Hang on….before you roll your eyes and pass the page, hear me out.
Every year, I mark in my agenda a list of things I would like to do and sadly, at the end of every year, I usually see that more than half are not accomplished. Â At the top of my list of things that never seems to get accomplished is “Exercise more, lose weight and get rid of the clothes you do not wear”. Â Why is that, I wonder?
If someone phoned me right now and said let's go to the gym, I would find that I HATE MY CURRENT WORKOUT CLOTHES.  This is not because they are ugly clothes, but because they are all the wrong size.  I'm ashamed to admit that I purchased the wrong size on purpose — in a smaller size, of course– because I was sure that any day now I was going to wake up and suddenly be the size my gym clothes actually are.  Sure thing right…
Well, I have had these same thoughts for the last 17 years, and this year I am determined to change that.  My main motivation is –yes, you guessed it– health.  I sit at my desk for far too long in front of the computer and am perpetually tired.  I constantly wish for more energy so I could accomplish all that I set out to do.
However, wishing alone is not going to get me there, nor is blaming my wardrobe for my lack of enthusiasm and motivation to hit the gym. Â My solution? I am going to design a workout wardrobe that will make me feel comfortable at the gym without making me depressed about the roll around my waist.
I have put a short list of the things I will be working on and sharing with you over the coming year. Â You'll see that there is a variety of different garments in this new workout wardrobe mainly because I get bored with the same routine and need to change the venue for exercising. Â The design of these items will be targeted at loose-fitting tops and pants at the beginning progressing as the days get warmer into more fitted workout outfits. Â Here's what we'll be working on:
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Loose-fitting workout wardrobe
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Yoga leggings and pants
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Sports bra and crop tops
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Comfortable underwear
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Tennis dress
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Riding pants and top
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Shorts
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A line t-shirts
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Swimsuit
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Golf outfit
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Skating outfit
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Ballroom dancing gown/dress
I got you with the last one, didn't I?  Yes, we will be making a dress to hit the dance floor.  I can't wait.
I do hope that you will join me on this journey of creating a new workout wardrobe. Â Have you got any New Year's resolutions to get you motivated to exercise more? Â Help us all by sharing your thoughts in the comments below or send me an email at mayra(at)so-sew-easy.com. Â Happy New Year and happy sewing!
I would LOVE to be able to make my own workout wear, because I can never find anything to fit me in a color I like and at a price I can afford! I have only an old straight-stitch machine that I love, and I can sew knits on it with a ballpoint needle and the Stretch ‘n Sew method, but I can’t afford a serger and I’ve never tried really stretchy knits. Also, whoops, it’s almost June! 🙂 Shall I just watch from the sidelines, or will there be something here I can do, too?
Hi Glenda, you can do all the pieces just with what you got. Start with the sport bra, the knit required does not ravel.
YES PLEASE!!!! Start designing the patterns so I can start sewing!!!!
Hi Rachel we have published 4 already.
Yes please let’s start! cannot wait!
HI Gerda, welcome! we have already published 4 items from this list. Enjoy!
that tennis dress! love it! let’s start with that, shall we 🙂 ?
Soon Sarah, very soon 🙂
Can’t wait to get started. I’m just starting to sew again after a long time of nothing. I never have made very many clothes so there maybe a lot of questions from me to follow! But I happen to go to the gym at least 5 days a week, so it will be great to have some new clothes that I actually made!
Love your enthusiasm! Hope we can motivate each other! Happy New Year!
Can’t wait for the workout wardrobe patterns! I live in workout wear at home. I go between my sewing room and exercise room constantly. I’m on the hunt right now for a long-sleeved tee shirt with a mock turtleneck (to keep the back of my neck warm) that will work with fleece. No amount of heat can keep this old farmhouse toasty warm in the dead of winter. I’m all about some fleece right now! 🙂
This makes me so happy! I enjoy sewing but pretty much live in gym gear and just have no motivation to make stuff I won’t wear. This is perfect, I can’t wait 😀
This came at a great time! I’m rejoining the health club that is directed by one of our hospitals. My weight is OK but toning and fitness need some serious tuning up.
I’ve always avoided trying to sew exercise wear or swimsuits because I couldn’t figure out how to adjust for my long torso.
Thanks for the help.
