My March Plans

Word of warning, if something seems a bit wonky about this post, I got glutened over the weekend so bear with my recovering brain. I couldn't wait any longer to share my plans with you and hopefully help restrain myself....
You see I had SO many plans I couldn't figure out what to do first and realizing that I only had 12 weeks left at the time I knew I wouldn't be able to get everything floating around in my brain done. Enter the chart.... I tried to draw it all out and make this cool collage but there were still too many choices and it didn't photograph well. :P

I decided to start with the most necessary items and work my way out from there. The biggest hole in my wardrobe is pants/trousers. Especially now that I'm working at a summer camp. So I broke down and bought Grainline's Maritime Shorts and have entered the "MARITIME MARATHON"
 I have it fitted to me and hacked to bermuda shorts length and tested skinny and bootcut jeans with it.  The only alteration I have left to make is figuring out how to add a back yoke so it looks more like jeans.

I have completed one pair of red print shorts and have plans to make one more denim pair. I'm finishing up a pair of navy twill skinnies and am debating between a wide/straight leg denim trousers or a more fitted Maritime jeans variation. Any advice is appreciated. I'm hoping I can get it all figured out so I can assembly line sew several of these babies.

I'm going to be making one of these shorts that look like skirts from the red and am wondering if I should do a pair in the floral as well? Is it too much to go with a tshirt? Or will it just look like a cute ditsy floral skirt? Hmm...

I bought the whole collection when it first came out and the last of them finally arrived! I'm usually cold so a couple of shrugs or jackets are on the to make list!

The only other things I need to make are some undershirts and I'm waffling between the Sammy Cami or hacking my TNT knit top pattern into a built in bra tank...

I have a ton of knit tops I really REALLY want to make and a couple corduroy jackets but I'm not sure when I'll get it all fit in... Maybe as rewards when I finish the necessary stuff?

I'm also working ahead on the monthly themes for when I'm at camp so I don't leave you guys totally hanging then but I can't exactly list them because that would be "Spoilers"! Guess who I'm thinking about now....... Muahahaahahahaha!
Ok that zapped all my energy so I better quit this rambling and go eat some homemade pizza... bye bye.

Seasonal Sewing With Heather: A Stashbusting Interview

Today I have a lovely interview from Heather of Handmade by Heather B. Today she's sharing a bit about her sewing process and how the seasons effect it. Enjoy!

Summer of Dresses
I Dream In Blue

What's the cycle of weather like where you live? Can you wear the same things year round or do you have to make specific things for certain seasons? 

Here in southern Pennsylvania we do get all 4 seasons, though Fall and Spring seem to be about 2 weeks. Curse you global warming!  I'm also part reptile so my body temp tries to match the current outside temperature. In the winter I need lots of layers and in the summer I need light clothing that breaths. I also need hamsters to feed on. ;)

Does it effect what you sew? 

Yes indeed. In effort to keep warm I'm almost a 100% pants wearer in the cold months.  I might sew one dress for a fancy occasion during that time.  The rest of my sewing is tops that go with pants, blazers, leggings and if I'm feeling crazy some actual pants. Then I remember that my backside does not fit into pants and I make a hasty retreat back to knit tops.

In the summer my sewing is just one dress after another with a pair of shorts thrown in so local people stop asking why I'm so "fancy."

Do you sew for summer in summer, winter in winter, etc. or do you plan ahead so you can wear your creations in season?

At the beginning of the season I stick with clothing that works with the current season.  As winter/summer drags on and I get tired of being perpetually cold/hot then I usually start sewing for Spring/Fall.  An illicit dress project in late winter or jacket project in late summer feels so good that it must be bad for you.  Guess who has 3 summer dresses planned this month. This Girl!

Bellatrix Blazer

Are there any things you have made specifically because of the climate where you live?

Most of the clothing I make works well for my climate except maybe those light jackets that you only need for 2 weeks.  However wool jackets get a lot of use and I have no guilt about the 5 colors of wool coating in my stash.  

How has stash busting hindered or helped?

Last year my stash was a little winter heavy in the woven area, but I filled it in with a lot of pretty cotton prints.  So now the stash is just about perfect.  I've found it pretty easy to sew up patterns with fabric that I already have. My brain does still jump to "buy something NEW!' but then I take a look around and usually find something that will work.  Thinking of my future adult child taking all my fabric to the dump helps too.  No Son, I thought I taught you better than that!!!!

