Paused...

I'm into the 6th week in the new job and the sewing and general creativity is completely stalled. I am hoping it is just a temporary pause and the inspiration and energy will return soon.

I am guessing that all of the extra mental energy is going into learning the new job and addressing my questions about what it is appropriate to wear for said new job.

If you are interested in this, there's a big topic about it over on Stitchers Guild
Ruthie's exploration thread

I am not sure if this will change the direction of my SWAP plan or not. If things carry on like this I probably won't actually manage to complete another SWAP, but it is not like I am short of clothes to wear.

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Thinking about it, one thing I have noticed in the past when I hit the giant Pause button in an area of my life, is that then (sometimes several months later) when I come off pause, things go off in a slightly different direction. Almost always for the better (at least from my perspective).
Sometimes I need to take the data, the feedback and process it, observe, try things, process some more and out of that come new and interesting things. The more challenge there is to who I think I am and what I thought I knew, the longer/more difficult the process. But probably its richer and truer because of that.

So I suspect that the SWAP plan will get revised, or scrapped or something, especially if I decide to go for a totally work appropriate SWAP. But that's not a bad thing at all, it will just more accurately reflect the person I have grown up to be at that point.

I think the new direction will be more elegant, streamlined and allow space for details. It is going to be interesting isn't it? I'm quite excited.

Tuesday's work look

I changed jobs and have been exploring dressing a bit more smartly in my new role.
Most of the pieces are RTW, so this is more about office dress code than sewing, hope that's not a problem.

 This is a fitted TMLewin women's shirt with a cutaway neckline in white with teal stripes, then an inexpensive pearl/silver necklace and a lovely hand painted silk scarf to pick up the teal in the shirt.

 

 This was worn with a classic black pin stripe trouser suit from Planet and an absolutely beautiful silver celtic knot brooch.
Interestingly after only 3 days of this (I have tomorrow's outfit ready to go), the one common theme running through all the outfits is the celtic knot influence - not done deliberately, but definitely something close to my heart.

So maybe this can quietly become my signature.

Monday's Work Look

I have been thinking about dressing smartly for work, and have been trying to add a little extra polish in terms of suits, scarves, jewellery etc.

Sorry no photo of me actually wearing it, but here's today's outfit for work.
Dark grey trouser suit, off white linen blouse, celtic knot print silk scarf, gold brooch and earrings.

 Went in wearing boots and then changed to these, as being a bit smarter for the office.

 Have also stashed these in my drawer for days when I need to be a bit smarter.

I also had a black leather tote style bag, but will look ou for one a little smaller.

SWAP 2014 - the premade items

So you can have one previously made item - the green tweed jacket, and one sewn before the start date - the tweed skirt, and with those the collection is starting to look like this....

I will gradually replace the drawing with the garments as I sew them up from 26th December onwards!
A sort of visual milestone marker as it were :-)

SWAP 2014 - whole plan

I have had the SWAP plan written out in text for a while, but decided today to draw it up and use the coloured pencils to give myself an idea of what it might look like.

I wonder if this might be the year that I actually manage to sew up the whole SWAP as per the plan? I have all the fabric for this, and it seems pretty achievable.

Admittedly I have never used the Vogue pattern before and Vogue and I have not always got along too well in the past, so I need to do some serious testing first. I think these days I have a better grip of my various wedge shaped alterations which are not usually found in the simpler books on alterations, but have made a HUGE difference to how my home sewn clothing fits me.
So I shall approach the Vogue pattern with realistic measurements and parts of various TNT patterns. I will make up some test garments before attempting them for the SWAP.
Let's see how I get on.

Style 2514 Green Tweed Jacket

Here's the jacket I made from Style 2514. I had put silver buttons on it, but didn't like them, so have made some covered buttons from leftover fabric scraps.

I think with the covered buttons it is more versatile.
I ironed a circle of very light weight interfacing onto the fabric before making the buttons. This added a layer of opacity to the fabric so the white button blank did not show through as well as helping to stabilise the soft wool fabric and reduce fraying. I used 22 mm button blanks.

Style 2514 Jacket

Eventually I found the pattern I used for the green tweed jacket.

It was Style 2514 View A, although I played it safe and did it all one fabric. The pattern was dated 1994, but the shorter versions look classic enough that they could look OK now.

I'm going to switch out the silver buttons for some fabric covered ones as the various tests I did showed that looked better and made the jacket more flexible, then I'll share it with you.