I SEW need these. I have lots of small cute workout clothes. You have been reading my mind. Thank you and BRING ON THE WORKOUT CLOTHES!
Hopefully this will give me some motivation that I desperately need. What a great idea.
HI Kelly, indeed there are a few on the same boat! Service you serger we will be using it a lot!
OMG I thought I was the only one who had a closet full of gorgeous work out clothing that didn’t fit. I also have a bunch of patterns for work out clothing to make “when I get to that size.” This has been a secret shame of mine for many years now. Thank you so much I’m so excited.
Yes! We are two now with the same habit. We have work to do girl!
I am looking forward to your new patterns in all the above, well maybe not golf but the T shirt would be great. I am very experienced with sewing Lycra as I have been sewing Equestrian show clothes for some 10 yrs. But as an extra fluffy myself I am wanting to have exercise outfits that actually fit.
WOW! Kathleen perhaps you would like to write the article on equestrian clothing, full credit to you of course. Send me an email if you are interested. ThanK for sharing! 🙂
Oh how true your words are.
Each year starts out with intentions of personal and greater acts of good….but what happens?????? Still it’s always good and positive to start each new year in a mode of positive thoughts even if along the way some fall of the list of “good intentions”
Go girlfriends
Indeed Kath, we can only but look forward with positive intensions, for me making this tutorials, drafting the patterns and sharing them with you will forced me to keep on track, getting to the gym will be another matter.
I am excited too! I’m tired of the baggy T-shirt and shorts. I want to make something that I actually look forward to putting on and get moving in! But, like others knits make me nervous and finding material on-line can be challenging because you can’t test for recovery!
I hear you, so I will be making patterns that you can use many types of needle. I will try my best to explain to you what to expect if you are using fabric with less recovery. Hang in there and arm yourself with very good jersey needles and a walking foot for now.
So excited to see you consider yoga pants and not just leggings. I have a difficult time finding my cotton/lycra yoga pants now – especially because I’m a plus size! And I just got a serger for Christmas which makes me even more excited for your entire collection!
My daughter used your leggings pattern to make maternity leggings for herself over the holidays.She went to the store and saw that the main difference was a longer waist band and did it herself.
I made wallets for everyone after taking Deby’s Craftsy class. Those are my new passion. But with a new serger … bring on the knits!
I am so happy you got a serger for Christmas, your sewing just got easier. Yoga is very close to my heart, but I will tell you why when we make the pants.
I’m looking forward to learning to make good fitting active wear. I play golf and have lost weight since last summer so none of my golf clothes are fitting now. I have a good sewing machine and serger that I will enjoy using.
Excellent Debi, the main thing with gold this days is the fantastic fabric with UV protection, I am still researching a company that can supply it, if you know of anyone let me know please.
I too have always wanted to sew my own excercise clothes. I can’t wait.
Yes Helena, welcome to the journey. What sport are you aiming for?
Hello Mayra,
I’m so excited about your upcoming workout wear posts! I have been walking my treadmill since Nov.3rd, keeping motivated because it has reduced my high blood pressure dramatically. This is a perfect opportunity to reward myself. And I LOVE sewing with knits. Thank you!
Val
Val I should follow your lead and jump on the treadmill as well. Congratulations on lowering your blood pressure, you go girl!
Looking forward to this, I like hill walking and need the same specialist fabrics, so it will encourage and inspire me to have a go too.
Hill walking? That sounds glorious to me, I am researching a company that can supply the material and perhaps I can negotiate a discount for the readers. I will let you via email only if I am successful.
Exciting plans. Wish making it would make me slim and toned. I suppose I will have to resort to exercise in addition. Really looking forward to your posts.
Yes Julia, I was hoping the same but sadly we do need to hit the gym.
Serger-yow! I don’t buy stretch fabric because I don’t know how to sew with it. This will be great. Thank you.
Dearest Libby it is easier than you think! You will see.
Love this idea and look forward to future projects.
Excellent, we will be busy I promise!
Hi Mayra, those are some interesting pattern ideas. I will be interested in following along to see them finished and maybe even sew myself some new workout clothes.in stitches
Annette
Sure thing Annette, hope I can entice you on sharing a picture or two to add to the blog articles. with credits of course!
