3.08.2012

lets make this official


okay. i've been meaning to do this for awhile but i've had trouble getting my butt in gear. i found it pretty helpful to make a plan when i started sewing for fall - even though, in the end, i didn't really stick to that plan too well (ahem.) but regardless of my fickleness and the fact that i grossly overestimated my sewing productivity (ahem!) i still think its helpful to make a plan, make it public, and try and stick by it as much as possible. having a plan helps me buy fabric and budget my time. and this time i majorly scaled back what i want to sew so i don't overwhelm myself and feel like a failure because i didn't reach my goals (who me?!).

so here you have it - my official "to sew" list for spring 2012:

i'm pretty proud to say that i've already made some good headway on this one. i decided to draft the pattern myself because i couldn't find one exactly like what i had in mind. fast forward 5 muslins and countless sleeve drafts later and i now have something i'm pretty happy with! i think i'm ready to cut into my leather (might even take that fun little task on tonight) and do some practice sewing on some leather scraps just to get a feel for it. i also wrote myself out some sewing instructions. does anyone else do this? i find it supremely helpful when i decide to "wing" a garment - writing it out makes my brain think through the construction and i'm able to catch mistakes before i make them! (most of the time).



march is my birthday month! woohoo! this year i'll actually be attending the wedding of some dear, beautiful people my birthday weekend so i wanted something that i could wear to the wedding, and also something a little special as a present to myself! we have a few weddings coming up, so i'm hoping this dress will be my "go-to" spring/summer special occasion dress. it'll be nice to give my bombshell dress a break, which was my fall/winter special occasion "go-to". i bought this rachel comey for vogue pattern back in the fall and i was waiting to make it until i found the perfect fabric. i always envisioned it in a floral print, but none really tickled my fancy - that is until i came across this silk print on tessuti and had to wipe the drool off my keyboard! it'll be a bit loud, but i think the dress can handle it. one of my goals this spring is to incorporate more prints so... here we go!

p.s. did ya'll see this lady's version of this dress? she said she had a hard time with it, but hot damn! girl looks good...


another rachel comey pattern! i wasn't lying when i said i practically bought them all! these patterns have been languishing in my drawer for too long (a whole 6 months!?!? told you i'm not much of a hoarder...) and they're far too pretty to just look at. i think for this pattern, and the dress pattern above, a muslin will be key. they seem like the sort of garments that could turn ugly real fast if they don't fit you just so. i plan to make this one out of another pretty tessuti silk print. the print is abstract and washy and the colors are just soo summery! it'll be a pretty sheer top, but that doesn't really bother me (give me a nude bra and i'm good to go - modesty was never my forte!)

and thats it!! is that too stingy of a sewing list?? lets just say these are my priorities. i've also been knocking a couple other ideas around in the back of my mind as well...


we'll call these the icing on the cake! i've wanted a white silk blouse for... about ever! haha! i've waffled back and forth between "buy it/make it" so many times i've lost count. so here it is - it officially made a "to make" list! a think a bright punchy pink chiffon midi skirt would be the most wonderful garment to sail into summer with! plus, i plan on making a simple gathered drindl skirt which will be my project for when i've burnt myself out on all this pattern drafting. and the pale pink jeans? what can i say... i've got an itch to jump on the colored-jeans-trend-bandwagon! unfortunately i seem to be obnoxiously picky about the color and can't seem to find a fabric that satisfies me so i'm thinking maybe i have to dye some white denim? blech. that doesn't sound fun. lets just say this one is a bit low on the priorities!!

well, my lovelies, there you have it! written in stone! in playdough stone. in extremely malleable stone... i feel like i can handle this list. although to be honest, i plan on doing the bulk of this sewing this month...gah! march 8th?!?! better get to it!

xx


33 comments:

  1. Ooh I love your spring plans & how pretty the collages are! I am really excited for you about that leather jacket... I am just imagining it and it looks so ace in my mind.

    And YAY Dolly! My favorite :)

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  2. What an amazing list and what a gorgeous way to display it! And you used Dolly - which means you rock. Are you going to make a coat of many colours?

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  3. .....


    Sorry... I was distracted by the fabric. I've had my eye on that summer in italy lovely since I saw it whilst perusing in there a week or so ago. And I can tell you, it is lover-ly. I love all the creation options you have here! I'll be especially curious to see how you go about sewing with the sheepskin? Intrigued.

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    1. Did some test runs with the sheepskin (might be lambskin? very thin and drapey) last night and really... its not too difficult!

      I love that summer in italy fabric - my two tessuti purchases are definitely some of my favorite fabrics to date. So lucky that you get to actually go in one of the stores and feel 'em up! Its probably good I don't live near one because I'd have a hard time resisting and I'd be 1) broke and 2) they'd call the cops on me for stalking...

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  4. what a lovely list.. i need to start making lists as well, to help me choose priorities, since i always have too many projects on my mind and i sometimes get lost in all that.. also, i do write down sewing notes to myself when i'm working on something complicated, it's much easier to do that, than to rip seams later (when something goes wrong, or when i decide i'm in a need of couple vodkas)

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    1. Agreed.
      In general, I'm not much of a list person in my daily life, but I do find it helps to keep me focused because I used to feel torn between too many ideas and not enough time. Editing is definitely a skill I like to work on...

