6 PAC planning

I'm not only planning for the SWAP2017 but also for the 6PAC sewing for winter. I thought at first that I would only sew garments from my swap2017 collection but I realized that I want to sew more than two items before the grand contest starts. Two garments is allowed to sew before the 26th December.

Winter 6 PAC

In this 6 PAC I still have my long cardigan i navy woolknit, a pencil skirt and a Plantain Tee. But I've added an Aldaia Dress in black jersey and a Quart Coat in a lovely navy wool. I need these garments right away so I've already started with pattern fitting and I'm cutting out the dress in this minute.

Preparations

I've started to cut out, sew toiles and I have also knit a test for my cardigan.

Planning for SWAP 2017

I've been away from here for a while. Mostly because I've traveled to my french home and I also had some busy time planning for what to sew, cut some of those garments and sew a few.

But first I'll show you my plan for what to sew in the SWAP 2017 Contest at Stitcher's Guild. The rules this time is simple and easy to follow.

2017 Less is More SWAP Rules
Eleven garments divided between Upper, Lower and Over pieces. These are tops and dresses; bottoms; and layers, all defined later. There are minimums and maximums in each category, to provide balance and variety. You decide the final distribution.

Upper: Minimum 3, maximum 5.
Lower: Minimum 3, maximum 5.
Over: Minimum 2, maximum 5. No more than ½ may be outerwear.

Your twist: Each garment in a category must work with at least half of the garments in each of the other two categories. Example 5 Upper, 3 Lower, and 3 Over. Each upper would need to work with 2 Lower and 2 Over garments in combinations that you will actually wear.

NEW: Because the number of layers is expanded and due to current fashion, layers can also be sheer materials, such as lace or eyelet. If Over pieces can also be layered together over other pieces, that is fine.  Having pinafores in this category is also new this year. 

PATTERNS: A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 8 patterns can be used. Two or three items will repeat but the garments don’t need to be identical. Use your imagination. Designed to develop TNT patterns. 

This plan rewards simplicity. The more you coordinate the less trouble you will have getting finished. The more complex you get with your garment types and color choices the more planning you will need to do to pull it off. I highly recommend working it out on paper. With this you will be choosing your difficulty level. Simple is easy to pull off.
You won’t be sewing any orphans or 11 of one category, but it is possible to create different groups in different colorways with more planning. 

You may use one previously sewn item, completed by November 5th, when the Rules were posted.

You may make 2 “Early Bird” garments, begun on or after November 5th, when the Rules were posted and completed prior to December 26th, the official start of sewing.
You may use one purchased item, bought at any time through April 30th, 2017.

The above are tools; use them to your advantage!

Sewing will begin December 26th, your time, and all garments must be finished by April 30th, 2017.  Muslins, pattern fitting and fabric cutting may be started whenever you are ready. 

I made my plan quickly and maybe there will be some changes down the road, but in overall it looks like this:

"The overs" is one knitted cardigan called Dark Pearl Cardigan (ravelry link) and I will knit it with a lovely navy blue yarn from Wollmeise. It's called Blend and it's 70% Merino, 20% Cashmere goat, 10% Nylon.

The other one in group Overs is a long cardigan from Knipmode, which I will sew in a wool knit bought at the market in my french town. They said it was wool angora but I don't really think it's totally true. 

In the middle row are the Uppers which in my case will be two Granville Shirts, two Plantain Tees and probably a dress in stretchtwill. Maybe I will switch this for something else. 

I the bottom row there are three pencil skirts for which I will use a pattern from Gertie's first book. The red pencil skirt is a skirt from La Maison Victor and it's called Kristy Jupe. I'll sew it in a red double knit. 

New Dress

Yesterday I managed to sew a new dress. A friend of mine sewed this a while ago and I liked it.  And now I have my own. My fabric is a dark blue/black patterned jersey that is perfect for this dress. But I'm not totally satisfied with the neckline. Maybe I'll try to make it perfect or I let i be as it is. 

Dress 23111 from Stof & Stil

Mostly memade

I'm in my swedish home for a long time now. Mostly because my mother is sick and even if I have a wardrobe here there is not so much variety. And even if I want to sew clothes I need nearly all my fabrics are in my french home. But I have sewn a dress today and I'll show you soon. 

This is what I wore yesterday. My clothes are mostly casual and I work at home so there is no need to wear elegant clothes even if I want. But I've started to plan some clothes to wear when meeting friends and go out for dinner. But back to my clothes from yesterday. The coat pattern is from Ottobre 5/2009. I want a new coat in the future. I have a wool fabric for a coatigan to start sewing when I come back home.

Some different outfits

I've haven't wore jeans in the last five years but last weekend I sew a pair of Ginger Jeans just to try. And they were easy to sew but they went out to big. So maybe I give them to a friend and sew another pair for myself. I'm a lot happier when I wear a skirt or a dress. I mostly wear skirts but I want to sew some dresses. I just have to decide which one I will start with.

In the middle picture I wear a sweater I bought in a thrift store. I like it very much even if it is a bit small. But I think I will knit something similar and I have already started my calculations. I also wear a Mabel Skirt from Colette Patterns in a thicker jersey with brown/black leopard print. In the pic to the right I wear a Granville Shirt from Sewaholic Pattern, This is my favorite shirt pattern and I have sewn a lot of them, mostly sleeveless. With this shirt I wear a pencilskirt i light denim and the pattern is from an Ottobre Woman from 5/2008. A perfekt basic skirt pattern.

Fall Capsule

As I think I've already told you, I live in both southern France and in southern Sweden. My plan is to have a complete wardrobe in both my homes so I don't have to pack everything when I change country. This is what I plan to wear this fall/autumn. 

I've made about 65% of these clothes myself but I want to exchange a lot of them. But these are for now.

Outfit of the day

Today I wore a bought knitted dress with a turtle neck. I've always told myself that I don't like turtle necks but since I tried this I think it's nice, even on me.

I didn't wear anything homemade today but that's okay.

Sewing a Capsule Wardrobe from scratch

I've cleaned my closet and there isn't much left so I have to plan a little to get a new wardrobe. I'm a member of a swedish sewing community "Sy garderoben med en plan" - Sewing your wardrobe with a plan" and I sew both items to love and items that I don't want to wear over time.
But I'll try to mix the clothes I already have with newly sewn items.

The pic shows the planned items for winter. I've just added a pair of Ginger Jeans and I have already made them.
Now I have to look in my wardrobe and see what I've got and then I'll show you how I'll plan and what to sew.