What time of year do you get the most sewing done?

Well it's too cold outside in the winter, too hot in the summer and I have pollen allergies in the Spring.  So I'm outside for those 2 weeks of Fall and sew the rest of the time. ;)  Only a slight exaggeration. 

Does sewing help you stay sane in the winter?

Some people doubt that I was ever sane to begin with, but the answer is Yes. Actually I'm a fan of winter cause the cold temps keep me from feeling bad about keeping my kid inside so I can sew. I can sneak in some more sewing and he gets some home made cookies.  It's win/win! 

Summer of Dresses

Simplicity 2444

Thanks so much Heather for sharing your story! I hear ya with the allergies! How about all the rest of you stash busters? Does the climate effect your sewing?

Helpful Links to Curating a Custom Wardrobe

Hello Sewing and Stashbusting Friends,
 Apparently my ideas for building a wardrobe with the curating challenges were so strong I sent them telepathically to bloggers who took my ideas and wrote fabulous blog posts or series on it.

Seriously though, I think it is just a level sewists get to at some point. We've made a few things we really love and fit well and we want to continue that. It's so hard to go back to store bought clothes when you realize you can make one that will fit and feel so much better, plus all the feel good conservationist, DIY vibes. Most of us want to live organized and uncluttered lives, or at least pinterest makes us think we do; and that spills into our closets.

Pinspiration

First up is a fabulous piece from Tasha of By Gum, By Golly. You all have probably already read it but I recently discovered her blog and I love the intuitive approach she takes to her closet. It's not dependent on trends, styles or others. She's beginning the wardrobe journey by focusing and analyzing her own clothes that have been tested by her life. She raises several good points that are well worth rereading.

Secondly is Colette's Wardrobe Architect. She totally stole my vibes, dug into them and made a wonderfully detailed, cohesive plan. Even if you don't jump into it fully, her posts are well worth the reading and thinking about, especially when she starts discussing the practical stuff.

I enjoyed the croquis posts one and two by Gloria & Me. It's a great way to experiment with different silhouettes without going to all the work of sewing it up and then finding out you don't like it on your body. Plus it's fun! Like playing paper dolls again but with the ability to make it real!

My actual closet stash last year...

So how does all this wardrobe planning help with our fabric stashes? Hopefully we'll walk away full of ideas to use up the stash, but it's also a preventative measure. Hopefully we can take what we've learned and be more discerning in our fabric and pattern choices. Do I wear silk? No? Then I probably shouldn't buy it. Do I have 5 dress patterns with that same silhouette already? Yes? Then I probably don't need another. Personally I was amazed at how many patterns I liked/had stashed that were almost identical, especially when it came to dresses and tops!

How about you? Have you found any similarities in the fabrics and patterns you buy?

Detour from the Norm: Jewelry Making

So I had a whole different post planned but after driving to town in fog, teaching class and taking lessons, then driving home in the dark, I thought I'd do something that takes less preparation. In between my private sewing lessons I get to learn some jewelry making techniques. I've been especially delighted with learning how to make my own findings. These are the fruits of my labors so far.

The purple stones are called aqua terra jasper and I
made those cool swoopy findings.
The brown ones are just cool beads. They're the first
ones I made and learned how to wrap the wires.

I made these swoopy ear wires too! These are all real pearls. Just like we used to turn the flowers colors with food coloring in the water these pearls are colored the same way. So the colors go all through the layers of the pearl. I thought this was cool.

More real pearls and some very sparkly iridescent beads.
Can you tell I love iridescence?

So, that's all from me. Now I just need some fancy occasion to wear my swanky new earrings to. Jewelry making is one of the few other creative avenues I've allowed myself to branch out into. Do you try each and every craft or do you limit yourself? I've found I must limit myself to keep my sanity and pursue excellence in something.
Now I'm off to bed!

March Stashbusting Theme and Curating Challenge

It’s March!!! The temperature is above zero and the sun is shining for the first time in days! It’s time for a celebration and beginning to plan for the warm summer days that are sure to come. At least for those of us in the northern hemisphere. :) I’ve already seen a shift in blogging for those in the warmer part of the world preparing for your fall and winter. Hurrah for seasonal change. Are you ready? 

