Sewing With a Plan Challenge

[kaitlinnegan]

Do you find yourself with a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear? This challenge is for you! We are going to work on wardrobe building based on this article from the Timmel Fabrics website: Sewing with a plan. This is a very informal, low key challenge - there will be no prizes except for of course the rewards of building your new, coordinated wardrobe, and no deadline so you can work at your own pace. Basically I just want to keep the discussion going so we can look to each other for inspiration and motivation! Here are the basic guidelines and ideas:

First, come up with your wardrobe plan. The article uses 11 garments, but you can do whatever you'd like! The point is to have a plan to create a coordinated wardrobe that fits your personality and style. The wardrobe should be customized to your needs, whether those needs be formalwear or loungewear. Here are a few things to consider:

~What types of garments do you want to make? Dresses, jeans and knit tops, business skirts and jackets? Also think about your timeline for sewing and what season you would like to sew for.
~Do you want to incorporate a few RTW pieces or plan around a couple things that are already in your closet? Don't forget about accessories like scarves, purses, shoes, and jewelry!
~What colors do you want to use? Will you stick to solids or incorporate a few coordinating prints? Do you want to make a lot of items out of one fabric - for example, a skirt, pants, jacket and purse all out of the same suiting fabric, or pick out many different fabrics that coordinate?
~What patterns will you use? If you have TNT (tried and true) patterns that you love and have adjusted to perfection, this is a great time to use them!
~How will you approach the actual sewing? In what order will you sew the garments? It's a great idea to make sure the first 3 items you sew coordinate with each other so you can have a few options to wear right off the bat, and you don't end up with 3 random garments if you end up losing steam. Do you prefer to work on a couple garments at a time, or finish one garment before moving on to the next?

You might find it helpful to sketch out your ideas. If you need some inspiration, here are the contest entries from Timmel Fabrics: SWAP 2007 winner and entries. There was also a similar contest on PatternReview.com: Wardrobe Contest 2007.

Post your plan and any questions you have here!

Next...get sewing! Post pictures of each individual finished garment in "Completed Projects," but make a post on this thread to let us know about your progress, how your new garment fits into your overall plan, and pictures of possible outfits. If you don't have a way to post pictures, no biggie - you can still join in the discussion.

Finally, enjoy your new wardrobe with endless possibilities!

I look forward to seeing everyone's ideas!

Edited: I forgot to mention that I would like to encourage everyone to incorporate the stash challenge into this challenge too! So...if you can work your stash into your plan, you will get even more kudos!

[jwright]

AWESOME!! I can't wait to start on my black pants!

[kaitlinnegan]

I was so excited about this, I started some sketches last night! I'm not much of an artist, but I'll scan them in later tonight. Here's some inspiration from Ann Taylor - a lot of these outfits have pieces that would easily mix and match: Relaxed work outfits. I'm going for a similar look - though these are perhaps a little on the dressier side than what I'm going for.

[jwright]

That is closer to what I was thinking.

I can't remember what pattern I bought (I'll try to remember to look at the number) but it had a few dressier work things I could make.

Here is my plan: I like the 11 item thing but mine will be in a different order (there is some logic to it)... First off--I need some typical, black dress pants. I've tried to find some at a store I like but I can not find any that fit and look good. Then, a solid shirt to go with it. (I'm going to slowly phase out my RTW things so that it is all handmade, newer pieces.) After that--a print shirt, two other different color solid shirts. Then, a jacket. Next--jacket and pants in a differnt material (but still coordinating with my shirts). I'm not sure how I will finish out the rest of the wardrobe after that--I'll have to see what patterns are out there when I get to that point.

I'm going to commit myself to working on this at least 10 minutes a day. (I've got a ton of things on some nights and not so much on others but 10 minutes is do-able any night). Any other crafts and what not do not get done in this 10 minutes (I'll have to do those when I can sew longer ). I'm not sure what time frame that gives me for total completion but I'll definately show my progress.

Who else is willing to commit 10 minutes a day with me? ( I can't do this alone!)

