The following post is for adult male readers only. Ladies, please return tomorrow.
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So guys, I was in the laundry room the other day (where we have a bookcase for discarded reading material) and someone had left behind these:
It's called "Vogue Patterns: The Ultimate Sewing Magazine."
So women have their own sewing magazines! And whereas our magazines are teeming with babes, scantily clad if clad at all, these sewing magazines are 100% male-free-zones.
Seriously -- Not. One. Guy.
There's nothing cutting edge in "Vogue Patterns" (think Spiegel catalog) but this magazine manages to be both slick and wholesome. Weird.
If the gals like the dresses they can buy the patterns and make them, and I suspect they do. What a racket. They're not settling for 20-year-old "relaxed" jeans and bowling shirt patterns like we do.
Men, I'm a little worried about what this magazine portends. Could women someday dominate home sewing as they currently do Sunday afternoon television?
It seems outrageous even to contemplate but, judging from what I've seen in "Vogue Patterns," possible.
Isn't it time we started our own pattern magazine?
Soon they'll be cooking too.
Oh please do!
ReplyDelete(I know, I'm not a man. And I'll hurry away again really quickly now. But still.. please do! :-))
A savvy men's sewing magazine is massively overdue. Peter, you would be the perfect Editor-in-Chief, with Cousin Cathy as the roving fashion reporter.
ReplyDeletePeter, you know every woman fan of yours is going to read this powerful message. I'd love to sew for my man, but there isn't much out there. I think the pattern companies need to step up.
ReplyDeleteHell yes! These girls are getting way out of control, and I blame the pattern companies for egging them on. It is high time for us sewing men to band together and reassert our position - the pattern companies need to wake up and pay homage to our manly needs!
ReplyDeleteIf I had the time and knowledge, I would start a men's pattern company. Sadly, pattern-making classes are even dominated by how to dress women. Men are usually just an offshoot.
ReplyDeleteMuller & Sohn publishes the Rundschau magazine out of Germany (and is available in English), which might interest you. It's more focused on making your own patterns (it's geared toward the industry), but it's quite up-to-date and the only thing we've got!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.muellersohn.com/rundschau/en/shop/subscription,37/herrenrundschau,rundschau-verlag,,1/
I know, I know, I'm a woman and shouldn't be reading this but...geez you really peaked my curiosity by telling me not to!
ReplyDeleteBurda sewing magazine usually has a section for men's patterns. It's small and at the back of the magazine (where it belongs-oops did I write that?) but it's there and Burda, being a German company usually has a more european take on menswear. Meaning that they go (ever so slightly) beyond the square cabana shirt and pajama pants. Check it out.
I fear that, until you start your own pattern company Peter, this may be all you get.
I'm afraid I couldn't help peeking either ...
ReplyDeleteI, for one, would love to see a book (or collection of patterns) detailing how to make snazzy men's collared shirts (french cuff, club collar, you name it!). I know there are patterns out there, and only so many iterations of 'shirt' one can tolerate making before going insane, but gosh, just looked at Vogue's men's section and there are only 7 patterns. 7! And one of them is a unisex pattern! Something needs to be done! What I'd kill for now, though, is a men's bathing suit pattern. The lover has been wearing the same one since middle school - intervention time!
ReplyDeleteYou'd have to lead the charge because come to think of it...I'm stumped. Men wear dress shirts, polos, tshirts, dress trousers,pants, shorts, underroos and ties (bell-bottoms and jumpsuits if you can pull it off). But there's a real lack of creativity that you see with women's patterns - like skirt's length, bias, blocking, flounces, etc. Men's just look all the same.
ReplyDeleteAnd what about men+ size ????
ReplyDeleteMy DH deseperately wants some clothes.
You knew we women would read this when you said don't. It is a bummer that there isn't much of a selection for the men. You should start the pattern magazine. Learn how to draft patterns and come up with your own designs. You would be awesome at it.
