photo via my aim is true

So the thing is, no matter how many clothing resources you have, for everything from basics to trendier stuff, it can be hard to find a sense of unique, personal style as a plus-sized woman--you can mix it up with excellent accessories and fancy, fashionable shoes and creative layering. But you can take it even a step further, with some creativity and some basic, easy-to-learn handytime skills. It takes a little time and a little effort, but the end result is usually so worth it.

How do you take the clothes you've got and make them fit right? Reconstruct them!

• There's a whole book on clothing reconstruction--but these basic tips are what you need to start with.

• One Pearl Button takes a stained pullover and makes it into a charming cardigan.

• Some more sweater refashioning excellence!

• You love your T-shirts, but they don't fit you as well as you'd like? Pledge allegiance to the sewing republic! They've got a video tutorial for cutting it down and making it you.

• Upgrade your t-shirt into an adorable boatneck, with a tutorial from my crushes at Stitch Lounge.

• Even more T-shirt hacking action on Oh My Stars, with a ton of ways to take a regular T-shirt and change it all the way up.

• Best of all, craftster.org is your number one source for tips, tutorials, ideas on not just refitting your clothes, but making them completely your own--embroider, appliqué, stencil, set them on fire. You've got an idea, or you're looking for one?  Make it go.

The even bester way to find clothes to fit you as perfectly as possible? Sew them yourself, from beautiful, funky fabrics.

• Sew, Mama, Sew shows you how to take your measurements correctly, for use with patterns, and also super-useful for online shopping.

• The A-line skirt is the very easiest thing to make. Sew Mad will hold your hand all the way through it, with this incredibly detailed and wonderfully thorough tutorial for drafting your own pattern, which is going to fit you perfectly. A little math for a lot of results.

• The second easiest thing to make? The circle skirt!

• Are you feeling a little more experienced? Check out rowena's origami skirt tutorial.

• And once you've got that down, try her tutorial for the infinity dress! It's a single seam for a dress that can be worn, they say, an infinite number of ways, as modeled sexily by My Aim is True Amber's hot stuff sister Heidi.

• Want to get even better? Check out the sewing tips from Sew, Mama, Sew, and check your area for sewing classes and workshops.

• Or if you want to dive wholesale into crafting and sewing and reconstructing on your own, check out craftster's clothing forums.

In the end, if you haven't got the time or the patience, there is a glorious world full of incredibly talented people out there, waiting to create something in your size.