AI6YR BenSep 8, 2025
Ultra quick t-shirt fitting alteration over a coffee break from work. New $1.50 Star Wars t-shirt, overlaid with a shirt which fits me particularly well. Pinned. Sewed along pins. Now debating if I shorten the sleeves and bottom or not. Will probably trim the sides after wearing this a couple of times in case I want to make any adjustments. #sewing #alterations
Show threadAI6YR BenSep 8, 2025
Also, when is a large not a large, LOL. I really did not realize until all the help here that clothing sizes have almost no grounding in any standard. 🙄
Show threadScott FrancisSep 8, 2025
@ai6yr have literally bought two pairs of shorts in the same size from the store by the same manufacturer (just a couple of weeks ago), and one fit and one did not.
Show threadMegan Lynch (she/her)Sep 8, 2025
@darkuncle @ai6yr Schrödinger's Shorts Sizing
Show threadKinene⭐🐻Sep 8, 2025

@meganL @darkuncle @ai6yr Here is a fun article on the history of garment size standardization, and why modern sizing is so unreliable.

(I have a facsimile copy of Alcega's pattern book, with translations.)

https://medium.com/sizolution/a-brief-history-of-sizing-systems-aee6bd066834

A brief history of sizing systems

American size 20 was a size 32 back in 1950s. Modern day Italian 48 is French 48. S, M & L don’t have any set meaning. How did we get here?

Medium
Show threadJesse Alexander, WB2IFS/3
@c_merriweather @meganL @darkuncle @ai6yr Fascinating. I've always had difficulty finding #pants that fit. Usually the waist is too large and the seat is too small. I've had the best luck at Big & Tall shops with pants that have expandable waists and relaxed fit pants like the #firehose pants from Duluth. I suspect that #blackmen were not included in the samples for the standards.
Sep 8, 2025 at 7:36pmWeb
Show threadScott FrancisSep 8, 2025
@wb2ifs @c_merriweather @meganL @ai6yr lack of representation causes *so much* downstream trouble
Show threadAI6YR BenSep 8, 2025
@wb2ifs @c_merriweather @meganL @darkuncle I suspect you are correct... That's quite annoying. I know that my son's pants have always ended up being much larger sizes, which my wife has lopped off six inches at the bottom and hemmed!!
Show threadKinene⭐🐻Sep 8, 2025

@ai6yr @wb2ifs @meganL @darkuncle And there are few alternatives for "talls," as well.

(See: no Viking sizes.)

Show threadKinene⭐🐻Sep 8, 2025

@wb2ifs @meganL @darkuncle @ai6yr No, the samples used to create sizing "standards" have always been those of "northern European" ancestry; which omits all indigenous people, those from the global South, and even Nordic countries*. It is silly, and totally racist.

*As far as I know, there are no "Viking" sized clothing lines, either.

Show threadAI6YR BenSep 8, 2025
@c_merriweather @wb2ifs @meganL @darkuncle Viking clothing!
Show threadKinene⭐🐻Sep 8, 2025

@ai6yr @wb2ifs @meganL @darkuncle

"Viking size:" 4+" taller than average, long legs and arms, extra broad shoulders, "slab sided" (not much waist, any gender).

Clothing should allow movement, including, but not exclusively, oar walking.