ReplyDeleteYou want to cook? Cool, I can provide the kitchen. You want men to cook? Even cooler ... :-)
ReplyDeleteFunny, funny, funny! If anyone could start a men's pattern magazine and make it worth reading, you're the guy for the job.
ReplyDeleteOoops - I wasn't supposed to read this post, my mistake!
Peter,
ReplyDeleteYou're the ideal candidate to write a magazine for male drag queens interested in learning how to make their own dresses!
You'll be able to pass on all the info you've learned on how to fit a woman's garment to a male body using picture from your blog pages!
Can't wait to see the first issue!
I prefer the term "gender illusionist."
ReplyDeleteHmmmm....funny, how many of these comments are from women. No one respects authority anymore! LOL
I'm a guy who became interested in sewing and am incredibly frustrated with the lack of information for sewing for guys. I don't know that there's a huge market for this, but if there was such a magazine, I'd definitely be subscribing. (That said, I'm not particularly interested in the 'gender illusionist' sub-genre.)
ReplyDeleteI prefer the term "gender illusionist."
ReplyDelete....Tomato, tomahto
In the 70s, dubbed the Peacock Decade in men's fashion, the fabric choices were exponentially more varied and there were many more interesting cuts. So there were MANY men's patterns available. Now, as then, it's a matter of convincing their women that their men need to have more variety and then make the variety more available. I agree that it's time to reclaim the niche.
ReplyDeleteYou have authority?! Hah! =)
ReplyDeleteYou really didn't think we weren't going to read on, did you? Men!
*smooches*
Lynn
A bit OT here but, omigosh, this pattern is awsome! Nylon tricot men's briefs and look a the fabric print! I had to share. http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/patterns/listingview.php?num=22613&ref=2
ReplyDeleteAs B Jeppson said, the 70's was considered the Peacock Decade, but it had firm roots in other eras when men dressed just as fashionably and fabulously as the women - sometimes more so.
ReplyDeleteThe Victorian & Edwardian periods were a time of gorgeous frock coats, trousers, ruffled shirts, and cravats (who doesn't love those?!)
The Jeffersonian period - aka Thomas Jefferson - saw an influx of French fashion in the Colonial US. Silks, satins, and laces were used lavishly and to great effect.
The brocades, silks, velvets and rich colours of the Elizabethan and Stuart periods. Men wore pink with pride and looked amazing doing it.
Personally, I love to see a man in a long frock coat with smart trousers and a crisp shirt. I also think a man looks incredibly masculine in full Scottish Highland gear. Your club collar shirt is one of my very favourites so far, Peter.
As women's fashion is cyclic, so should men's. It's time to take back fashion for men, Peter! Pull from time periods you love and admire and start putting together your own magazine...better yet, your own patterns!
Oh, and HEY!, Anonymous up there! This is Peter's blog and Peter's place. Gender illusionist is the preferred term. It's not a tomatoe / tomatoh situation; it's about respect.
Actually I don't care what people call me -- as long as they call me! LOL
ReplyDeleteThe next thing you know, we'll be doing laundry, too. Hmmph ... !
ReplyDeletePeter I agree. I learned to sew about 8 years ago, and I started using patterns but once you make vests and pajama pants mens patterns are a little predictable. I think it is time for a mens pattern publication even if it consisted of a patterns an issue as long as they were exciting and editorial.
ReplyDeleteI have said it before you are a genius!!!
Regarding the above comment - "I, for one, would love to see a book (or collection of patterns) detailing how to make snazzy men's collared shirts (french cuff, club collar, you name it!)" - can I suggest a fantastic book by David Page Coffin, available from Taunton (the people who publish Threads). It is a fantastic resource (as is his book on trousers), with acknowledgement that some of the designs can be adapted for women (very generous of him!).
ReplyDeleteHave you seen anything about Ron Collins, who is now doing videos with Sandra Betzina? I think he was doing patterns for a while...
ReplyDelete