1.7.13

Sewing workout wear

I have sewn up about half of the Eclipse supplex lycras I bought a little while back.  It is a bit confronting to post photos of myself in lycra, but I know I prefer to see sewing projects on people.  Feel free to skip this post!

These first garments are made up in the "Luxury" colour.

The first pattern is Jalie 3022, lengthened by a couple of cm.  I have made this pattern half a dozen times for my daughter, and the fit on her is a little looser in the leg, more like shorts, but on me, the fit in the thighs is snug, perhaps even a little too snug.  This might be partly fabric selection, and partly body shape.  I'm hoping that the bright colour and seam down the centre back leg is distracting from the close fit!


The fabric is super comfortable to wear.  Very soft.  Breathable.  Wicks well.  If I have one complaint, it is that it tends to show the lumps and bumps more than the cotton lycra I have used in the past.  This top was made using Burda WOF 11-2007-123, which I originally reviewed here




I made my daughter a demi-tard, using my own pattern

I tweaked the Merckwaerdigh BHS10 bra pattern a little to make this sports bra.  This time I used a wider elastic along the bottom edge.  I still used elastic on the inner edge of the straps, but I bound the outer edges of the straps.  I adjusted the cup pieces a little, but they are not perfect yet.

 

I also made a running band, using Melissa's tutorial, but have not photographed it.  It works well, so I will feature it in a later post.

Next I switched all my threads over to black and made a couple of pairs of shorts.  I prefer shorts to bike pants or leggings.  I made mine out of regular weight supplex, but you can buy heavier weight supplex, some plush backed or with a French Terry back.  I guess the heavier weight versions would provide more compression, if that is what you are after.  The heavier weights had either a higher lycra content or poly content than the regular weight.  I live in an extremely hot climate, so I just went for the lighter weight.



I copied the shorts pattern off some RTW shorts I had.  Instead of vertical side seams, a diagonal seam wraps around from below the front pocket to the back of the leg.  There is a back yoke.  The original pair had an invisible zip for the front pocket, but I changed this to an overlapped, peekaboo sort of opening.  The black version seemed to wing out a bit at the sides, even though the leg circumference matches the original pair, so I adjusted this a little before I made the grey pair.

I bought a roll of wide, beefy elastic in a junk shop, which I have used for these.  It looks very good quality,but I did not know how much it would give after a few washes and wears.  Possibly I cut it a little short for these, but my RTW shorts are all falling down, which annoys me, so I went on the tighter side.



I have several leggings patterns, but wanted to try out the draft in Kristina Shin's "Patternmaking for Underwear Design".  First up, a plain grey pair.  I actually wore these to the beach last week.  We don't need the full stinger suits in the winter here, but a couple of weeks ago my legs got terribly burnt, even with sunscreen.  I think I will get some Aqualife lycra and make myself another pair in a pretty colour to match my swim shirt.


Then I cut up the pattern to make a pair with pink highlights.


And then a pair with grey highlights.



Now I need to get some pink thread to get started on the tops.

So a fair few items, but I do exercise daily.  I like hearing about what exercise other people are doing, so here's what I do.  Last year, I was walking a couple of times a week, including at least one walk up Castle Hill, doing a ballet class, and 3 weight work out routines from the Women's Health Big Book of Exercises (though sometimes I swapped these for gym classes with a friend).  I really missed my ballet class when I moved here, so I looked around for a replacement, and I bought the DVDs for Physique 57.  I now do an hour long DVD 4 times per week and a 30 minute version 1 - 2 times per week.  I was walking with a friend, and then we decided to build up to a run, and now I am in week 4 of the couch to 5K, doing a walk / run 3 times per week.  The streets here are pretty safe, so I tend to run before sunrise, which is what I prefer.  Just got to keep an eye out for buffalo.  I don't know how I will go when it heats back up again.   It is a bit of a step-up from last year, and I must confess, most afternoons I need a quick nap...it is so hard to stay awake listening to those year 3 readers...particularly as I am on my third time around for most of them!

23 comments:

Summer Flies said...

Wow, you have been busy! I love the pink highlight leggings! I also like the pink/purple top.. very nice! I'm impressed with your exercise routine, altho don't envy the before sunrise bit!

poppykettle said...

I'm head over heels in love with the cut-outs and contrast on your black and grey (and pink) pants. That is really awesome! You've made some fabulous pieces here - you can never have enough gym cloths, especially when you're as active as you are. Kritina's book is on my wishlist!
I managed to get up to the final week of the ease into 5k app at the end of last year which sounds almost identical to your couch to 5k, I was amazed as I never thought I'd be able to run that far, that fast, and actually half enjoy it too. Then my work took over and the last six month I've been virtually inactive. Just started getting back into it now - weight training (my favourite), a bit of yoga and I'm planning to start back on the 5k training (from the start, unfortunately). When I get back into exercise after a long spell... I remember why it's so good and wonder why I stopped. Here's to the endorphin rush!

fabric epiphanies said...

I like the spliced leggings as well. Workout gear has been on my table of late as well but mine is more to combat the cold. It is typical then that today, when it was ready to wear for my run, it was 24 degrees Celsius. Too warm for full length wool bend leggings and waterproof running jacket. Oh well, it will probably snow again like it did a couple of weeks ago anytime soon!

I started running this time last year and was running every second day. I took a break for a couple of months when I started my new job but realised how much I missed it so have been running twice a week lately. I would do the couch to k programme but I love running to music.

