Hello my lovelies!
I have an issue. Last year, I started working on a nobles gown. The bodice and the over skirt were measured, cut, and pinned. The channels for the boning were sewed, but no boning placed in. Now at that time, I weight 353 lbs, and my measurements were as follows:
bust=50
underbust=48
waist=55.5
hips=60.25
Now in December, I had gastric bypass and lost a ton of weight. At this point, I am 275 lbs and my current measurements are
bust 48
underbust 44
waist 46.5
hips
53.50
Now taking in the skirt will be simple. But how in the heck do I take in the bodice? It is a drastic change in measurements, and I will still be losing more weight, because ren fair doesnt open for close to 5 months.
So i'm not sure how to adjust a bodice with that major difference. Or should I just start a new gown with different fabrics? And if I start a new gown, then when should be the absolute last minute to start since I'm constantly losing weight. Any help would be appreciated!
First of all congratulations on your continued weight loss- thats awesome.
Mind you I am no great seamstress so I am sure the wonderful people here will be able to give you more input.
But if I were you, I would make a bodice that has back and side lacing to give yourself the most possible adjustment room.
I guess on how late you can wait to start depends on fast you sew.
lol, i've been known to start working on a whole new dress 3 days before fair!
but even with the side lacing, i need to figure out how to take out the 10 or so inches that I have lost. and since the bodice already has the lining and channels sewn, i'm not sure where to take out that extra fabric
Congrats on your bravery in taking such a big a step as surgery!
I'm no seamstress but if there is a way to salvage what you started, the ladies on this forum will know. I would definetly plan for the future weight loss though.
If my math is correct....
December - April weight loss you are averaging about 16 lbs per month and of course variable inches (dependent on area). Perhaps you can estimate what your measurements will be for the time faire comes along? Maybe do some sort of temporary stitching and adjust as the months pass? When does your faire start?
MDRF starts August 28.
There is a part of me that wants to start a new gown (hey, you can never have too many gowns) and estimate what size I will be in August, and make it that size. But then again, I LOVE the fabric for the gown that I have already started, and want to stay with that
I'd leave it as late as you dare! Finish everything you can, but leave the bodice unstitched. At the last moment, make up a new pattern in the new size and fit it onto the bodice pieces you have. Trim off the excess and finish it up. Thinner folk need fewer boning channels, so you will just be cutting off the extra ones.
You have done really well! I'm impressed no end. I shed 70lbs a few years back, and put a bit back on. I've started the strict eating habit and exercise again, after a few slack months due to health issues, and shed 8lbs in the last 3 weeks, so I'm on the way down again!
Thank you Kate
I hope I am able to adjust it without screwing it up.
In the meantime, I am going to start working on a new gown, with possible back and side lacing for maximum adjust-ability
Congrats on the weight loss. Glad to hear you are getting great results.
Good luck with the dres ;)
Congratulations on the weight loss!!!
As for doing another gown, if you can put it off as much as posible until 1 month before faire, you will know then what size to make as you continue to lose. Perhaps a size smaller.
Based on your measurements at the start of your project, cutting it down may destroy the initial design lines.
Kate gives good advice. My suggestion is to wait until you get to the goal weight you have set for yourselfm maintain it, and really do a gown that is going to turn heads as well as the body that will be in it!! Spend the time and money when that happens.
Yeah after thinking about it, I'm thinking that starting the new gown at least 1 month before the fair would be wise. For the first gown, like I said I can take the skirt in, I am hoping to have enough fabric though to start a new bodice for it, because I really LOVED that fabric!!!
So I guess my garb will have to be put on hold, at least my husband will be happy because I can now start his two doublets, and shirts, etc! As for me, I'll start a couple of chemises, partlets, and other small items.
Thanks for the advice and kind words!!!
Quote from: LadySeasan on May 04, 2010, 07:56:32 PM
Thank you Kate
I hope I am able to adjust it without screwing it up.
In the meantime, I am going to start working on a new gown, with possible back and side lacing for maximum adjust-ability
Very sensible. Buy enough fabric that you can remake the bodice in your final smallest size and get more wear out of it! ;D
Smart move on your part. Lady Season. This way, when you are at your goal weight that will be comfortable for you, the next set of garb will be one you will want to be seen in a lot!
A guy freind of mine did the lap band. When he bought his doublet he had 6 inch side panels under the arms inserted. The idea was that if he gained it would allow for expansion room, but for weight loss he could take the 6 inch pieces out on the sides and just tighten the laces as he lost. Currently he is down over 100 pounds and is already to having the sides tightly taken in.
If you make a new bodice maybe made one with under arm side panels. I know more gromets but it is an option to allow for greater size fluxuation.
I did a gown for a gastric bypass person 8 years ago. I made it to her size and 2 months later I took it in 2 inches. I just had to prepare for alterations. Plan ahead and you should do fine.
