Stashbusting Ramble and Me Made May Pledge

I do not know where April went. Do you? 

Mine was lost in a blur of work, paper writing, apartment hunting and what feels like very little creating. Dabbling here and there but mostly treading water as I count down the days until school the job, and school the online, are completed.

Stashbusting, First off I'm so proud of how my little idea has grown over the years into this vibrant community! It has become part of the sewing world and will live on now regardless of what I do. This makes me happy. I am so thankful for everyone who participates and helps lead and give feedback. Stashbusting forever!

Transition from that high, I'm pretty sure I gave into my fabric fears by not sewing much of anything this month. I am greatly enjoying all the new additions to my wardrobe from the contest I entered last month though. Eventually they will all get blogged... Oh I just checked my list, I sewed up two pieces of fabric this month. A tunic and a sack dress. I guess two pieces out is still two out. I don't think I bought any fabric this month although I've started looking at the emails... must stop!

 After much dithering, I decided to participate in Me-Made-May this year. I pledged to not stress out about taking photos every day or wear a certain number of handmade pieces. Instead I am going to wear whatever I want and keep records. Here's what I'll be tracking:

• number of wears
• how it makes me feel
• why I wore it
• how it functioned

After writing it down that actually doesn't look too complicated... what I will do with this data remains to be seen. Can you think of anything else that would be good to track? Are you participating in MMM?

Well I better get back to my final research paper... I keep telling myself I can sew summer dresses as soon as I finish it...

Capsule Wardrobe Challenge: Mona Jacket

This is part two of my capsule wardrobe collection, part one, the tops here.

I was originally very nervous about making the topper for the collection. It had to match with EVERYTHING and the only jacket I had planned was this Turquoise Mona. I knew it would be a risk shape wise with the tunic tops but it was a piece I had been planning for years and I knew it was finally time to get it done.

I guess I'm an intermediate seamstress because I didn't struggle with the sparse instructions, and the photos in the online tutorial provided more clarity on the back placket steps. This jacket pattern is well constructed and it went together quickly. Even with me putting the sleeves in backwards the first time! I'll have to make sure to better mark front and back next time around.

I really like how simple and easy wearing this jacket is... my real worry is how often can I get away with wearing it? Twice a week? Three times? I guess it all depends on how much coughing the kids are doing at school... germs.

Wardrobe Challenge: The Tops

Since I've started working at school, I've been needing more casual dressy (is that a term?) things to wear to work. So I decided to stack my cohesive wardrobe with tops!

I loved the Lani Tunic from Style Arc so I invest in some of their PDFs and I am sold on their draftsmanship! Since their patterns only come in three sizes and you print the PDF in one size I made the Daisy tunic first to check my size in their patterns. Spot on!

The Daisy Tunic has a fun double hem and POCKETS!!! My friend liked it so much she ordered one from me so you get to see the Daisy in two incarnations!  Flannel on the left and chambray on the right.

When that turned out so well I started on my Lani Tunic! Lots of pieces that I just managed to fit on the three bits of coordinating fabric I had. Part of me wishes I would have pieced the front differently but I don't think I would have gotten all the pieces cut in any other layout.

The striped Cabarita turned out to be a quick make, even after I realized the stripes were printed vertically on the fabric so I was going to have to cut a single layer on the bias to get happy vertical stripes. I add bands to the hem which I split for a fun look.

I loved this silk but never wore it as a skirt, I used my TNT block to experiment in turning it into a shirt. I pinned and cut the double layers then sewed them so all the seams were inside. It made for a quick make even with the shifty silk.

Finally I delved into my vintage pattern collection and was able to squeak out this little blouse from my vintage remnant. I kept the pleats running from the shoulder loose because when sewn per pattern instructions they ended in a place modern bosoms don't go. :) It's not a perfect top but is definitely workable for not making a muslin or altering something from the 50's. The fabric and buttons make sure I will wear it even if the perfect fit isn't there. Once in an outfit, it gets lots of compliments and I feel pretty professional in it!

Well that's my tops! So I have a question for you who work with children. How often do you wash your clothes? I hate throwing something that is "clean" in the wash after one wear but sometimes they are hacking and coughing so much I feel covered in germs. How do you handle washing work attire?