Jake and Cat are ready for the season to change as well.

March’s Curating Challenge is a big one this month. Wardrobe Evaluation! Time to go through your closet and pull out all your favorite clothes whether they are handmade or RTW. Why are these things your favorites? Find the similarities. Is it style, comfort, colors, certain details? Once we find the common denominators we can approach our fabrics and patterns with a more educated eye and sew up more garments that will get worn.
A big revelation and shift in my sewing happened when I realized some of my favorite pieces accentuated my natural waistline. I started making more things that defined it and ended up with several new favorite pieces! 

There seems to be a lot of talk going around the blogs about all this and I’m compiling a list of interesting articles for later this week! I’ve also got some fun interviews planned for later this month as well. So stay tuned for more good stuff!

Someday winter will be over and my waistline will return!

Right now I want to hear from you! Is there a big shift in your sewing depending on the season? Do you have super defined seasons that require separate wardrobes? I know I have to living in South Dakota! It’s wool, layers and long johns in the winter and t-shirts and shorts in the summer. I also do more knitting in the winter time… that may be partially because I’m indoors and watching more movies too…

So let me know! What are you planning to sew?

February Stashbusting Link Party

Hello Scintillating Stashbusters,
  I don't know about you but I don't know where the month of February went. I've felt quite overwhelmed and have been trying to crawl out from under the pile most of the time. I found out I got a summer job, started teaching sewing lessons one day a week, kept up with my Korean lessons and dealt with all the drama that life likes to throw at you. :)
How much sewing did I get accomplished?

I managed to finish up three knit tops, two which fit the February theme. I made my Mom two simple tops to wear with her new skirt or whatever she wants. I love how versatile knit tops are. You can have such fun with prints. I made myself a basic navy tee that's gloriously long and will fill a huge gap in my wardrobe; however boring it may appear in photos.

So with my cat apron and Tiny World Tutorial that gives me 4 garments for February and my totals for the year up to 9 of 35 garments and 5 miscellaneous projects not counting two pants muslins made from stash.

Now it's your turn, how did February go for you? Leave me a comment and link to your sewing in February so we can all see what you've been up to. Before I leave you I just want to say I've so enjoyed Sew Grateful week and I am very thankful for all of you who read my blog and participate in the Stashbusting. You are an encouragement to me!

Tiny World Tutorial

Hello Friends,
I've been wanting to do a tutorial ever since my tiny worlds were so well received during last January's Stashbusting. Sew Grateful week was just the kick in the pants that I needed to get this done. Let's make Tiny Worlds together!

Supplies:
A circle template (mine was about 7 1/2 inches)
Scissors and/or rotary cutter
Pins
Fabric for front and back
Yarn
Fabric scraps or markers for decorating
Ribbon for drawstring

1. Trace and cut two circles on inside and outside fabric.

If you have a specific toy you want set it in the middle of the fabric and bunch up around it to get the approximate size circle you need.

2. Create landscape.
Use fabric markers first and iron down scraps of fabrics using double
sided fusible. You could also use a print for your scenery.

Make sure you keep details 1/2 inch away from edges so they don't
disappear in seam allowance.

Using three strands of yarn, (mine was that loose weave crewel yarn) layer it across area you wish for grass.

Using a very small stitch length sew as many rows as needed to attach the "grass".
Carefully clip apart between stitch lines and all the loops.

Fluff grass with fingers revealing pattern underneath. Steam iron into shape if desired.

3. Take outer fabric and stitch a small buttonhole a bit more than a 1/4 inch from the edge. Use a scrap of interfacing if using a stretchy fabric. But don't use stretch velvet on your first bag like I did in this example. Horrid shifty stuff. 

4. Pin right sides together and sew 1/4 inch seam, leaving an opening for turning. Don't worry about the poof in the middle just make the edges match up.
Clip curves and turn right side out.

5. Press flat and top stitch close to the edge and a 1/4 inch away from edge stitch making sure buttonhole falls in between these lines. You've just made your drawstring casing!

6. Cut ribbon to fit around circle lying flat. Thread through and tie off close to opening.

Give it a pull and TaDa! You're done!

 There you have it my friends! I hope you enjoy this. I'd love to see photos if you make one up. Please use them for personal use only. If you have any questions or a step wasn't clear, please ask away in the comments and I'll do my best to answer.