2016 to 2017

Hello Sewing World!
Long time no see!
You are telling me. My sewing machines have been weeping in my neglect of them which has been matched by the tears of my heart and the shivering of my skin whenever I am not dressed warmly enough...

A new year is here! I started it out with my fifth move in less than two years. If you count summer jobs it bumps the moves up to seven. I have a lovely room with three big windows that pour in sunlight. The room begs to be sewn in. I am hoping the second semester of college will prove less overwhelming and I can happily oblige.

For the last several years I have just made a list of things I want to make for the Stashbusting Sewalong. In 2016 I had 46 projects listed. I accomplished 19 of them. Four were either crossed off or changed.

In 2017 I actually counted the yardage I brought with me and collected over this last year. This is only a small sample of what I have and does not include the three or four boxes of scrap and quilting fabric bits... My small collection tops out at around 150 yards of fabric!

Good thing I have lots of plans for 2017!

The Stashbusting Sewalong is still going strong! It has taken on a life of its own and I am so happy to see my baby all grown up and functioning without my guidance... This year we are all trying to count our stashes. We want to see if our group holds over a million yards of fabric collectively. We also want to see if as a collective we can reduce that stash by 10%. I think it sounds like a fun goal to work towards.

I am also part of its sister group Sew Alongs & Sewing Contests I'll be starting of the year with them sewing patterns from Deep Stash!!!

One of the perks of going to University is the cheap printing services so all the copy shop PDFS are MINE!!!! Style Arc is my new favorite company and I am trying out lots of their designs.

Going back to school full time, working part time and living in a city has been a huge adjustment for me this year. I've learned so much and have made so many new friends. I am excited to see what 2017 brings!

Happy Sewing to you all in 2017!

First Newsletter with Moving Sale

Well Sewists my move is your gain. I'm offering a flash sale. Everything in my Etsy shop is 50% off with the coupon code enclosed in this email: http://eepurl.com/b4AG2D

It just happens to be the first edition of my newsletter. I do not know how often I will be sending them out, only when I have announcements of new inventory or cool sales and such and this first one turned out pretty well since I am moving. So you should subscribe so you always know! Plus you'll get lots of other gems like how life is like dirty dishes! :)

The sale will run through Wednesday. I am frantically adding fabric and other goodies as quickly as I can so there should be lots to choose from. A bunch of rayons went up this morning and hopefully I'll get to the linen this evening.

I hope you'll be able to find something that interests you! Please spread the word!
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MMM 2016 Reflections

Me-Made-May is over again! I kept data of what I wore even though I did not take any photos of my daily outfits. Too much stress.

The winner of the most worn award: Espresso Leggings by Cake Patterns!
I have two pair in cotton and two pair in wool. They are red and navy. The navy wool pair made the month with 6 wears but all together leggings were worn 12 times.

Unglamorous photo, I know.. but they are leggings...

Next up: Dresses! I really like dresses and wore them 15 days out of the month. Here are photos of a few of the most worn pieces.

My 50's dress. I really need to make some more of this style. I love it so much.

Hippie Bus Curtain dress wins the "Worn The Most Consecutive Days"Award

Burgundy Eliana won the "Interview Dress" award

Brings me the most joy!!! 

There was only one day I did not wear any Me Mades and I wore store-bought pieces 12 times over the month. These were mostly cardigans or sweaters. The other wears were solid tops with a printed skirt... remember this Emily!!! You wear solids! 

I really like wearing skirts and dresses. They are more comfortable and easy wearing. I do like my trousers for traveling and pockets though. Looking at my notes, I need to do some work on undergarments. I could use a short slip and some tanks. And a new floaty summer nightgown! 

I have a couple special projects that have been on the back burner for awhile that I plan on working on but since I am in the process of moving and I'm not sure what the new needs of my life will be, I am putting most of my garment sewing on hold...

I need to get my business newsletter off the ground and hopefully find some good craft shows to market my wares so I think I am going to direct my creative energies that direction.

Any great revelations for you this MMM? Any advice on moving the sewing room? Space is premium and I'm dithering on what to pack?!!?!

Capsule Wardrobe Challenge: The Dresses

Enter the absolute frivolous part of this challenge! I picked up this sheer cream with silver squares at a thrift store? Either that or the fabric fairies dropped it off on the way by. I knew it was an impractical piece but it paired perfectly with a very gathered vintage dress pattern I had. This pattern was such a hog I had to take a wedge out of the back and front to get it to fit on the yardage I had. It worked up just as I imagined though. Swishy and light. You must wear it with a belt though otherwise it looks like I'm swallowed up in dirty clouds.

And you can't really see the silver squares but that's ok.. they are there and sparkly in real life.

My next dress was supposed to be a lovely wool that would be warm to wear to school. Alas it got thrown to the wayside one morose Sunday afternoon when I picked up this happy floral. I took the top of the Staple dress pattern and gathered a large rectangle to the waist line. Since I did french seams it sits a bit higher than I prefer but since I'm always going to be wearing it with a belt, which covers everything, it is all good. I took the time to add pockets so this is now one of my favorite pieces in the whole bunch! I wore it Easter Sunday and felt lovely. I will be wearing it again as soon as I fix the random tear that developed along the bodice.

So that is my new happy wardrobe which is definitely pining for spring and summer weather!
You can see the other pieces of my collection here: Tops, Bottoms, Jacket

Capsule Wardrobe Challenge: The Bottoms

For the challenge we were required to make two bottoms. I had this sparkly stretch denim and brown corduroy earmarked for trousers forever! I think I counted they have been on my To Sew list for four years.

For the sparkle denim I used my new favorite trouser pattern, the Endeavor from Cake Patterns. These are wonderful to put together. Steph drafts the pattern so you can immediately make it the correct length and also makes it easy to adjust for width. Plenty of room for shaping it to whatever shape your backside may be. With a side zipper it is familiar to install and faster than a fly front. I do put in a lapped zipper instead of the invisible one the pattern calls for. It does tend to be more
noticeable but it is what I have on hand. Stashbust those zippers!

One of my favorite parts about making pants is choosing fun linings and pocket bags. I really like the remnants I got to use up for these.

My corduroy trousers are a hack from the Maritime Shorts pattern. I'm not sure if I've got the leg lengthened exactly right but maybe it is just because the corduroy is softer than my first version in twill. They are soft and comfy and will pass for my work casual wardrobe.

I have been wearing the denim non stop and loving them. I was slightly worried the leg would feel too wide but it doesn't. I also get lots of compliments from strangers so I take this for a good sign. You have to really like something to comment to a stranger.

I'm considering this a success in my closet and in my stash!

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.