Tweed Skirt - finished

The skirt has been finished for a few days, but I'd not had chance to photograph it.
I had to sew it with 1/4" seams rather than 5/8" and that extra 1.5" makes all the difference!

 I used some of the lining left over form the matching jacket, and an invisible zipper from the stash.

This evening I had a good tidy up in the sewing room and I can now see the floor and get in and out of the door as well as being able to access the fabric stash. I've had a good sort through and picked some likely fabrics for the swap, plus a couple of spares in case of disasters striking!
I have put the swap fabrics in a box, as I have some other projects to do first.

For a long time the matching jacket had no buttons, then eventually I added some metal antique silver coloured ones. They are OK but don't work with the copper tones on the boots, so I will either swap them for copper coloured buttons or covers some button blanks in self fabric.

SWAP 2014 plans

My SWAP plan doesn't seem to have a title yet. Something that plays on the green and orange tones found in copper perhaps?

It is based on a green/black/cream tweed jacket I made in sewing class ages ago, but never quite got into wearing and some green suede boots with rust/copper coloured detailing which I recently had altered so they fit nicely. I really wanted to incorporate these items into my everyday wardrobe. So the colours come from those items - the dark bottle green, black, cream and rust/copper.

I also wanted to include some items I have cut out but never sewn up - a cream knit top and a dark green corduroy skirt. I also wanted to and use a Vogue pattern I have had for a long time but never made up - Vogue 2989

I will try and sketch something out, but for the moment it is looking something like this:-

First 3 pack
Top - Orange turtle neck
Bottom - Green/black/cream tweed skirt – sewn before start date
Layer - Green/black/cream tweed jacket – previously sewn

Wildcard - Green/black/cream tweed waistcoat (already cut out, though needs lining cutting out)

Second 3 pack
Top - Cream knit top (already cut out)
Bottom - Green jumbo cord skirt (already cut out)
Layer - Vogue 2989 Jacket – probably cream sweater knit (from stash)

Third 3 pack
Dress - Vogue 2989 Dress – black or charcoal knit (from stash)
Top - Vogue 2989 Top – cream or orange knit (from stash)
Bottom - Vogue 2989 Skirt – plain black or charcoal knit (from stash)

Wildcard - Vogue 2989 Trousers – plain black stretch fabric (may need to buy, depending on stash)

Vogue 2989 is looking good to me

This is a great pattern and maybe it has some items I could use for SWAP.
It would be quite interesting to make all the items from a wardrobe pattern. Anyway we shall see.
Off to have a look at some reviews.
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The reviews seem generally positive though only the skirt, dress and jacket have been made on PR.
I get the feeling they are all very close fitting though, so I need to be sensible about the sizing, and do some flat pattern measurements. It would be nice to actaully find the pattern as well, so I can read the guide sheet.

Tweed skirt nearly there

The tweed skirt just needs hemming (wool + lining) and the back split sorting out and then I could wear it.

 It went together quite well, and having the extra Ikea lamp just makes sewing on dark winter evenings so much better!

Tweed skirt in progress

The black/green/cream tweed skirt is in progress. I have decided to line it with dark green lining, and add a centre back invisible zip. I'm using a favourite pattern  - Simplicity 9825.

Closest to view C I have omitted the centre front seam, added 2 inches to the length and added a lining.
Off to insert the invisible zipper into the skirt and see how I can get a really neat finish for the lining round the zipper :-)

SWAP 2014 at Stitchers Guild

The SWAP (Sewing With A Plan) rules are up at Stitchers Guild and are really flexible this year.
I have been having a think about what I would do, and my first thoughts are around a fairly classic skirts suits for work type approach.

I have a lovely tweed jacket I made in sewing class some time back. I don't wear it much because I just made the jacket which is a green/black/cream tweed and didn't make anything to wear with it. So my thoughts are as follows:-

green/black/cream tweed jacket (already made)
green/black/cream tweed skirt
cream tie necked blouse
green/black/cream tweed waistcoat (vest)
1L + 1B +  1T, 1W

then spin off into a co-ordinating plain green
green twill jacket
green twill skirt
cream knit top
1L + 1B +  1T

then some more classic black pieces
black wool jacket
black wool skirt
cream frill front jacket
1L + 1B +  1T

and then a wildcard of either some wide legged black trousers or a simple black ponte dress.