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  5. Really wonderful list! I agree with the others, I love how you've illustrated your choices! That jacket is going to be amazing and I can't wait to see your progress with it.
    I completely understand your plight with the fabric for colored jeans. I have a pair of yellow skinnies on my spring sewing list but I cannot find the right color in the right fabric. I've started to make alternate plans because I don't think it's going to happen for me.

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    1. I was looking solely at denim for awhile, then I had the realization that I could start looking at twills and such (duh sallie!) But yeah... we'll see if that happens. I feel like buying some RIT dye and dyeing the fabric wouldn't be too hard, but its just that one extra step between me and a new pair of pants....

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  6. Oh wow these are all going to be great, but that jacket....swoon!

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  7. Jinx. I plan to make the rachel comey dress too. I've had the fabric (a deep rust red/maroon silk) and the pattern for almost a year and I hope to wear it to my sisters and a friends wedding. I love your fabric choices too. Tessuti has such beautiful fabrics too. I'm fortunate that I live near a fabric wholesaler that sells to the public so I can get nice fabrics reasonably cheaply (for Australian prices anyway) so I haven't caved and bought fabrics from Tessuti yet. I'm also having trouble finding coloured denim. Also, your pattern choices are wonderful too and I love your sense of style. Have fun sewing your wardrobe.

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    1. Oh I'm so jealous! A fabric wholesaler sounds.... dreamy! Your rachel comey dress sounds like it will be lovely. It really is a pretty pattern...

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  8. i'm drooling over your list. everything about it , right down to the rather appealing fonts and circles and slashes. que organized. be my girlfriend?

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  9. Can't wait to see "the bonus round"! And the jacket, of course! :) Thanks for reminding me to make my own list.. ;)

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  10. They all look beautiful! I'm especially curious to see how the jacket turns out! Happy sewing!

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    1. Working on it as we speak (not literally... but you know... its in the works!) I'm feeling positive about the leather jacket... I think it should be good . Fingers crossed.

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  11. Totally in love with your jacket plan. I really admire how ambitious you are - you may not crank out a ton of items but everything you do make is so thoughtful and beautiful. CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOUR DRESS. Let me know if you had the same issue with the back gather that I did.

    re: sheer white blouse... I am on the same wavelength. I just bought some inexpensive sheer polys in florescent pink and acid yellow to play with since I've never fiddled with such finicky fabric before (yep, that just happened). I was nervous about seams and buttonholes. If that works out I'm definitely going to pull a you and invest in some beautiful silk. Love your plan! Can't wait to see the results!

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    1. Whoa. Your test polys sound like they will rock in themselves. Florescent pink and acid yellow?! Yes please.

      "Ambitious" - thats a really nice way of putting it... The phrases that have been floating around my mind recently have been "crazy person" and "in over your head"... but I'll just tell myself from here on out "Sallie, its not crazy and over your head... its AMBITIOUS!!"

      Thanks ;)

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    2. I would like to "LIKE" this comment

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  12. Man oh man, these are fabulous... boards, patterns, fabrics... EVERYTHING!!! I have to admit (though intrigued by the awesome jacket as the red one turned out so fantastically) that the item I am most excited to see is the birthday dress! I LOVE the fabric and cannot wait to see it all together! Hugs!

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    1. Knew you'd like the boards ;) How about that little scissor icon, eh? Pretty cute!

      I also love that fabric for the birthday dress - there's a lot going on with the dress pattern AND the fabric pattern so I'm a little worried it'll be too much (maybe its because I've only seen this dress made up in solids) but my gut tells me it will work and it will be a pretty little springy thingy...

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    2. Your gut very rarely steers you wrong... unless its in the direction of too much tex mex (or is that MY gut...) anyway, play on! It's going to be FAB!

      Oh, PS-ers... I was so going to comment on the scissors, little arrows and what's nots because of course they are adorable and practically perfect in every way. plus they're pink!

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  13. I'm exactly like you in that I have to make a list of sewing projects. If I didn't, I end up starting too many projects and never finishing. I love the draped jacket and I'm so happy to hear that you drafted the pattern. Go you!

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  14. Wow, the leather jacket seems like it will be amazing!! I would love all the details. :) I think the cropped pointed hemline is just to die for right now. Good Luck!!

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  15. I can't wait for that jacket. hmmm, maybe you should sell the pattern. I know I would buy it:)
    And I am with you on the middie skirt. It's on my list as well.

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  16. Oh, I am so looking forward to your leather coat. How amazing and congrats on drafting it! I love your whole palette. So soft and inviting.

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  17. Good on you for putting your sewing plans out there.... :) very brave,! I can't wait to see them come to fruition... Especially the jacket.... I have been having a look at some lambskins as well.... So very curious.... And the silks from Tessuti..:) unfortunately I am not the same shape as you... :( But really looking forward to seeing them made up.. As I am not sure what to do with mine yet... The pattern for Pick a Bloom looks totally wow! Happy sewing and love love love your entire post.... As always..:)
    Lou x

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  18. Ahhhhh! I love all your plans! Can't wait to see these!!!

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  19. Sloooowly catching up, obviously, but my god these are great plans. Why can't I live in such effortlessly chic clothes? Why is my closet so freaking crazy?! 

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  20. love this and absolutely loved the cropped leather jacket!

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