Tag: weight-loss

  • Vlog: Weight and Sewing Self Esteem

    Vlog: Weight and Sewing Self Esteem

    At this point, I’ve hit on weight and sewing self esteem three times already.

    This time, I figured it was time for an intimate conversation about my feelings in video. (My previous posts about this topic can be found here)

    Talking about weight loss and weight gain in relation to your hobby and craft is really something that can be dissected into a million different pieces.

    Where to start?

    What to cover?

    How deep to dive in?

    How am *I* even handling it?

    The topic is huge and there have been a million books written about weight loss (and gain.) Likewise, there are a million books written about self esteem and self worth. Bringing the two together into a positive learning opportunity, though?

    For the purposes of this sewing blog post, I define Sewing Self Esteem as how you view the clothes you make through your craft and love of sewing– how you perceive the fit, how you perceive how they are worn through your lifestyle. 

    Vintage Simplicity 1460 peplum blouse, sipping away at a cocktail and enjoying a day off | @vintageontap

    The only person I can speak for is myself.

    As I say in a disclaimer in the video, I’m only comfortable to speak for myself about this topic. I only speak from my experiences and from how I perceive my weight loss and how that’s hitting me in relation to my craft. Of course, I want to be mindful not to offend anyone or say anything that is perceived as nasty or out of line– but I can only speak for my journey and the path.

    My Weight Sewing Self Esteem took a hit when nothing in my closet fit.

    Essentially it came down to this:

    I spent hours and hours on a piece- time, effort, money. But, its either too big or too small. And not just by a little bit. But a lot.

    Sitting at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, Colette Rue Dress | @vintageontap

    Even though I felt fantastic about myself as a person- confident in my body, I felt very physically ill.

    And this is really the kicker.

    Loving myself and my body didn’t make the physical health feel any better. I couldn’t sleep, was always tired, and had (still do!) high blood pressure. But the weight I had gained didn’t stop me from wanting to explore my sewing craft- to perfect my skills as a seamstress- and to keep working on what I loved.

    Ultimately, I refused to let myself take a Sewing Self Esteem hit.

    Every time we sew, we have an opportunity to learn, to grow, to explore sewing. As our weight fluctuates (and it probably will)– rather than feeling sad about the change, its a moment to reflect on how amazing our bodies are and how awesome it is that we get to dress them up however we want.

    My takeaway from my experience is… fabric comes and goes. Understanding that and understanding that our weight on the scale and size on the measuring tape do not define who we are- let alone who we are as seamstresses and dressmakers is VITAL.

    Never let your weight stop you from sewing. Even if in 6 months your measurements change, that change won’t take away the practice, time, care, and skills you learned from the experience of making. And as seamstresses, we get to savor that like no one else does.

    Sewing for the Retro Tiki Collab, Butterick B6354 | @vintageontap

    Are you experiencing weight fluctuations? Has that stopped you from sewing? Why?


     
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  • Weightloss as a Seamstress, Revisted

    Weightloss as a Seamstress, Revisted

    It’s been about 1 year since I last wrote about weightloss as a seamstress. 

    What inspired me to write the post initially was that I was trying to find healthy coping mechanisms for my own weight gain. I was trying to understand what that meant for me and my projects– and how to cope in a body positive way.

    Since last year’s post, I’ve gained even more weight- and again, that’s ok. There’s no reason to shame myself for having done so; its natural and happens. What has also changed since last year is that my sewing hours have ramped up and I produce a new garment every couple weeks. The weight gain has not stopped me from taking on projects that are form fitting or that expose a little bit of tummy. Seriously, I made a swimsuit this year and posed for photos in it. I can still pose and be fierce, even with the extra pounds packed on.

    Full disclosure, my best body-affirmation doesn’t come from fashion magazines or traditional media- it actually comes from drag queens. One of my favorite aspects of drag culture is that it encourages you to love yourself at any size and rewards those who can step out of their shell and really “feel the fantasy” (see Drag Race, etc.) Of course even having been a fan of the culture for years still means I have a lot to learn. But that doesn’t mean I can’t channel that happiness and confidence when I’m in public, trying to pose for a photo for the blog, even with a little extra curve on my body.

    Rago Shapewear Girdle, Pinup Weightloss as a Seamstress | @vintageontap

     

    Being fierce at any size doesn’t mean I don’t want to be healthy, though. 

    I can candidly admit that I do have to lose weight. Not for vanity, but for health. I’ve officially reached my 30s and want to be mobile, healthy, and glowing, especially as this blog grows and grows. The added weight to my height isn’t helping my blood pressure and making steps to improve my longevity can always start now. Like wearing sunscreen.

    Looking back on old posts, there are things I’ve made that I can’t wear right now which really bums me out. All those clothes are sitting in my closet, waiting to be worn. Unfortunately, within the sewing community this part of sewing doesn’t ever get talked about, just swallowed silently as just another adjustment to make on a pattern piece. For all the effort that I made making my clothes, I want that invested energy to be enjoyed every day and not wasted.

    Focusing on weightloss as a seamstress for me means:

    • Feeling happy and confident in the clothes I make
    • Being able to know my body’s dimensions intimately for a better fitting garment
    • Reducing the amount of pattern blending that I’ve been having to do since my weight has increased

    I’ll probably still rock a waist cincher– it’s super pin up and vintage and I enjoy it. I love the silhouette it creates and the authenticity it gives my garments.  An additional challenge will be to flawlessly take in everything I’ve made over the past year.

    I’m ready to experience some weightloss as a seamstress and am actually really looking forward to it. Here’s to a healthy and happy year for me!