2016 at 5:43 am

    The most beautiful act of rebellion 🙂 Enjoy wearing it, you gorgeous lady 😀

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:27 pm

      Thanks, Jenya!

      Reply
  9. Mie says

    March 9, 2016 at 9:35 am

    I’m so happy for you that you came to this very true conclusion! You can absolutely wear that sweatshirt! So good!

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:25 pm

      me too.

      Reply
  10. Jess @ If Only They Would Nap says

    March 9, 2016 at 9:41 am

    Love. Love. Love. You and your sweatshirt are both beautiful!!

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 9, 2016 at 3:25 pm

      thanks, Jess. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Amy R says

    March 9, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    Jodi, you ARE beautiful! Everything you ever wear, even your most casual hang-out attire, is so flattering and accentuates your beauty. But I am very happy to hear that this (fabulous) sweatshirt provided an epiphany for you so you could silence the false voices in your head. Go girl!

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 13, 2016 at 9:16 am

      Thank you, Amy. You are a good friend.

      Reply
  12. Karen says

    March 10, 2016 at 10:08 am

    I’m late to this party but I love everything about this post! Thanks for being bold and self confident (you look amazing and you ARE amazing!) and sharing that breakthrough with the rest of us struggling through the same mire in our own lives. I get hung up on sewing for myself for the same reasons. I’m so glad you blog and inspire… You’re good for my soul!

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      March 13, 2016 at 9:16 am

      Thank you, Karen. You are good for mine!

      Reply
  13. Avery zia says

    March 16, 2016 at 9:39 pm

    What a lovely blog thank you avery

    Reply
  14. Andi says

    March 21, 2016 at 4:08 pm

    Thank you for what you wrote. You could have written it for me! Your sweatshirt looks fab *on you!*

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Thinking about size and shape. | Love - Teach - Sew says:
    March 10, 2016 at 3:00 pm

    […] Jodi wrote about her Linden. It really got me thinking about the stuff I want to sew because I like the look and the stuff I […]

    Reply
  2. Clare Coat - Sew Fearless says:
    March 21, 2016 at 11:54 am

    […] the pieces and fusing of interfacings. I made one muslin out of craft felt to check my adjustments (using my new-found relaxed fitting standards I talked about in this post) and got […]

    Reply
  3. Black Coordinate Set - Sew Fearless says:
    August 12, 2016 at 3:15 pm

    […] did the same side vent and length adjustments as I did on my “Love Yourself Linden“, but this time I made the short sleeve version. I also had to increase the neckband […]

    Reply

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Jodi - Sewing Advocate - Mother of 7 - Lover of Swings and Deadlifts - Catholic

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