Perfect timing. I’ve just come back from my first bike ride this year and yoga class starts again on Wednesday evening. I really need some new workout gear and really looking forward to joining in. Good luck everyone – taking the first steps are always the hardest IMO.
You are so right Helen. The first step is indeed the hardest. I love biking specially along the sea.
Hi Mayra, this is a wonderful idea. I have made swimsuits in the past and now I need more. I hate my workout wear but refrain from buying because I know the cost doesn’t justify the purchase. Workout clothes are easily sewn. Would love to follow your inspiration as friends and us are planning a sailing vacation and we will need casual swim and working out type wear. Love to see how this progresses ( I can work out along the way!)
Hi Marcia, I am dying to know… where are you sailing to?
This is so much in line with my resolution – to start sewing new things other than soft furnishing I have been doing for the past I dont know how many years. More so I have an awkward figure so getting items from the stores has always been a challenge. Cant wait to follow your guides
Welcome Esther! We will have fun.
Please design leggings and shorts with waistbands at the natural waistline. These low-rise things don’t stay up.
Yes! I agree! considerate done!
Perfect! I started sewing recently sew I could make my own yoga pants, which are from years ago and are looser than the yoga pants currently being sold. Plus, I really dislike the fabric of the yoga pants sold in stores. Looking forward to learning how to make my own workout clothes!
Looking forward to learn more on sewing with knits, lycra, spandex…. I’mm still a newbie on that.
It will be easy you will see.
Awesome! I have been working on my own workout clothes. Making them has two benefits:I like them and how they fit/look. Plus, I am able to take them in easier when I was the manufacturer, I am looking forward to being able to make things smaller as the year progresses and I honestly hope to have to make a whole new wardrobe by 2018!
WElcome Cat, we will have fun and i am looking forward to your feed back since you already have experience making this type of garments. happy New Year!
Yippee!!!! IN addition to being addicted to sewing, I am a certified Ballroom Instructor! So happy that you will be doing a segment on making a dance outfit. Although I have made some of my dancing attire, I am always up for something new and different…..but it must be comfortable and conducive to dancing. Can’t wait!!
Well Constance, You have just raised the bar! Is there a video I can watch you in action? When I make the dress is it possible you model for a short clip on you tube with credits of course.
I like the idea of loose clothing for working out. And of having an opportunity to sew with knits. I have a serger but have not yet used it and look forward to your good instructions.
Certainly Carol, you know what make it even better is that you comment on the pattern and give feedback to me. I am looking forward to your opinion.
YES… I am delighted that you will do workout duds! I have never seen them in all the blog’s I read.
I teach boot camp and tell my peeps all the time “If you stop trying… You will never succeed” so we ALL just keep trying!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Now we taking! do you have a youtube channel I can follow you. Boot Camp that sounds painful!
No YouTube channel, although I have been thinking about it. When I travel I still do my class through Skype so nobody has to skip (me included).
Keep the creative juices flowing for us…. Really looking forward to seeing the workout duds!
Skype workout? am I reading correctly? you are my kind of crazy!
We are on the same page. I joined the Y the other night and had my tour and yoga class yesterday. I also need to make some more workout clothes. I love that top with the drawstring at the bottom. It would keep the hem from traveling up during yoga.
Yes indeed, I forgot to add long yoga pants with elastic around the ankles.
Great idea… I’m on a one year no pay leave and am thinking of working out myself.. and hubby just got me a sewing machine..
Looking forward to you sewing journey! ?
Happy to know I won’t be alone, congratulations on your sewing machine. Best gift ever! IMO!
How about something for us men? While I’m sure I would be a hit with the tight stuff not sure I’m man enough to go out in them. 😉
Love your site BTW.
James
Thank you James. Yes there will be some sewing for man, how can we forget? This is just one of my New Years Resolutions. Keep tuned in!
I think it is Great!!!!!
Looking forward to seeing which of this you will be willing to try.
Sew look forward to these!
Thank you Marty, I will look forward to you sharing a picture or 2 of your favorite.
Love that last one!
We will see how we can arrive to that!
Great idea. I’m terrified of sewing with stretchy material so please give help on how to do that
Hi Janet, you should not be terrified of the fabric, the first thing is to buy ball point needles in many sizes, we will be using them alot. Get acquainted with a walking foot and if you can buy a serger you will need it, specially for the sport bra, crop top and swimwear.