How do you adjust for non-drastic weight loss? I'm trying to work off 20-35 pounds, but since it will take me a while I don't want to put off all my sewing until then. I'm mostly thinking about self-supporting fitted gowns, since those are fitted on the body.
I have actresses who change weight from original measurement to final curtain. Typically this is because they have just sweated off the pounds during the shows. I have found that if I do princess seams on our pieces I can easily adjust them for the minor fluxations of 10-15 pounds ranges. Depending on how much of seam allowance you are willing to mess with you can deal with up to a 2 inch seamallowance per princess seam. (Translation with that big of seam allowance you can take something from a 16 to a size 8 before you would need a new outfit.)
Lady Season
I am so happy your surgery went well and loss is happening. I had wanted to mention this to you before when you were talking about making a PoB before you lost weight.
I have a couple of friends who had the same or similar surgeries 2 years ago. What they noticed was it was okay to redo the bodices, however the PoB's were a lost cause, and 3 of them had just made Victorian Corsets in the middle of their loss so they subtracted 10" off their body sizes and still? DId not work because the body has to readjust. Their natural waists changed, and you are much more squishy! Plus now they are in maintain year 1 they are now thinking of Tummy Tucks and Arm Tucks that sort of thing which again? Will change your body shape and how you walk, wear and focus on the ole body.
Might I make a suggestion they did? They used Side, Back and Front Laced Bodices with panels for now and then as you lose you can take out a panel. They made drawstring skirts and out of basic materials nothing fancy nor special.
Another friend spent this time of shifting and change? Making her accessories, she has now some spectacular girdles, Fans and Ruffs, and Hats and Jewellery, so that when she can again make her gowns to fit her new body, she will have some lovelies to match already.
I wish you luck in your endeavour!
Thank you Cilean!
Quote from: Bonny Pearl on May 04, 2010, 03:14:18 PM
Congrats on your bravery in taking such a big a step as surgery!
If my math is correct....
December - April weight loss you are averaging about 16 lbs per month and of course variable inches (dependent on area). Perhaps you can estimate what your measurements will be for the time faire comes along? Maybe do some sort of temporary stitching and adjust as the months pass? When does your faire start?
The first six months is the 'honeymoon' and the weight just falls off. You can't count on that to continue (sorry, but it's true). I would wait until the last moment and then do the gown.
My congrats, too!!
Well that makes sense WWW. I see lot's of shopping and garb making in Lady Seasan's future! :)
Quote from: wickedwillingwench on May 20, 2010, 01:16:15 PM
Quote from: Bonny Pearl on May 04, 2010, 03:14:18 PM
Congrats on your bravery in taking such a big a step as surgery!
If my math is correct....
December - April weight loss you are averaging about 16 lbs per month and of course variable inches (dependent on area). Perhaps you can estimate what your measurements will be for the time faire comes along? Maybe do some sort of temporary stitching and adjust as the months pass? When does your faire start?
The first six months is the 'honeymoon' and the weight just falls off. You can't count on that to continue (sorry, but it's true). I would wait until the last moment and then do the gown.
My congrats, too!!
From what the doctors and other patients told me, the first 6 months is indeed the honeymoon months, but throughout the first year, the weight still comes off drastically. typically you will lose the most of the excess weight in your first year. then if one gets plastic surgery (which i am going to need) thats a couple more sizes down.
im pretty much going to wait till the very last minute to try to finish my gown. i can make my chemise, head accessories and such in the mean time, but since the bodice and skirt was already starting, im hoping that somehow i can still use them to create my gown.
So I tried on the pink bodice for the gown that I started working on last year. Now last year, the bodice didn't fit, it had about a 6 inch gap in the back, and I figured once I put my corset on, everything will fit properly. So I put it on yesterday, and without the corset-it closes up, without lacing, without pulling or nothing. Therefore, the freaking thing is too big for me. I'm so bummed, because it was such a pretty fabric.
Lady Season,
Save up your money and come out to Costume College next year for 2011, all of the cash you would have spent? Put it in the CC Fund then you can come out and have a blast! We can share a room and I will take you on the fabric crawl!
How about that?
Cilean
Quote from: Cilean on May 31, 2010, 10:52:21 PM
Lady Season,
Save up your money and come out to Costume College next year for 2011, all of the cash you would have spent? Put it in the CC Fund then you can come out and have a blast! We can share a room and I will take you on the fabric crawl!
How about that?
Cilean
ive never heard of this costume college? what is it?!
