SewOver50 asked their followers to show makes of sewing patterns with an older person modelling the make. I decided to take a look at my 2018 makes and to see if these patterns were using an older model for the photoshoot.

My homemade clothes and pattern choice
I made the following sweaters: Toaster, LMV Oslo, Elastic Tie Sweater, another Toaster, Sunday Every Day and a Talvikki. All these sweaters are showen by young photo models just like the Gable top, Paris Top, Franki Top, Frances Top, Summer Tulip Top.

Elle Puls shows her own sewing patterns and I think she must be around 40 reading her ‘about me’. I made her Knotenshirt Mahe, Shirtbox and Sydney blouse.

The Burdastyle blouse is a model from the plus size serie and showed by a 40+-looking model and the Blaire Top uses an illustrations of an undefined age.

The Vogue 9080 pattern comes with a typical 80s styled drawing of younger models.

Manteau Gerard, LMV Malmö jeans and a BurdaStyle skirt are also shown by young models.

Who used the same patterns as I in 2018?
One of the big advantages of internet is that one can find lots of the versions made by other seamstresses. One can easy find their makes on Instagram by using hashtags.
I made the Gable Top a few times in 2018 and did a search on the internet with the search Gable Top and on Instagram using #gabletop. We see Gable Top versions in a large size range and made for young and old.

Sewing pattern featured an older person modelling it
Do I value to see a clothing pattern shown by an older person modelling it?

Would I change my pattern choice when I see a pattern featured an older person modelling it above another featured a younger person modelling it? That brings me to the question ‘how do I chooce a sewing pattern’.

How do I chooce a sewing pattern
What determines for me that I want to make a certain sewing pattern? When a sewing pattern has caught my eye I first look at the technical drawing and all the pattern pieces, I read the description and the sewing instructions. If it’s an older pattern, I do a search on the internet for reviews. Finally the model must be suitable for my figure, it must fit in my existing wardrobe and must be suitable for fabrics I like to wear. The age of the person modelling it does not play a role for me.

How do you view the role of a person modelling a sewing pattern and what considerations do you make when you choose a sewing pattern?
I also take the route you describe when chosing a pattern. Technical drawings, describtion, reviews. I do enjoy looking at the ‘models’, but they always have a different body with different proportions than me. Because of that, I always need to imagine how it would look on my body. And therefore, it just doesn’t matter if that model is young or old, low or heavy weight, a rectangle or an hourglass.
Thank you for your comment. Good to hear. If a new sewing pattern would be released and they would asked me what I find more important: a beautiful photo of a model or a good technical drawing with pattern parts I choose the last option.
This post would have been a lot of work to put together, but it was a very interesting one to read. You have made some beautiful things Sonja!
Thank you so much for your kind words for my makes. It took me indeed some time to do all research but it was well spent. I’ve learned so much and it was interesting to find out what my motivations are to purchase a sewing pattern or sewing magazine.
Interesting review of last years makes in the context of recent debate. Also an interesting conclusion. I use a lot of we/ blog searches to help me visualise patterns on people of different sizes / ages. Very often it is real people’s makes that inspire / influence me to make up a pattern
Thank you so much. It really was an eye-opener for me. Reading your comment I think we do almost follow the same rote when we choose a sewing pattern.