Where to buy plus sized corsets, the sewing machine, etc.

Hi!  Recently, I had the sewing machine into the shop to be repaired.  As it turns out I made a mistake.  I thought I had been using machine embroidery needles when I had been using regular machine needles.  How could I make such a mistake you might ask?  The problem arose when I wanted to buy machine embroidery needles in bulk from people on eBay.  They had put in their titles that the needles in question were for embroidery machines, but really what I think they meant, English was not these people's first language, was that the needles would fit home sewing and embroidery machines as opposed to sewing machines or universal needles or other needles specific to the task of machine embroidery.  I learned my lesson the hard way!  We're out over $200.00 which is a tremendous amount of money for us!

So from now on I will buy the Schmetz brand or perhaps the Klassé brand of machine embroidery needles that say embroidery right on the package.  You're probably saying "well duh".  I know it was a big and costly mistake! 

I was able to line up the embroidery design correctly and do the outline of the design for the customer.  Whew!  That was very nerve wracking for me!  I had to keep starting and stopping the machine because my sewing and embroidery machine will only slow down to 400 stitches per minute in the embroidery mode and that's pretty fast for such intricate work.  I was so afraid the same problem would happen all over again and we simply can't afford to bring the machine back for repair yet again!  Luckily, all went well and the sewing machine is off, unplugged and has its cover on again.

Lucy of Lucy's Corsetry has been blogging and sharing many articles about where to buy this type of corset and that type of corset.  Then she did this post which may be helpful to many people out there looking to find a plus size corset:  "Where to buy plus size corsets".  Have a look.  I'm sure the information might prove helpful.  I find her corsetry videos on Youtube quite helpful as well as Youtube videos by Ralph Pink of Great Britain.  You can learn more about Ralph Pink here:  http://www.ralphpink.com.  I do hope that these resources are helpful to you.  Ralph Pink's designs are quite small in size, but perhaps he can help you if you email him or contact him.

I have tried a number of times to draft patterns using the Lutterloh system and they usually turn out too small.  This time I am trying the plus size or the fuller figure system of patterns and I've drafted the front of a basic blouse.  There are some changes I still need to make to it, but I'm hoping that this time it will actually work as it has come closer to fitting me, at least when I hold it up to the mirror on me.  The model number of this basic blouse in the XL/XXL set is 53.  If you click on the XL/XXL set on the Lutterloh page you can scroll through and see the patterns offered. 

In the past I recommended a company where you could buy other additional items to be used with the Lutterloh system as well as the supplements, rulers, special measuring tapes and so on.  Now I can no longer recommend that company.  To find out the details please contact me!  Instead find your supplies from the Lutterloh company and also on other venues such as eBay and Etsy, etc.

I will let you know of my progress.  Thank you for reading to the end!