Date: 9/27/04 11:42 PM

OK - in the plus-sized sewing thread, someone mentioned having attended a lecture on sewing for weight loss...

I could really use some tips!

I started a weight-loss plan 3 weeks ago (reduced calories, high lean protein, plus 3x/week at Curves) and have lost 10 lbs and several inches already.  Yay me.  This is the first time I've tried to lose weight since I was 11 - I'm pretty motivated to succeed.

I know it's important to dress the body I have now, BUT...much of my fall/winter 'plan' involved preparing a wardrobe for a business trip in February.  I've got fabric stashed with that capsule in mind...but, I have no idea what size I'll be in February AND I want new clothes NOW.

So...any tips for sewing in a manner that is (relatively) easily alterable as I melt away???  I'm sure it would be fun to sew all new stuff, but my time is tight these days, now that I'm at Curves 3x/week right after work AND cooking healthy meals and stuff...

I recall the thread mentioned using shirt-sleeve techniques instead of set-in sleeves, since the whole thing can be taken in with one seam, and I've already figured out that rather than putting in full elastic casings, I should attempt the "stitch the waistband only at the sides and seam allowances" manoeuver (so that there's less to rip and resew).  I also think that cut-on casings would be better than sewn on, since I'll lose inches in the crotch length too, as the tummy disappears...

Any other hints?  Would this be the time to look at alternatives to traditional side bust darts, for example?  I expect those will need to be made higher and smaller sooner or later...

help!

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what if the hokey-pokey really IS what it's all about?

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Date: 9/28/04 1:19 AM

Jules,
I have sewn for my sister, when she was facing the opposite ( growing tummy due to pregnancy ), but I guess, the techniques will be the same

I have sewn pants & skirts out of firm but stretchy material like lycra twill, that had a good recovery. I made them all pull on with buttonhole-elastic in the chasing & a button inside the chasing. Just leave the chasing open for about 2 inches, so that you can tighten the elastic from time to time. As my sister grew, she was able to get from a quiet gathered skirt to a not-really gathered skirt. You may go the opposite direction . When the skirt is too gathered, you might recut the skirt, if you stick to a simple pattern

tini

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read my blog:
http://www.tininaeht.blogspot.com/

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Date: 9/28/04 3:03 AM

Tini, congratulations on impending aunthood.  I just got the same news from my brother and his wife!  Yay!!

Jules, I lost weight over summer (4 kgs).  All I did was put on my "new" pants and pin the sides deeper, remove, chalk mark, and sew/serge at the new side seams.  I wanted to minimize pressing seams open in the morning to make my clothes look good, so mostly I serged the sides.  That took in the looseness.  I always sew pants in stretch fabrics, just like Tini recommended.  SewTabby said it perfectly in one review--they're just more comfortable to wear.  The only thing I caution is:

Alter clothes fresh from the laundry!  

(Setting that aside so it's really noticeable.)  I pinned the sides of my stretch twill pants after wearing them all day, thinking I'd know just where they didn't fit.  True, but that process also relaxed the fibers enough so they were tight when I put them on after altering and laundering.  The dryer didn't shrink them either, I always line dry.  It's really noticeable, and I said some unprintable things about serging the sides, but fortunately they relaxed again throughout the day; but were still a tiny bit tighter than I wanted.  

--Katharine in Taipei

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Returning to sewing after a year off
http://eurasianlocation.wordpress.com/

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Date: 9/28/04 7:19 AM

Congratulations on the weight loss!  For me, it's 30 pounds (and counting), so I know of what you speak.
The best advice I can give is to invest in a roll of drawcord elastic.  Make your skirts and pants with this elastic and they will last you for about 20 pounds.  I prefer a one-seam pant done with the drawcord elastic because the changes in fit are less noticable as you draw up the cord of the elastic.  I've been making them as "tight" as I can stand them to start with, and then as I lose, the fabric drapes nicely.  Same principle with skirts, although there is a side seam (I use Christine Jonson's Basewear Two skirt).
I wear a lot of knits in my casual lifestyle, which can be made a bit more fitted to begin with.  Again, as you lose, the ease increases nicely.  The quality of knits has improved greatly over the past few years, and you can make gorgeous, professional garments which are easy to wear.
For a professional look, you could do one of the Sewing Workshop jackets (like Nikko) in a menswear fabric.  The garment requires less "fit" to be successful, and will look very polished and interesting.  If you prefer more fit in your jackets, do a short, fitted jacket in a sweaterknit boucle.  There is no need to line it, and as you lose weight the alterations will be easier because of the lack of lining.
One or two other things I have noticed during this weight loss process.  Different parts of the body will reduce faster than others, and it may not be exactly as you would expect.  Because of my weight machine work, my hips, thighs and waist are reducing much faster than the upper torso, and my arms and shoulders are becoming more refined(and believe me, I don't mind!.  I'm discovering shoulders I never had before..which influences future fit.  If you are able to do so, make a sloper or moulage about every three months to evaluate the changes in your figure.  Is the position of the bustline different?  Is the slope of the shoulder changed?  Is the front-to-back proportion changed?  As the definition of body areas becomes apparent, you may have to rethink what you believe your shape to be.  I am noticing a swing from a very pronounced "pear" shape to a subtle "x" shape.  My clothing choices will probably change when the job is completed.
Keep it up!  Stay motivated!  It's fun to sculpt a whole new you:)
Shannon

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Date: 9/28/04 8:25 AM

If you continue to be successful in your fitness quest, you'll find yourself changing shape faster than you can keep up in your sewing. Also, keep in mind that you're a busy professional person. That being said...