I'm pretty sure I have the tweed and the green twill and the cream, but not sure what I have in the black fabric department.
This would all be great and could be mostly mixed and matched with each other, and worn with either flat black leather tall boots or green suede kitten heeled boots.
If the colours got a bit boring, one of the cream tops could be replaced with something in a copper/burnt orange type shade.

I do however have a navy boiled wool jacket already cut out but not yet sewn up, and a spin off wardrobe of navy items which could come from this.

How much actually gets sewn will depend on the new job, which seems to involve travel at least one day a week, and may have some seriously busy periods. I'm also away for a week towards the end of SWAP and will also be looking to buy a house.

I had better get the sewing room cleaned up ready hadn't I!

SWAP 2014 Official Rules
No purchase necessary anywhere; this contest is open to anyone with a needle and thread, regardless of budget or availability of items.  Just jump in and join the fun.

We'll be following Blue Mooney's "Algebra SWAP" formula:

3 "3 packs" + 2 "wild cards" = 11 garments.

Each three pack will be:

2 tops + 1 bottom
or
1 top + 1 bottom + 1 outer layer
or
1 dress + 1 top + 1 bottom

The "wild card" options can be just about anything you like, but they must be "garments" not accessories (hats, bags, blankets, etc.)

A "top" will be any shirt or blouse worn on the upper half; a "bottom" will be any garment worn on the lower half, and it shouldn't be obscene to wear either without another layer.
A "dress" will be any garment that covers both upper and lower halves, and again, it shouldn't be obscene to wear it without an additional layer.
An "outer layer" will any jacket or sweater that is intended to be a second layer, over a top or a dress. If it can also be worn alone, that is fine.
A "bib" garment will considered a bottom, unless it can be worn alone without a top under or over it.

One garment may be previously sewn; another may be purchased. 
If you have an item you're working on now, you may include it, OR you may stitch up one item from scratch before the official sewing date of December 26.

There's no requirement that every garment match or every top match every bottom.  However, all the individual pieces must form a cohesive collection -they should all look like they belong together in the closet.

"Sewing" is a blanket term; you may sew, knit, crochet, weave...whatever works.  If you can make 11 garments with a 3D printer, that's fine.

Sewing will begin December 26th, and all garments must be finished by April 30th, 2014.  Muslins, pattern fitting and cutting may be started whenever you are ready.

You'll need to take a minimum of six photos, maximum 12 will be accepted. Please keep a copy of all images you upload on your hard drive in case SG's server fails or something is accidentally deleted.

The photos may be on you, on a dress form or any other way which shows them well.

You should show how you plan to combine tops and bottoms, and together should show everything. You’ll probably need to photograph some bottoms more than once.

Composites will be allowed, but only if they show details of the same outfit, e.g. a back view, a close up or the “before” photo if you are recycling. You may not show two different outfits on the same photo; such photos won’t be posted!

A single photo showing all the items together will be allowed but not required.

Amazing sewing goodies

My lovely sewing friend J was getting rid of a 'big pile' of sewing magazines, mostly Burda and asked me if I would like them. I greedily said 'yes please' and she was able to visit today bringing them with her - wow - what an amazing richness to work through!

After she'd gone home I went out to the local discount fabric store and bought myself some more fabric and notions.

Serger cones in peach and chocolate, plus 2 metres of pink and white striped stretch shirting.
And a rummage through the remnant bin produced these wonderful knit fabrics.

Top left - 2.5m gold lurex
Top centre - 0.8m snakeskin print
Top right - 1.2 m mint polka dots
Bottom left - 1.5m pink leopard print
Bottom centre - 2.5m of black/grey/cream stripe
Bottom right - 2m of plain white jersey

The polkadots will be nightwear, the snakeskin a little knit top for work. The stripe will hopefully be a cool dress with the stripes in different directions.
The white, gold and leopard will probably all be tops, though they could all be dresses, I just think they'd get more wear as tops.
As ever they will get washed before going in the stash to avoid future shrinkage problems.
The lurex is a little sheer, so may need to line with skintone jersey or use a pattern with lots of layers/ruching.

New work shoes

I am thinking of getting these Clark's shoes (Hallo Star) to wear for work. I'll have to walk quite a distance from where I can park the car, and need supportive shoes which will take an insert due to knee issues. I will see if I can find them in the local store tomorrow.

And to ease you in to the photographs from the trip, here is Cape Town from Table Mountain.

You can see Robben Island in the sea!

The cable cars take people up and down.

And here's me enjoying the view. I loved it :-)