“Activewear” is a loose term that covers all garments designed for exercise, lounging, and outdoor pursuits. This can include (but is not limited to):
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- leggings
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- sports bras
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- sweatshirts & hoodies
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- rain gear
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- hiking pants
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- ripstop nylon garments
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- insulated garments
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- gloves
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- hats
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- “technical” fabrics for moisture wicking or heat retention
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- storage bags for gear
This broad category covers a LOT of the garments that I wear every, single day: my yoga pants, workout clothes, hiking gear, even outerwear for cold weather. So this isn’t a sewing category just for “outdoorsy” folks, it really is for anyone who likes comfort and function in their clothing–it even includes “loungewear,” which is like yoga clothes that you wear on the sofa! As I grow my own handmade wardrobe, I want to do two things: make top-quality garments I love to wear, and avoid redundancy. I feel concerned about avoiding my own tendency to DO MORE rather than DO BETTER–and when I spend time in the outdoors, I’m reminded of how handmade can fit into that idea of good stewardship. What that means for me is that even my active clothing can be handmade!
I challenged myself to sew all the garments I would need for a week-long hike in the mountains. This was an effort to determine what skills I might need, and what supplies could be sourced, to sew for this category of clothing, things I wear every day: clothes for the gym, clothes for outdoor activities, and clothes for relaxing. This video series guides you through selecting patterns, locating fabrics, sourcing specialty tools & machine presser feet, and finally step-by-step construction of SIX projects:
- leggings (for anything from yoga to hiking to watching TV)
- merino wool tee shirt (the ultimate fabric for all activity or travel)
- convertible hiking pants (with tips for working with zippers)
- rain gear (with tips for sewing technical fabrics)
- compression bags (made of ultra-lightweight ripstop nylon)
- hiking gaiters (with tips for adding findings & hook-and-loop tape to projects)
Along the way, we’ll discuss resources for ALL the supplies and I’ll share action footage of using each of these items in real-world conditions. Come make your own gear and sew activewear with us!
How to get started with Make Your Own Gear: Intro to Sewing Activewear
Join the League of Dressmakers! This is just ONE of the video series we have here at The League, where our mission is to create a community intent on sewing the best handmade wardrobe of our lives. You can join with a six-month or one-year membership, or join with a mentorship package for personalized instruction! Learn more here.