[Glennssister]

I will work on my plan sewing at least 30 min a day 4 days a week. I am gone from home too many hours on Wed. and Thurs.
Some of my stash sewing will have to be SWAP sewin but not all.. I'll try to work both challanges. I have stuff for the 3 grandchildren (4 skirts, two sweaters two pair leggins, one pair boys pants and one boys shirt ) and stuff for a dress, and jacket for myself. I'll have to get more fabric when I get done with all this. I already have the patterns. Oh I have fabric and patterns for 3 purses also. My swap will include two Items I already have ( black dress, black dress pants, black tank top with matching light weight jacket. I will make things that can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion. The color schem will be browns, tans/beigs and black. The jacket fabric I have is a mix of brown and tan. I will incorporate a touch of red, and/or white and tan with the black outfits. I may ascessorise the brown and tans with coral, orange, and pink and blue (not at the same time). I already have an orange shirt jacket Woo hoo!! My purse fabrics are deep orange, oatmeal and light taupe. I may use the oatmeal and taupe fabric for the same purse.
The girls skirts are simple straight and with back zippers.

[kaitlinnegan]

Jen - I think 10 minutes a day is very doable! I'm going to give it a try. I hope to spend more some days, but you'd be surprised what can get done in 10 minutes. I just check out this book from the library called "Weekend Sewer's Guide to Dresses" - has a list of 15 things you can do in 15 minutes or less -- like clipping notches and marking dots on a pattern, sewing straight seams, cleaning and rethreading your machine, or clean up your last project in preparation for a new one (that's my new favorite, since I have a tendency to leave things lying around).

Here are a couple sketches I made. Excuse the poorly proportioned figures..I never was good at getting proportions right, and it's been a long time since my art classes!

DSCN1511-1.JPG (19.47 KB) Viewed 7548 times

The tops will be a cotton-lycra knit. I have it in a few colors (ecru, magenta, teal, orchid, and a deep red) but haven't completely made my mind up on which ones I will use - the turtleneck will be Vogue 7799 and the mock turtleneck will be Kwik Sew 2740. The jumper (McCalls 4567) will definitely be a brown tone-on-tone striped wool suiting, but I'm not sure if I have enough to make the pants (Vogue 7881) too. I might consider making a muslin of the jumper, and I'll definitely make a muslin of the pants. Comments? Suggestions? Does this seem reasonable for my first 4 pieces?

I might like to make a pair of jeans soon from this pattern: Vogue 2812, but I'm debating whether I can cut into the denim I just bought before making a practice version..

[DorothyL]

You guys are wise with the 10 minutes a day thing. When I worked in an office I would do "a seam a day" before work. Not only did I eventually get stuff done -- it made the day more pleasant to start out sewing.
Good luck.
And remember the 3 rule. Everything should be part of at least three outfits.

[Glennssister]

Katlynn, I really think your choices are great. they look like what I would have chosen when I was smaller and younger. I may get those two top patterns. I am really fond of the style of the Vogue crossover top. I just says CLASSEY. I wonder if my 38c bust and rolls of back flab would allow me to wear it. I am pretty thick in the waist with a pot belly but my bust still stands out alittle beyond my belly. My hips aren't out of proportion to the bust.
any thoughts? I intend to start with Simplicity 4014 for the jacket, and then the dress. The jacket will match my rtw pants and dress. I may need to make that vogue top next or simplicity 4886. I alrady have that pattern.

Kaitlynn, Your drawings are great. They get the idea across. It sounds like you have adheered to the rule of each Item matching 2 others.

Belinda

[jwright]

I'll be using the Simplicity 0611 pattern to start my collection. Last night, I got everything out and now I am ready to start cutting out the pattern. I think I can get to cutting the pattern tonight and maybe get the fabric for the pants cut out.

I can't wait to see where 10 mins per day gets us all. I think I may get up 10 minutes earlier in the morning to work on this stuff--then DH stays out of the way.

[kaitlinnegan]

Belinda - I think the Vogue top (7799) could probably work for you. It seems to work on a variety of figures over at Pattern Reviews - you can look browse through the results here: Vogue 7799 reviews. I particularly like this one - ChrisK's version - she seems to have used a bit heavier fabric, and seems to have a little looser fit although she doesn't mention any alterations to that effect except in the sleeves. I like the crossover top too - I think I will make it eventually, but it's lower down on the list since it is a bit less versatile in that I can't wear it under the jumper. I really like the other top pattern you posted too!

Jen - That looks like a great pattern for a wardrobe! I like the camisole/tank - I've kind of shied away from woven top patterns because I know I will have to do a FBA to get them to fit properly, but I really like the look of a satiny top under a nice structured jacket.

Keep it up guys! Anyone who's lurking around here...feel free to join in the discussion!