Sew simple shapes and use elastic waistbands. Knitwear is your friend, and will fit over a wider range than wovens. In fitting, pay particular attention to fit through your shoulder area. This will enable your garments to still look ok even if they're a little larger than you'd like through the body.

This is a perfect opportunity to use up some of those bargain stash fabrics. Often I found myself making new instead of altering. I don't like alterations, and often it's faster to start fresh instead of tweaking a too large garment.

Consider shopping stores like TJ Maxx and Ross (or their Canadian equivalent). Especially during the clearances, I have picked up bags and bags of RTW for less than $100 US, and avoided stressing over not having time to whip something up to wear. Remember what I said about losing weight faster than I could sew? This was my solution--I feel like a heretic mentioning it on a sewing site, but let's be real. You may find that RTW is a lot easier to wear as you get thinner, and it will tide you over until you hit a plateau and can make clothes.

Accessories are helpful too. You can make a few basics a lot more interesting with a few nice scarves and some jewelry.

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Now blogging at http://sewwest.blogspot.com

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Date: 9/28/04 12:44 PM

What great information, thank you Jules for bringing this up, and congrats - could you be inspiring me too??  I did it once before - determined to be fit before 40 and I was.
If you get sick of elastic waist pants and skirts don't forget you can do just side or back elastic, and try different widths of elastics for different looks.  
Here are some things RTW I bought for the process:
drapey trousers with elastic back.  These are supposed to be a little bigger anyway, so they didn't look bad as I lost.
drapey knit dolman sleeve tunics - need I say more about how easy to alter?  
button down blouses one size too small - wear unbuttoned at first w/cami underneath, and then later, wear buttoned and cinched w/belt, or even tucked in.  
Christine Johnson's one seam cotton lycra pants - sewn with the button elastic.  Absolutely.  
Brussells skirt - one seam skirt that looks great when losing weight.  You could even use the button elastic on this.
And I absolutely agree with Nan, DO NOT be afraid or guilty of buying RTW during this process.  You deserve it after all your hard work - reward yourself!  
I have finally come to the conclusion that I will not feel guilty about buying RTW again - ever.  I sew too slow to be able to sew an entire wardrobe.  Now, I enjoy sewing more.  I am not making myself crazy trying to sew everything I wear.  I want to enjoy the process.  
Good luck!!!

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As God as my witness, I will never sew with lousy fabric again.

http://southernstitch.blogspot.com/

When life gives you green velvet curtains, make a green velvet dress.

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Date: 9/28/04 1:04 PM

I recently made the 6-panel skirt from Textile Studios #1103.  I noticed that the slimmer skirts came in 6 sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL), but the full 6-panel skirt was drafted for only two sizes:  XS-M and L-XXL.  Size of elastic is the only thing that refines the fit.  I made the skirt in a heavy mystery crinkle fabric (rayon, I think), and the drape is slimming.  As I lose weight, the waist will just nip in a little more.  In Easy Guide to Sewing Skirts, Marcy Tilton suggests making gored skirts larger than usual because the skimming-over-hips effect of a not-so-fitted gored skirt (made with heavy, drapey fabric) is flattering.  You could start with a skirt in the "right size" and then reduce your way into the additional skimming effect!

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Date: 9/28/04 1:06 PM

BELTS!  If you have a formerly snug top, it becomes a tunic or bouson shirt!  If your jumper or dress is bagging, belt it up and, voila, it fits like a shirtwaist rather than a shift!

I have found that pants can be made to fit if you belt them below the waistband and wear an overblouse.  My pants seam (pun) to get longer in the crotch the more weight I lose.  I know that's not true, but I always feel like I am losing my pantihose from the waist down (which I have done, by the way, and which is most mortifying!

And, repeat after me, "Elastic can be my friend".

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Date: 9/28/04 3:06 PM

Wow, how timely. I'm starting to eat better (much, much better) and so I expect to start gradually losing weight. I figured that the sewing of new clothes and planning for a new wardrobe would further inspire me to keep on my eating plan.

I've been sewing simple elastic waist paints (some of them too baggy, but I'm trying to stray away from that) and simple shell tops with shirt-sleeve (which, as Jules/Vancouver says, can be taken in with one seam). I'm also planning on making some slimmer pants (not my usual "clown pants") in denim and twill, with elastic waist and belt loops. As janiev says, belts will come in handy as I lose weight.

A lot of the other ideas here are perfect. This is great!

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Date: 9/28/04 4:22 PM

Quote (Irene @ Sep. 28 2004,11:04)

I recently made the 6-panel skirt from Textile Studios #1103.

What a great looking skirt pattern! IMHO, the one with the panel in the front is far more slimming that a single front seam. And I've got a gored skirt with elastic waistband that's lasted me through a kajillion sizes.

Last year I lost 50 pounds, and slowly have put back on 25  of it. Of course, I religiously blessed others with all my under-grown clothes as I went from a size 20 to a 12, so now I'm near naked as I am back to a 14/16. So, yeah, this is timely. I don't wanna keep going up the scale again. Can anyone say daily walks, fat free yogurt instead of Ben and Jerry's?? I'm even considering replacing my computer chair with one of those big excercise balls . . .

I'm thinking wrap and one seam pants, cut on waistbands, more gored skirts, elastic waistbands, drop shoulder tops that won't be so obviously too big as I shrink *again* . Love the ideas of shirts as overshirts for a while, dolman sleeves, anything quick and easy instead of carefully, closely fitted.

Knits. Darts from the armscye. Patterns for tops with front and back seams and small boat necklines. And careful rtw shopping for the meantime.

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Sewing fills my life. And my living room, and bedroom, and closets, and car . . .
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The advantage of a food allergy is that I get to choose the restaurant.

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