RESIZING... tips/tucks and transformation FUN ...

With a little imagination... a dab of creativity ...a dip of motivation and a daring desire.. resizing transformation can be oh so much fun....oh and being a dufus old fart like me helps a little too LOL...

With an awesome pair of old size 18-20s which I could oh so seamlessly now fit into just one leg ... imagine me ... at one point I was thinking WTF my 30s and 32s were fitting too tight what gives??? ... so on the stretcher I laid and into the OR I went 5 years ago to have my insides re-routed and my lifestyle transformed ... NO REGRETS ...

Ever since recovering over a first 4 rocky months due to post op complication happening on post-op day 2 requiring a second surgical intervention I have been on the ride of my life which I am determined to never ever ever ever have it end ... I am embracing joy despite all the ups and downs and in betweens ... and I am tracking it all in my journal ... A Picture a Day Keeps the Pounds and the Inches at Bay .... I WILL NOT CURSE MY FIRE FOR THERE IS VICTORY IN THE VALLEY!

These are Snippets from my journey today as entered into my journal:
... RESIZING ... TIPS AND TUCKS AND TRANSFORMATION FUN....

I went into my closet a couple weekends ago and pulled a couple pair of slacks and realized they were ones of my left over BobbyJs from when I had gone down from a size 32 to a size 18-20 ... I had these two pair of pants hanging in there somehow forgotten when most of my clothing have been passed on except for a few pieces kept for comparison and remembrance sake.... 

I was feeling kind of down a little bit because DH was still recovering from his surgery at a health care facility and had been gone for a few weeks ... left on my own I decided to grab a pair of sheers and my dress form and re-size those old pants down to my current size ... with beaucoup fabric to spare and with tons of buttons in my sewing bin I made me a new pair of slacks from my old pair with a wide button up waistband and form fitting to my current size ... easy peasy ... well I have been sewing since for-ever the daughter of an awesome seamstress I had it made...

I decided to wear my home made slacks this morning and along with it I took the extra pair of Size 18-20 BobbyJs slacks and fit my body into one leg ... then I took my Size 1 Tristan & Iseut blazer and a red tank that I planned to wear to work and took my pictures and collages for my journal ... comparing then and now and sporting my nipped/cut/redone/re-sized slacks ... in a brand new look....

Like this...

Fitting in one leg ... and I just saw and awesome pin straight skirt ... I think I can get two skirts out of this left over pair of BobbyJs....
 
 My high waist pants made by moi...
 
 My comparison collage after finishing my look off with a Tristan & Iseut Blazer that is part of a skirt suit set .. but I wanted to wear a slack that matched and my home made dud was just perfect...

 
 
I even took a close up picture of my blazer ... 
 

And decided to share a few tips that I found online so I wouldn't have to recreate to help whoever is interested in resizing a few duds to create a new look ... it is all good... I can afford clothing but I love using my hands ... my awesome Project Runway Brother Sewing Machine ... and my imagination....

How to Alter Clothing By Michelle Powell-Smith, eHow Contributor

You can resize bigger clothes to fit your slimmer physique.  Weight loss success is certainly to be celebrated, but it can leave you swimming in your old size 18s when you're ready for a 12. If you're still losing weight, replacing clothing may not seem like an option just yet, but you do need your clothes to fit properly and show off your new, slimmer shape. If you can sew, you may be able to alter some of your favorite bigger clothes to a smaller size and more flattering shape.

Instructions  Things You'll Need

Sewing machine, Coordinating thread, Pinking shears, Iron and ironing board, Scissors, Pins, Fabric marking pen

1.  Choose the right garments to alter. Look for simple shapes and minimal seaming to allow for easy alteration. Opt for skirts, T-shirts, dresses and drawstring pants; they're easier to alter than tailored slacks and jackets.

2. Try on the garment inside out, so you can see not only the fit but the seams. Stand in front of a mirror and start pinning. Work from top to bottom on your garment, dividing the excess fabric evenly among the seams.

3. Turn your size 18 right-side out and try it on again to assess the fit of the pinned alterations. Expect to remove and replace sleeves and waistbands, but try to keep button plackets, collars, and zippers away from the alterations---it will make for an easier process.

4.  Set your sewing machine to a long stitch length and baste the changes into place. Pin to adjust the fit if necessary before you sew the alterations into place.

