I made it!

I thought it would be fun to have a go at the WIAW on Stitchers Guild but little did I know what obstacles were going to be placed in my way. We had an interstate visitor, 4 sick kids, family and friends dropping by, a birthday to celebrate (mine) and all the other things life throws at you.

Regardless of these hiccups and trying to manage a house and four kids, I still completed my 4 garments in a week. OK so these patterns were not in any way difficult, in fact these are probably the easiest patterns available, but I now have an additional skirt and three tops in my wardrobe.

I used Vogue 8435 for the skirt (minus the front overlay due to lack of fabric) and Simplicity 3768 and 2898 for the tops. The blue floral top seems a bit long to me but I am not going to decide if it needs changing or not until after I have worn it.

It has been quite some time since I made anything for myself and although I am not exactly thrilled with what I have made I know my skills can only get better the more I sew.

So what's next? Perhaps the Six Piece Autumn Sew Along, although it will be Spring here so Spring/Summer garments will be more appropriate. Mmm what do I need?

Happy Sewing ...

WIAW - prep week

Well prep week started on Friday and I am sad to say I am not where I wanted to be at this point in time. I have had 4 kids sick for the past week (the flu) and for the past few days I've been feeling rather blah myself and not exactly in the mood to do anything.

Despite everything I have sewn up 3 test garments. One is OK (a skirt), although I am reworking the waist as we speak, but the other two (tops) were a little disappointing. I am not giving up on those two patterns, but I will leave the resolution of fit issues until I have more time, energy and patience.

I have one more test garment cut out and ready to sew, and was hoping to do that today but the lack of energy and feeling sick has got the better of me. I will persevere with unpicking this waistband and hopefully getting it redone before the day is out, and leave the last test garment to sew till tomorrow.

If worse comes to worse I will make up two skirts and two of the tops (presuming the fit is OK), but if not I might have to do a bit of a re-think. Oh well, we live and learn ...

They're here!

Wouldn't you know it ...

I made up my mind to forget the McCalls patterns for the WIAW and do trials of other existing (but so far unused) patterns using knit fabrics a friend gave to me recently when she was getting rid of her stash. I have traced and cut out patterns and fabrics and have them sitting in little piles with their patterns and instructions, all ready to sew.

The McCalls patterns arrived this morning and, although I really want to make them up in the fabrics I had chosen for the WIAW, I have decided to leave them alone for now and continue with making up the test garments already underway. The Sewing Guild has a SWAP (Sewing With A Plan) scheduled albeit tentatively for the end of the year, so maybe these patterns and fabrics can be shelved till then. I think they will make a great summer wardrobe.

The boys have all been sick this week but hopefully one or more of them might be well enough for school tomorrow. I just can't concentrate and get any sewing done with them all underfoot, especially when my sewing area is the dining table. Tomorrow I hope to get some matching threads at least so I can get underway when I have the chance.

Bye for now ...

Still waiting

The WIAW is drawing near and the patterns from McCall's still haven't arrived. I had anticipated using the Easy Endless Options pattern (the one illustrated in black white and yellow) to make some pull on pants (altered to 3/4 length) and a couple of tops. The pattern is designed for wovens and these are the fabrics I purchased with this in mind (see earlier post).

It is already Saturday the 8th and prep should be starting shortly but I haven't got patterns, never mind made any test garments. I really wish I had some TNT's about now!

I am not sure if I should ditch the initial plans and decide to use Vogues instead (which have now arrived). I am favouring the skirt, pants and top from V8435 with perhaps the jacket from V8605. These however are designed for stretch fabrics, but I don't think I have enough for co-ordinating pieces in my little stash, so that would mean another trip to the fabric store.

I am really undecided as to what to do. Do I search the stash for basic knits so I can start on a mock up of the Vogues in case the other patterns don't get here in time or do I take a risk and wait for the others to arrive?

What would you do?

New (soon to be) arrivals

In the previous post I mentioned ordering some new patterns from the USA.

Here are the Vogues ....




























The Vogue patterns were only $6.99 each, opposed to anywhere from $20 to $30 here.

And here are the McCalls ...









































The McCalls were only $2.99 and the normal retail for them here is between $17 to $20.

I would love for them to arrive soon but hey with the amount of money I saved I will be happy whenever they get here.

Progress, as little as it may be

OK so the jacket hasn't materialised, it's been too warm to make the jacket I had in mind. Despite it being the middle of winter it is still hovering around the mid 20's through the day and I decided it wasn't worth making a heavy jacket with the weather being so mild. Hopefully next winter I will get the chance to make it, but for now it's on hold.

I have turned my attention to sorting my wardrobe and although I am not finished I have made some headway. I have removed from the hanging section all the items that are simply taking up space. Clothes I wore when working in an office and clothes that no longer fit me or suit my lifestyle. In their place I have a few new pieces I bought this week (3 pairs 3/4 pants and 3 new tops) and the things that do fit and I can and will wear. I still have some tops and jeans to sort but they won't take too long.

I am hoping to complete the Wardrobe In A Week (WIAW) challenge for the Stitchers Guild this month which will add a few more options to the wardrobe. The WIAW entails making 4 garments in a week, all prep can be done the week before but no stitching till the actual week. I haven't sewn for me in so long and have no Tried and True (TNT) patterns so I won't be making anything elaborate or fitted, it will have to be quick and easy pieces I'm afraid.

Patterns I ordered from the USA haven't arrived yet (McCalls and Vogues) although they have been shipped, but I don't know if I will have time to make test garments and fit patterns before the start date. If not I might have to resort to one or two of the patterns I have here but nothing is really calling out to me at the moment.

I received a package today of fabrics I ordered online (black denim, white striped shirting, and black white and yellow patterned stretch cotton) and hopefully these will be the basis for my WIAW. I have also ordered some yellow denim, together with some white drill, and yellow patterned faille (not pictured), but I don't know if they will arrive in time either. If they don't it's a good excuse for another trip to the fabric store!

For now it's back to the wardrobe and more sorting, washing the new fabrics so they are ready to cut, and deciding what new items of clothing I really need. I am thinking a white jacket would be handy but I'm not sure if that will fit into a WIAW plan or it will have to be done at a later date. Decisions, decisions!

Happy sewing,