Marie said...

Love the spliced leggings as well. I get in and out of exercise. At the moment, I haven't made the time this term to do much at all, but the other day I ordered a step and some DVDs, so I am going to make time to get into that.

Mary said...

I absolutely love your workout gear. Very motivating to have cute stuff ;-) What exercise do I do? Ride 3 times per week, walk every day, think about going back to yoga class. Pitiful. My older horse was a workout machine but he is no longer able to do that level of riding with me. My new horse is has draft and Tenn.Walker-he is smooth to ride, and I really don't need to do much unless he throws a baby tantrum. Thanks for the motivation and push!

Sue said...

Great exercise gear - I particularly like the leggings with the colour splice in them. My exercise level has waned in the cold months, but I do a one hour weight training session with a trainer once a week, usually another 1/2 hour session by myself, a combat class and ... that's about all at the moment (once a week I try to walk to work). I am planning to add hot yoga in the hopes I can stop using the cold weather as an excuse to go out and exercise.

MushyWear said...

You did a great job making lots of useful exercise gear! Very impressive... and I too love the color blocked capris. That is a really cool design.

Kristy Chan said...

Wow, I'm impressed by how active you are! No wonder you are in such great shape, and need so many work out clothes

Sigrid said...

Inspirational, especially the last two leggings. Thank you for sharing.

Crab and Bee said...

Talk about useful sewing, especially with how incredibly active you are! I really like the RTW copied shorts and the last capris, they look very professional.

Bernice said...

My goodness! So impressive! If we could all sew exercise gear this well Lorna Jane would be out of a job. You'll have heads turning in Gove as you run that 5k.

Megan O said...

What a fab workout wardrobe and great that the leggings (which look fantastic) can double as protective swimwear. I never exercise for the sake of it as I get too bored. I try to build it into my routine by always making sure my boys and I are ready early enough to walk/scoot/cycle to school instead of driving (40 minute round trip). I also do a weekly hip hop dance class which makes me feel young and cool - or maybe I'm just having a mid-life crisis!

Amy said...

Ahh these are great, especially the leggings! I also like having a variety of workout clothes because it motivates me. I usually wear knee-length leggings like that but I haven't been able to find some nice material to make my own, and I love the really soft supplex. I was thinking of making a simple cross-back tank like yours from my 'tube' pattern. I normally do a couple of circuit-training classes per week as doing it with others is also motivating and fun, and I get pushed to do things I wouldn't do on my own. I tried the couch to 5k a year ago and really loved it. Should do it again, it's so easy to fit into the schedule. If I lived nearby I'd join along ;).

Joy said...

What? Sewing doesn't count as exercise? Excellent looking exercise gear. It's nice to have variety so you don't get bored, and your own preferred fit isn't too bad either.

(I have to admit I just googled, "Are there buffalo in Australia? Yeah, not the same thing we have here (: )

Carolyn said...

Your workout wardrobe is so extensive and very professional looking! I really like the colourful highlights in your new leggings. I just wear tights and one of my little knit skirts to exercise, not nearly as impressive looking as yours but at least I made them!
And yup, posting pictures of yourself in lycra and/or swimwear is confronting, but I reason that if you're going to wear the things out in public where anyone can see you anyway then it seems moot to refuse to pose in the things for the blog.

Gail said...

The leggings are great. I have similar ones from Running Bare that cost a lot of money!

liza jane said...

I see no lumps or bumps. You're crazy. You look fab! I'm always so impressed with your workout gear sewing. That's one area I don't delve in to, though maybe I should. I like hearing about the fabrics you use and where you get them from. I did a couch to 5k group last summer. I actually ran the 5k just weeks before I got pregnant. As soon as the morning sickness hit, I became a slug ;). I'm actually looking to get back to it now, as soon as I can pop Jane in the jogging stroller.

Zoe said...

Oh my goodness your fitness wear is phenomenal! You are such an inspiration when it comes to tackling stretch/lycra. Plus your work out routine is super-impressive. If I wasn't pregnant as my cover, I'd been feeling really lazy right now! xxx

Tropical Threads said...

I'm hearing you on the confronting nature of photos of oneself in lycra, and even worse to make them public. But if it helps to know this, you look fab. You're a perfect model for your sewing skills :-)

I wish I could sew exercise gear this well *wistful*. I've got the yoga trousers down fairly well, but the exercise bra and swimwear? Not so much. You inspire me though, to keep trying, coz it's only going to be experience that will get my skills up.

You're swimming in the sea? But but but. It's too COLD!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm on a mission to sew my own sportswear... so far a loose running top and an almost finished a failed Kiwk sew top with shelf bra. I'm so jealous you can get hold of eclipse fabric, there aren't any UK stockists, although I have sourced some Supplex sports fabric but poor colour choice (red, blue or grey- boring).
I love the twist effect of the highlight in your leggings - did you draft it yourself?

Kelli Ward said...

This is awesome. I've never made workout wear but you are making me want to.

Unknown said...

Where do you get good patterns for workout pants? I cant find any and have been looking for something like what you made :)

katherine h said...

I can recommend the Fehr Trade PB Jam leggings. I was a pattern tester for these, and whilst I haven't blogged them yet, they are comfortable and stylish.

http://www.fehrtrade.com/shop/785/pb-jam-leggings-pattern