5.  Sew seams with a short stitch length. Cut away excess fabric using pinking shears or trim seam allowances and finish with a zig-zag stitch on your sewing machine.

Yesterday I came to work in a comfy dress after being up most of the night dealing with DS issues and then running back and forth between the ED and GI surgery with him ... I donned this dress and one of my awesome lacefronts (oh I love to rock hair to ... be it my own or the awesome wigs and lacefronts that we make or order at our very own shop) and came out looking like this.....
 

My packed knees and big loose skin filled thighs...
 

It is all good and better than before when my knees hurt so bad my mobility was impaired...
 

And while I was at it I rocked one of my best assets before and after ... my eyes that tell all my emotions ... that I can never hide from my eyes.... 

Blind as a bat Monovision lens prescriptions are working wonders imagine going from 5.25 in both eyes to 4.5 in the left and 3 in the right ... AWESOME  ... I have worn lenses from the time they were this little hard rock things and I was in 7th grade ... so I rock my eyes natural or in colors and yesterday AMETHYST was the color of my mood and my day....
 

THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE!!!!  I AM HAVING FUN ON THE JOURNEY!!! LIFE IS SHORT AND TIME IS PRECIOUS... and I am just a goofy old fool till the day I day ... was the same way when I was fat and remain the same now ... only difference is HEALTH AND MOBILITY ... and I AM LOVING IT!!!!

HAPPY DAY TO ALL!!!!! DON'T WORRY ... BE HAPPY!!!!

Happy anniversary to a beautiful lady! Thank you for giving so much to this community...

 Thank you Beautiful ... anniversary was on the 5th ... this was just a random goofy post LOL ... I thought perhaps passing on a few tips on resizing our larger duds would be helpful to a few... thanks for allowing me to share...

I have said it before and will say it again. I wish I had your talent! The sewing amazes me. LOVE the amethyst eyes!

 I bet you have awesome talent too ... I am just so happy that I was able to make my own dress form from that video I shared on our previous group ... all it takes is a few slashes with the scissors and then my sewing machine does the rest .... I love it!

I have some talents like being a Karaoke Queen, but creativity must have skipped a generation for me. I can't even figure out how to make a scarf look good on me, meanwhile my daughter who is almost 20 is naturally a fashionista, accessorizes perfectly as well. Good for her. Some days I feel like calling her to dress me. Instead I just keep a very classic and simple style I cant go wrong with. Although its been mostly elastic waist yoga pants since TT But I did wear pants that buttoned and zipped three times since 2/8/12 LOL.

Wow you sew exactly like I do in my head, just doesn't seem to translate onto fabric for me.  lol  How beautiful you look, love the pants, but I don't know I have seen you in anything I didn't think was cute.  Oh wait, the lace fronts, I don't like those, they always look fake.  Love the new eye color though, although I think the blue is especially pretty on you.  And you know I love you in short funky hair, but I also know you can never stick to just one style so run with it and have fun.

Whats going on with your son?  Is he okay?  Is hubby home now and better?  I hope both are doing well.

Hugs Me :)

 Hey pretty Lady ... with your talent I am sure if you give it a try you will be able to produce an awesome garment just like you see it in your head ... 

Are you visiting our favorite swan family this weekend???? I so look forward to pictures ... I sketched one of the last ones you sent and when I am done painting it I will post it see if you like it...

KenKen has some GI issues and upcoming surgery nothing major ... he will be okay ... Hubs came home over the weekend YAY ... thanks for your encouragement and support always!!!

The swans will be 9 months old on Saturday so I will definately be going to see them, I sit and stare out my office window and wish I was there now its so perfect outside.  Last week Daddy was especially harsh on the male swan babies, its getting to be time that they have to go, I don't want to see that happen but I know that nature works this way.  They are capable of being on their own, but honestly I just want to take them home and keep them in my bathtub.  The fact they come to me when they see me really makes me believe they are mine.  I know they are wild but I love them so much, I hold my breath every single time I walk down the rail road tracks scared to death they are gonna be gone.  They went missing a few weeks after the hurricane and it drove me insane they were gone and I couldn't find them.  I am trying to talk myself into this whole this is how nature works thing, but its not easy.

I am glad to hear your family is well and your husband is home!

Love to you sweetie pie!

It must be awesome to be so talented!  Awesome post, thanks for sharing!