This topic must come up for many sewers. I KNOW I can't be the only one that has faced the challenge of garment sewing during weight loss.
I am currently in the phase of losing weight and am just about at my half way point to my goal. I know many people feel uncomfortable talking numbers but here goes. My goal is to lose 75 lbs, I am at a current lose of 36.6 lbs. (Woo Hoo!!! Just about half way!) I've averaged about 7 lbs per month which in my book is pretty darn good.
Now that I am we'll on my way to my goal I have encountered a HUGE problem of my wardrobe. 18 or so months ago I did a wardrobe purge and got rid of all my clothes that did not fit. Too big (not many) too small (lots and lots) they all went to the donation pile. The only thing I allowed myself too keep we're the items that I have sewn that were too small. I seriously dislike giving away clothes that I have made and like regardless of fit!
Now I have an ever growing pile of clothes that are rapidly becoming too big, my dresser is piled high with them, which means an ever shrinking wardrobe! yikes.... I really want to be ale to sew all my own clothes but am struggling with some things.For example, spending so much time on fitting a great pair of slacks for work to only find that 10 weeks later they are too big and I need to do the fitting process all over again.
I have decided to try and focus my garment sewing on items that can be used transitionally through my weight loss and not have my time and efforts be a total loss.
After spending some time thinking about this problem I have come up with a list of items that I believe i can successfully create and will look good during my transition as well as garments that don't take as much work. This does mean that I will have to change around my sewing plans a bit, but that's OK. It also means that I am even more motivated than ever to loose the weight at a good pace! I want to create some gunning fitted garments just for me :) ... A great goal for me!
Back to my transitional weight loss sewing plans.
The NOT sewing list:
Slacks (I actually had to make an emergency purchase of 2 pairs of slacks for work) NOT 1 pair I own fit!!!
Jeans
Skirts with a fitted waistband
Very fitted and/or structured garments
The YES sewing list:
Loose jacket styles
Knit garments, tops and pants
Flowy skirts and dresses
Tops and dresses with defines waistline
Things that can be belted as I loose weight
Easily altered items
The Challenge: not to dress like a frump!
Stay tuned for my next post with a good selection of patterns for sewing during weight loss.
- Posted by Steph from Siouxzeegirl Designs
Siouxzeegirl Designs - 10 Sewing Machines and a Serger
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Finished! Cynthia Guffey Jacket J 5054 and Skirt seminar
I finished my Cynthia Guffey Jacket J5054 this week! Added bonus was that Cynthia was in town for. The sewing and quilt expo so I got to wear it for her. Always nice to be able to show off a successful garment to the pattern creator, a total win- win feeling!
I had my husband take a couple pictures of me in it. Of course this was at the end of the day after wearing it to and from the expo, sitting for lectures, etc... I see in the pictures that it is a little wrinkled in the back, but not bad. It was quite windy out so please excuse the crazy hair and in the pic of the front I am holding it closed cause the wind was whipping. The fronts really do match up perfectly! In fact of all the work on this jacket the only thing I need to change is the button placement for the hidden tab, it needs to move over a quarter inch more so the tab does not show at all.
Wile Cynthia Guffey was here I signed up for a 1 day straight skirt fitting seminar. We were a small group of 6 women and paired up for the day. Cynthia had mock-ups or muslins made of her straight skirt pattern in the three different size options and we used those to work from. It was a great all day class and I learned much about fitting skirts and how to read muslins and of course how to make changes to muslins to fix them. Cynthia first did a demonstration and then we each got to work with our partners in fitting each other. With the small class size we had plenty of one on one with Cynthia for questions and answers. Near the end of the class, we were able to take the muslins and transfer all the markings to our own patterns, which were included in the price of the class.
I'm bummed that I did not get a before and after picture of me in the unfitted and fitted muslins. It was amazing to me how great the fitted muslins looked, so darn flattering. I've now lost over 36lbs so we also had a discussion on changing fit over time and how to start from a jump off point and not from scratch.