Sorry I did not see this reply until now! Costume College is an awesome 4 day event that happens once a year all of the costumers. People from all over the country and sometimes the world (Ladies from Myladyswardrobe.com, came out last year). There are many different classes from every age perspective, we have a theme that is picked out from the President of every year, this year is Steampunk so we are pretty neat. We have classes in Elizabethan, and I teach a couple classes myself. (Don't fall over :D )
Here is the link and it is in August, we are in a new hotel this year, so it will hopefully? Be cooler with better air conditioning! LOL
www.CostumeCollege.org (http://www.costumecollege.org)
Hopefully I will have a Steampunk in Purple for CC this year, but it all depends on my surgery for my shoulder.....arrgh.
So do check it out and check out the whole thing and see if you would love to join us!
Cilean
Costume college looks AWESOME! Maybe one of these days... (sigh) :-\
Now as a difference? I am not going to CC 2011 although I ask you all to think about coming or coming in 2012 when I am back.
I am heading to Pennsic for the 40th event, I have never been to Pennsic, because? I am from Pennsylvania, this event happens outside in July to August and so I need to save up for the event because we shall be hoteling it, Hubby hates camping more than 2 days. I have real issues with humidity, so much so it can make me throw up. But they have Pennsic University so think of 2 weeks full of classes, on cooking, costuming, calligraphy, blacksmithing, archery and well all sorts of things pertaining to Viking to the end of the Renaissance.
There is also? Shopping like crazy, we have decided that some of our taxes from next year just so we can have a good time at Pennsic, it is our 20th year together!! I am also planning Ireland trip for our Anniversary.
Cilean
I'd love to come to Costume College if I can save up the money. But do I have to wear costumes everywhere? Cause I've still barely sewn anything at all and I only really have one full wearable outfit.
And Seasan, congrats on your weight loss!! I'm still struggling with mine so I know how difficult it can be. It's great to hear that you're having success!
Sara, I was looking at the Costume College website (someday!!), and they actually give advice on when and where to go in costume--and the gist I got was "only during costume events, not all day." There are guidelines about not wearing costumes to workshops, for instance, as they can be distracting or cumbersome.
TO Sara and Gem:
Costumes? Your call completely. I have seen people wear several costumes per day, and others not wear any at all. I did not wear any at first but then as I was on a plane. When I began to drive down with my sewing machine (yes I am that crazed) I began to bring costumes with me. After my 2nd CoCo I made a choice to do a class myself and so I would dress in 16th Century Splendour for my talk on 16th Century Fabrics. However if you are going to be in a class like a Pair of Bodies class or PMC which is the precious metal making class or a class in which you will be using glues and the like? You might not want your costumes to be exposed to such.
I was bit by the 1810's Austen bug and I have a couple of these gowns now, it is my only real departure from the 14th to 16th centuries! (I hope they don't mind) I really am not a big Victorian person but I am hoping to get done my "Herbalist" Steam Punk Costume so I have something to wear to the Gala.
There are parties on every floor of the hotel all weekend long, beginning on Thursday as you sign in people will be walking about in costume as soon as they arrive. This will be our first year at the new site but I am sure they will still have parties. Most of the time Friday will have "Pretty Princess Party" hosted by people you all have seen dress diaries of....which is very fun I think.
There is also a Hosted Meeting Room every night so if you want to mingle and you are new? It is the best place to be! You will get to meet tons of people and have just a grand time.
Friday also opens the merchants room, I have been trying to get Diana from Renaissance Fabrics to take out a table or 2, because we are sadly lacking in the fabric department. However, you can find all sorts of lovelies, in fact a very well known Hat maker for Hollywood brings many of her designs to CoCo and people line up and pay, I know I have!
Saturday Night is the Gala, people do wondrous things for this party, in fact most people don't come to the party will sit by and watch as others go to the party and take pictures! For those who do not go to Gala, there are still parties being held all over the hotel, but after our dinner and the first dance (Time Warp of course!) the Dancing is open to anyone who wishes to join in!
Sunday Morning is your Underwear parade! And the Time Traveler'sTea, which is held around 2 and has lovely tea and food dainty and lovely. Another Costume Moment.
Monday is more of the touring of LA the Garment/Fabric District, and FIDM and many more things like that so it is really awesome.
I know above all when you go? You will have designs to make for your next visit to CoCo!!
Did I mention all of the parties? Let me say they are so much fun, not to mention? Walking in and chatting with anyone and everyone about their costume and your own. Just sitting and speaking while at lunch or dinner or well before we get to the classes, we all are costumers, guys and girls, even puppies are dressed up and it is just a blast to I don't know, know others "get it" about wearing strange things!
Cilean
STEAMPUNK!
oooh, how I wish I could go, but I have weddings to shoot pretty much each weekend in August :( plus opening day of MDRF
I'm definitely planning on going next year. I wanted to go this year, but I didn't realize I pretty much had to sign up in October to get the good classes or tickets to the ball.
There are worse problems to have. ;D
A lot of people would kill for those kind of probs, congrats! ;)