As soon as I got home this afternoon, I finished two cammie purses that had been waiting (and making me feel guilty), and then I turned my attention to my ironing board, where I have things piled up on one end that I want to do *something* to, to make the items in the stack wearable again.I may never catch up with that pile but I can't bear to just toss some things yet.
Today, I finished up McCall's 5523, three months later. I sewed most of this skirt back in October and since I wasn't really happy with the fit, I let it sit. In that time, I got smaller and the skirt got bigger. Now the problem wasn't that it was too tight but too loose. Over the last month or so, I'd been trying it on and thinking about partially ripping out the princess seams and sewing them smaller but that thought made my eyes glaze over and the skirt continued to live in the pile.
Back in October, I had faced the waist with grosgrain ribbon but I hadn't tacked it down yet. Today, I stitched it down from the right side 5/8" down from the waist edge and then I threaded 1/2" elastic through my slapdash casing. It's a quick and easy solution but, hey, it works (and it doesn't even look bad on the inside). It will also give me more time to wear the skirt as I continue to shrink. I love losing the weight, but I'm starting to get a little pissed that some of my favorite things are too big (see comment above about ironing board pile). ;-) Yeah, I could have bigger problems, I know.
My waist is now 36" and seeing that skirt with elastic scrunching it up even more was amazing to me. I can't believe how SMALL that skirt looks on a hanger. Like, how in the world can that be MY skirt? Until recently, my skirts have overhung the width of a hanger, and then some. Now they don't. If you've always been thin, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but my plus-size sisters will understand. It's a victory nearly as satisfying as watching the numbers on the scale head south.
One good thing about my skirt being bigger (and me smaller) is that I gained length due to less terrain for the skirt to cover. Plus my knee fat is finally starting to subside so I'm OK with a shorter hem now. Hence no need to face the hem as I was contemplating back in October. Hence. Who says hence in real life (besides me)?
So, here's the finished skirt from the front:
And the back. I really should've checked those seams before the photo since they're sitting a little off-center. Oh well. You get the idea.
Here's me back in October. I can't believe how much thinner my face is now.
The butt is still hanging on, though. ;-)
My goodness, the change to you in just a few short months - skirt looks great as well...
ReplyDeleteYes, I know EXACTLY what you mean about the skirts overhanging the hangers :-( Congratulations on the weight loss, you look fantastic! You're a good inspiration...
ReplyDeletePearl
It's pretty cool how happy you sound. :) You look great!
ReplyDeleteLooking good, congrats on staying steady with the weight loss!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your weight change. Your skirt sits really well.
ReplyDeleteIt is like watching the incredible shrinking woman! Could you send some of your weight loss mojo my way. Please.
ReplyDeleteI think the weirdest thing about losing weight is adjusting to the look of your clothes on the hanger being smaller, you lose your sense of your own size visually. For instance, I can walk into a store now, hold something up and know whether it will fit (more or less), but in 15 pounds or more, I will have no idea. It seems like your mind loses the weight slower than your body. Does that make sense?
Anyway, well done.
Good for you, working on some utility sewing. I have a pile just like that on my ironing board I'm forever trying to get rid of. I also have to say about all the weight loss "Congratulations!" You look really fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI love the back. Nice job. Must look into pattern! Very flattering outfit.
ReplyDeleteYou are looking fantastic, send me that weight loss mojo please.
ReplyDeleteYour looking great and yes, it really shows in your happy smile. Nice skirt.
ReplyDeleteYour skirt looks beautiful! Great job!
ReplyDeletere: clothes you make too big - as my DH says, "A nice problem to have." I never sew anything when I'm losing weight as I can't let my too big clothes go. Your body image must be highly out of whack having lost so much weight. Again, nice problem to have.
ReplyDeleteDon't take this the wrong way, but I think your butt looks great from where I'm sitting. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCute skirt. I too am working a long term "contract" job (which unfortunately has no future, but it's a great "for now" situation). I need some clothes desparately and have ordered some Pamela's Patterns, you enabler, you.
One question I have: I've been lurking for a while lately, with no time to comment. But I've now scrubbed your posts looking for a reference to these *wonderful* shoes with curved heel. http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com/2011/10/love-and-i-dont-know.html
Do you recall the make or model? I just love those heels-modern looking, but not extreme. Anyway, can you point a desparately shoe challenged fan in the right direction? I love all your shoe choices, but these really spoke to me. :-)
So inspiring! And the skirt looks great too! (Love that flared hem at the back-- so cute!) And I know exactly what you mean by overhanging the hangers... ugh. :P
ReplyDeleteCongrats on continuing to lose! I can remember when my skirts were stretched trying to get them to the little clippies at the end (high school/early college), and I know what it's like to have my skirts be too wide for the hanger (like now), so yes, I can absolutely relate. Congrats on getting your waist back! The butt will shrink in time, no worries. :-)
ReplyDeleteLookin' good - smiling, sewing and blogging happy! Keep it up
ReplyDeleteLooking great! I think the elastic solution was a good one, as I hate making things that don't fit. I've even sewn things that wound up too big within a couple of weeks -- completely annoying.
ReplyDeleteYour figure looks lovely! Congratulations!
Looking good!
ReplyDeleteYou look fabulous!!!!! Great outfit too.....
ReplyDeleteYou look super!
ReplyDeleteDon't u look FABULOUS!!!! Congratulations and good luck on your journey!
ReplyDeleteI like how you used the elastic. I need to remember that.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing great with the weight loss.
You are looking great! And I have total envy of how slender your face is looking and how much your cheekbones 'pop'!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are a total enabler. I'm heading to Florida in a few weeks. Am I excited about going to Disney? Yup - but not as excited as I am about getting to hit Bealls! :)
You look great! BTW, I say hence, and inadvertently, etc. My kids laugh at me, but they have very large vocabularies as a result.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Having lost weight myself a few years ago (oh god, it's over 5 years now!) I know exactly how you feel! But over time, believe me, you won't miss the old, bigger clothes at all - you'll make new skinny things you love even more. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd now I bestow upon you a title given to me once - "the incredible shrinking woman"! :D
Lookin' good!
ReplyDeleteThe skirt looks great - I can't wait to try my pattern for this skirt now.
ReplyDeleteI have a question or two. I will understand if you don't have the time to answer due to your busy life. What is Petersham casing? Also I pose this next question to anyone and everyone.. I have a plaid that I was thinking of using for this pattern. Do you think it would work with the back.
Great to see how much weight you are losing - provides inpiration. Great job.