Wardrobe Sewing (Sewing with a Plan)

[kaitlinnegan]

Things have been a little quiet in the Sewing with a Plan thread, so I thought I'd start a new thread to encourage more people to join us. Just to reiterate, the basic idea is that you come up with a plan for a wardrobe with a lot of mix and match potential, so you don't end up with a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear. More detailed discussion and ideas are here in the old thread: Sewing with a plan challenge. Zero commitment, no timeline, just support and discussion with others who are interested in sewing a coordinating wardrobe.

Well, I found my original plans for a winter wardrobe a little bit overly ambitious... I was able to sew up two knit tops (an off-white funnel neck and a teal crossover neck) both from Vogue 7799, and a pair of wide leg pants from Simplicity 3686. So I've fulfilled the initial rule of 3 garments that coordinate with each other, but I'm not anywhere near completing my entire wardrobe of pants, jumpers, jackets, etc.

But, I've decided to put the fall/winter wardrobe on hold until summer and give myself a head start on spring. My current plan is to start sewing items that will be wearable now but will transition well into spring. The plan is still solidifying in my head, but here are a few of my thoughts:
- BurdaStyle's Stella jacket - this one for sure! Not sure about color/fabric yet though..
- a couple of t-shirts from Kwik Sew 2740
- another pair of jeans, but I'm undecided as far as patterns go
- Butterick 5042 - a twirly skirt, this is similar to a linen skirt I love but no longer fits me
- woven button-down type top(s)
- dresses - I'll probably start these later when the weather is starting to get warmer, but I've been seeing so many cute dress patterns lately -- I definitely want to wear more dresses this spring and summer

I'm also in need of a new spring coat, but I haven't decided if I'll sew or buy. So, how is everyone else doing? Any new plans or progress?

[Glennssister]

I hope to cut out a dressw this weekend. The fabric is a light weight brushed type of fabric sorta suadelike. Wish I had read the label when I bought it.

[LeapFrog Libby]

Test a scrap before you start.. Most of those are machine wash and tumble dry, but I would do a test scrap first.. Measure it before and after so you will know about shrinkage, also..

[kaitlinnegan]

So, I am working toward a cohesive plan for my spring wardrobe. Here is what I have so far:

Spring08Wardrobe-1.jpg (41.18 KB) Viewed 7373 times

And here are some links to the patterns I'll be using:
Simplicity 3775 - ruched waist knit dress in raspberry cotton mystery blend jersey, finished here: Completed dress
BurdaStyle Stella - jacket in brown fine wale corduroy with light purple quilting cotton trim
Vogue 2925 - camisole - I'll make 2, in magenta and orchid cotton spandex jersey
Vogue 2812 - jeans in a dark stretch denim with white stripes
Kwik Sew 3578 - knit dress - fabric to be determined
Butterick 4457 - pin tucked shirt
Butterick 5042 - twirly skirt in linen
Simplicity 3686 - wide leg pants in linen
Butterick 4926 - bolero jacket in linen
Simplicity 4045 - bias cut dress
Simplicity 3786 - loose fitting pin tucked shirt, perhaps in cotton lawn?
New Look 6407 - V-neck button down shirt

I've included a little box with the fabric color next to each line drawing, and the boxes with "?" in them are undecided. I tried to list them somewhat in the order I will make them. I have already made the Simplicity 3775 dress, next I'm working on the BurdaStyle jacket, and the last 2 shirts in the bottom row may get pushed back to summer. My wardrobe has more dresses than the typical SWAP wardrobe, which sacrifices some opportunities for mixing and matching..but..I just wanted to make and wear more dresses this spring.

I could use some input on the bolero jacket (Butterick 4926, 3rd item in the 2nd row) - I want to make the first 3 items in the second row out of the same fabric, probably linen, and be able to wear them together, but I'm not sure if the jacket really "goes" or if it is too distinctive. The pattern has several style options -- I liked that one best on its own..but the point is to be able to mix and match. The pants and the skirt have some interesting lines on their own, so maybe I should stick with a simpler jacket.

Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think!

[Glennssister]

I like the paln. It seems to me that the bolero jacket may match the angles of the pockets of the pants. I just think if the fabrics are the same that the styles will blend. Will the drape of the linin work for the swirl skirt??? If it will I think you have a winner.

How is the stella jacket comming. I want to do one, but printing the pattern on my home computer didn't apeal to me and I didn't have any lluck on my sons wide format printer. I think I will drive to Huntsvill tomorrow morning and just buy the burda version of it.

[Sewing Lady]

I love all of these. Haven't you already made some of the pics. That would be wonderful for your plan. Where are you getting the little dress pic's, are you making them?

[kaitlinnegan]

Belinda - I think you might be right, that in the same fabric it will probably be ok. I worry about the bolero jacket not being as versatile with the ties at the neckline and the puffy sleeves, but those details are also what I like about it. I think the skirt will work -- the pattern is actually virtually identical to a skirt I bought at old navy a few years ago that was 100% linen. Oh how I love that skirt, but it's getting pretty worn out now and it doesn't really fit anymore either. I'm going to check out Joann's limited selection of linen and if there's nothing that will work there, I might order some swatches from fabric.com.

The jacket is going ok. I got a bit frustrated when my FBA according to Sandra Betzina's instructions in Fast Fit was not working out, but yesterday I decided to just go ahead and do it a different way. Now I have traced all the pieces I need to make the muslin, so I just need to cut those out and baste.

Leighanna - I already made the first dress, and I'm working on the jacket. I got the little pictures from the pattern companies' websites and cropped them in powerpoint. They aren't the highest resolution or anything, but they at least give an idea of what the plan is.

I'm going to add links to the patterns in my last post, in case anyone's interested.

[Upholsteress]

Oh you all are sooo inspiring! Leighanna -- I love your plans... you are so organized!) I have made little actual sewing progress... but have found some good RTW bargains (some that I will alter a bit to suit my taste)... I prefer suits/skirts to dresses... and was able to pick up some wool jackets in a classic straight design. I found a couple of pair of slacks that will mix n match well... and I have plans for making skirts and blouses. I LOVE to dress up (working as an upholsterer offers little opportunity for anything more than jeans and polos).

My office is finished and my sewing cabinets in place.. sewing machines got set up this weekend and the notions/fabrics are next. i WILL be sewing soon! With my new grandbaby due March 4... I think the embroidery machine may get the biggest workout first though! Thanks for letting me tag along!

[SmilieFace]

Looks like you'll have a great wardrobe. Maybe I'll spend some time over the next week or two looking at patterns and deciding my next few sewing projects. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Sewing Lady]

Cheryl, Those are Miss Katilin's plans. I am not so organized. I just ask questions