One of these days I hope to make it to one of her 4 day fitting/sewing classes. I think that would be very educational!
- Posted by Steph from my iPad
I had my husband take a couple pictures of me in it. Of course this was at the end of the day after wearing it to and from the expo, sitting for lectures, etc... I see in the pictures that it is a little wrinkled in the back, but not bad. It was quite windy out so please excuse the crazy hair and in the pic of the front I am holding it closed cause the wind was whipping. The fronts really do match up perfectly! In fact of all the work on this jacket the only thing I need to change is the button placement for the hidden tab, it needs to move over a quarter inch more so the tab does not show at all.
Wile Cynthia Guffey was here I signed up for a 1 day straight skirt fitting seminar. We were a small group of 6 women and paired up for the day. Cynthia had mock-ups or muslins made of her straight skirt pattern in the three different size options and we used those to work from. It was a great all day class and I learned much about fitting skirts and how to read muslins and of course how to make changes to muslins to fix them. Cynthia first did a demonstration and then we each got to work with our partners in fitting each other. With the small class size we had plenty of one on one with Cynthia for questions and answers. Near the end of the class, we were able to take the muslins and transfer all the markings to our own patterns, which were included in the price of the class.
I'm bummed that I did not get a before and after picture of me in the unfitted and fitted muslins. It was amazing to me how great the fitted muslins looked, so darn flattering. I've now lost over 36lbs so we also had a discussion on changing fit over time and how to start from a jump off point and not from scratch.
One of these days I hope to make it to one of her 4 day fitting/sewing classes. I think that would be very educational!
- Posted by Steph from my iPad
Monday, April 1, 2013
Idaho vacation is over :( last hikes, and misc...
My 9 days in Idaho flew by! Vacation time always seems to move differently then real life time. :)
I had a great time and was able to get in 2 more hikes after Melissa joined us on Thursday. It was quite nice having a partner to hike with and of course chat with! From the amount of talking we did one would think that we hadn't seen each other in a long time.... Not just 5 days!
Anyway, the two of us, me with my broken leg and Mel with her broken back were hiking fools and for anyone familiar with Pocatello we hiked the big bear. It was great, amazing, beautiful, peaceful, rejuvenating and so much more. Just what I needed.
We had great success in finding a dress for the last member of the bridal party! Woot, woot!! The junior bridesmaid now has a beautiful dress that works wonderfully with the other dresses.
Adrianna, the junior bridesmaid, showing off one of her gifts from Melissa. Part of a travel set of bags I made for each bridesmaid.
We got home late last night and I. Had a super busy but great day today. Started it with an early morning swim, a great checkup with my cardiologist and spent a couple hours giving my sewing studio a thorough cleaning! Dusted, cleaned, floors cleaned with the Hoover floor cleaner and straightened up. Ready for me to proceed with renewed sewing mojo!
- Posted by Steph from my iPad
I had a great time and was able to get in 2 more hikes after Melissa joined us on Thursday. It was quite nice having a partner to hike with and of course chat with! From the amount of talking we did one would think that we hadn't seen each other in a long time.... Not just 5 days!
Anyway, the two of us, me with my broken leg and Mel with her broken back were hiking fools and for anyone familiar with Pocatello we hiked the big bear. It was great, amazing, beautiful, peaceful, rejuvenating and so much more. Just what I needed.
We had great success in finding a dress for the last member of the bridal party! Woot, woot!! The junior bridesmaid now has a beautiful dress that works wonderfully with the other dresses.
Adrianna, the junior bridesmaid, showing off one of her gifts from Melissa. Part of a travel set of bags I made for each bridesmaid.
We got home late last night and I. Had a super busy but great day today. Started it with an early morning swim, a great checkup with my cardiologist and spent a couple hours giving my sewing studio a thorough cleaning! Dusted, cleaned, floors cleaned with the Hoover floor cleaner and straightened up. Ready for me to proceed with renewed sewing mojo!
- Posted by Steph from my iPad
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