Lovely Pattern Collection

It's not a Black Friday Sale but a really good price för a pattern collection. I searched for the cardi pattern and found a collection with 11 patterns for the price of two where I except the cardi pattern want to try the jacket, both skirts, top and maybe one of the dresses. 

 Even if it's BurdaStyle Patterns you can buy the collection at Interweave. Here's the link.

This is the cardi I was looking for.I think that my thoughts already are in spring and summer planning.

More planning

I've planned a little more and I think it'll be good if I sew garment's in a order so I get some outfits along the way. That will make it easier to takes photos every month and not wait with all until the end of April.

I wrote down every garment on a note (on the right) and then puzzled to get some nice outfits and wrote them down on the lower left. I write my notes mostly in swedish.
I'm happy with the result this far.
This afternoon I'll finish a pencil skirt to check the pattern once again. I've lost some weight and had to draw new patterns. But I think I succeed making this skirt. I will sew both a black and a light beige pencil skirt for my SWAP later on.

SWAP 2018 rules are out

I love this time of year when the rules for the coming SWAP Contest at Stitcher's Guild comes out. I always plan for it but not finish so often. But it's really fun to plan and choose fabrics and so on.

This is my first attempt to chose fabrics from my stash. We'll see if it will be these or something else.
I want to sew a collection with clothes to wear at parties or similar events. And the base will be a sheat dress, pencil skirt and a jacket in black cotton gabardine with a little stretch.

The "rules" are:
Plan:
Choose two neutral colors
Add one accent color and two prints OR two accent colors and one print
Make at least three garments from each neutral color
Make at least one garment from each accent color
Make at least one garment from each print
Remaining two garments may be made from any one or combination of your neutrals, accent(s) and/or print(s)

Create multiple outfits of at least two garments that work for your personal style
Each garment must work with a minimum of two outfits
Optional Accessory: add one self-made accessory as a signature piece that works with at least two of  your outfits

Sewing for Autumn

It's been a long time since I wrote here but there is so much going on that I haven't had time. You get more often updates if you come to my instagram place @medeasgarderob. 

As usual I want to sew a Granville Shirt. I use my sleeveless Granvilles all the time, even in winter. But I want to sew one with long arms and see if I like it. Second is a long cardigan from Knipmode that I've sewn a couple of that pattern before and like it. This will be in a brown linen knit. Maybe I have to find a brown matching fabric for a skirt or I wear it with my denim pencil skirts.

My high priority project the coming months is my navy blue coat in wool crepe. The coat is Quart Coat from Pauline Alice. She makes pattern for short people so I have to adjust before I sew, but I've sewn a dress from her and it worked. So I hope this will be beautiful.

On the lower row there are things I need and I'll see if I can find time to also sew a slip, at least one bra (Marlbourogh Bra) and some panties. If I have time I also want to sew a blouse and maybe a dress from my Laurel Dress Pattern.

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. 

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.