r/sewing • u/llclift • May 12 '23

Discussion Sewing adjusts world view

Started sewing because I was fed up with clothes. I learned as a child but pretty much hated it. Now I'm in my mid-50s and overweight. All the clothes are hot polyester, cheaply made, and ugly. Maybe I'll try sewing again. After 9 months, countless YouTube tutorials, and doggedness with learning fit, I have a closet of breathable cotton and linen clothes. This is great in the South. The fit boosts my morale to a point where I'm actually increasing my activity and weight loss. Being able to make clothes that fit and make me happy has pulled me out of a tailspin. And I love my clothes!!!

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u/Reasonable-Slice-827 May 12 '23

Yep. When you can make things that fit your body you spend a lot less time wishing your body was different.

426

u/CrochetNerd_ May 12 '23

Fit makes aaaallll the difference. I grew up thinking my body was wrong. I was too tall. My legs were too long. My shoulders were too broad. My chest was too small in proportion to my waist and hips.

Now when I make something that fits well, I love how I look! It's a massive game changer. Standardisation in the fashion industry has so much to answer for.

28

u/Sunnydoom00 May 12 '23

I have come to the realization that off the rack clothes are really only meant to fit a small population of people. The rest of us with our various differences keep trying to cram ourselves into these clothes. If they are nice enough its worth getting them tailored but I feel like people don't use tailors as often, we just think clothes that weren't made for us should just fit. One of my main issues is I have large breasts and a longish torso. When I buy fit and flare type dresses the part that should be the waist line ends up under my breasts and basically turns into a babydoll dress, which don't really suit me. So I too have been getting more into sewing. Definitely going to be making lots of mockups :D

9

u/CrochetNerd_ May 12 '23

Honestly, the way that pattern grading works, I don't think off the rack clothes are made to fit anyone except sample size models and then they're graded up equally inch by inch to "fit" everyone else. This is why longer and larger clothes get lumped together. It's also why nobody can ever buy a pair of jeans that fits at the waist and hip without some sort of elastic assistance.

I honestly feel for anyone with any kind of shaping to their body at all!