In the nick of time!! As host of April's Stashbusting Sew Along, it would be quite in embarrassing not to make anything, right? I thought I could knock out two projects pretty quickly: a jacket that's bright and beautiful and just needs cuffs, a lining, and some buttons and this dress. Both proved challenging in their own ways, but mostly I've just been way too busy to concentrate on sewing.
I sewed up Cynthia Rowley Simplicity 1801, view C. I really love the pattern, I love the lines and the gathers, but I hate that it's for woven fabrics. I mean, doesn't it just look perfect in a jersey knit?!
Anyway, easy enough to remedy. I cut it out a two sizes too small and used my serger to stitch everything up.
I don't typically wear maxi dresses, but this one is just so comfortable and perfect to throw on when I'm feeling lazy this spring/summer. Plus, I'm excited to have more colors in my wardrobe. :D
While I tried to make the top look super nice, I didn't bother hemming the bottom. I know jersey tends to stretch over time so I'll just hack it off as it grows.
I did use black thread on a hot pink dress, which could have been bad, but I don't think it's super noticeable.
Look at the gathers in the back!! I think it's one of my favorite projects just for the design.
I spent the day at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and it was just so lovely. I still ache from all the walking I did, but it was one of the nicest days so far this year, and the scenery was just incredible.
Is anyone else making vibrant, spring projects from their stash?
Basically, it's a pledge to put a temporary stop to the buying (and hoarding) of fabric and patterns and start using what's actually lurking on your fabric shelf (and closet and dresser and in boxes...). Each month has a theme and a host, both of which are completely optional.
In case you hadn't guessed, I'm April's host and the theme is VIBRANT COLOR.
So if you follow my blog at all, you know I'm not really a fan of the bright, shiny colors. I tend to make and wear dark colors.
But that doesn't mean I don't buy vibrant colors with the intention of making and wearing them one day.
The Stashbusting Sew-Along has been great for me. Some ladies in the facebook group are incredibly productive and make large dents in their stashes.
I am not one of those ladies. I'm lucky if I get one finished project in a month, BUT I really love that I'm not continually adding to my stash by shopping for fabric. I have so many great silks and cottons and jersey that I adore, but because I would go fabric shopping frequently, they'd always get pushed to the back of my closet.
Not this year!
If you want to join in the fun, grab some of your brightest, boldest, and most striking fabric and let's get making! Upload your pictures to the flickr group and I'll do a little roundup at the end of the month!
I've been secretly hating on the bloggers who are all, "I see signs of spring and I LOVE IT," but only because I'm jealous and I can't wait for spring.
The temperature has gotten a bit warmer so surely that implies that spring is on the way; however these photos are a lie. It is still really cold, and it snowed the day after I took these pictures.
Anyway, onto the skirt.
I've wanted to make a wool skirt for awhile, probably since last winter. So it makes perfect sense that at the end of February, when the season is almost over, I pulled out my stash and set about making one.
Guys, I am so excited to say that I made this in an afternoon. Typically, I'd get distracted by my phone or computer, or discouraged when I'd have to rip something out... But I just started out by going, "Just cut out the PDF. You don't have to finish." Followed quickly by, "Just cut out the pattern pieces. You don't have to finish."
Anyway, I did it all at once, which is something I have never been able to say.
The skirt is made well, and it's my first finished Colette piece ever.
I feel a little weird about the skirt though because it seems a bit dowdy... but still fashionable. I feel very much like a hip mom in this - not in a bad way. Just like a should be carrying my children to fencing class or whatever it is moms do.
I really want to make another one in a lighter fabric to see if the dowdy factor is still there or if I created it.
Anyway, the boyfriend told me I looked like I just stepped out of a Young Republicans boating event, which means at least he doesn't see the dowdy! ;-)
So even though I've been in my winter slump, where I mostly want to cuddle up in front of the TV, I managed to finally finish these gorgeous gloves.
If you've been following me on instagram, you'll know I've been working on them since before November. And it's not that they take forever; they're pretty simple after all.
It's more that I had to work and rework the pattern and then figure out the proper size because I can't just make something for FUN, you guys.
But these were a lot of fun. I love the design, and it was a challenge to figure out how to convert the chevrons to working in the round. (And weirdly, I was trying to figure it out for awhile. I took these on a plane ride, thinking I'd have hours to really study it when it just clicked before we even left the runway. So simple, yet so hard.)
(My weird head shot pose - but the gloves are so nice!)
I had a gorgeous photo shoot all planned out in my head, but the sun didn't come out for days (weeks?) and then this past weekend, when the sun DID make an appearance, the real feel temperature was -13F (-25C). I wasn't going anywhere.
You can check out my Ravelry page here, and if you're feeling the chevron like me, you can use the coupon code WARMMEUP until February 25 to download them for free! Definitely let me know if you make them because I can't wait to see!
Hopefully you guys had a much warmer weekend than I did, and you enjoyed your Valentine's Day!
I have so much going on that I feel incredibly stressed and crazy, but at the same time, my schedule is freer than it's ever been and I'm loving how I'm able to schedule my time.
Also, I bought an espresso machine for the boyfriend for the holidays, and it's the best decision I've made in a long time!
Theodore helping me "organize" my stash.
But okay, let's talk sewing news and sewing plans for the year.
I thought a bit about sewing resolutions for this year, and I have to say I'm turning up empty handed because I really like all the resolutions I made last year. Even though I didn't stick to all of them... But I think they're all excellent goals that I'm going to continue to strive for this year.
So anyway, let's look at what I am doing for sure:
1. Stashbusting Sewalong. I know my stash isn't as large as most of you guys, but I have one and I hate it. I bought that fabric with an intention to use it, and instead it's just taking up space. Plus, I like shopping for new fabric, and I feel like I can't when I already have fabric in multiple boxes. So I'm sewing from the stash this year. And in fact, I'm hosting April, which is themed: vibrant color. I stick to dark colors and neutrals so my brights are stashed and I need to make them up. Just to note though, the monthly themes are optional.
I've also been thinking about selling some of my stash. I have some pieces of fabric that are beautiful, but not really my style, and I have no idea why I bought them. Do people prefer buying fabric more on etsy or ebay?
2. RTW Fast. I did this officially last year as well. Unofficially I haven't been shopping in a few years. I really miss shopping, but I don't miss the ill-fitting clothes and spending lots of money so I'm joining again. My main goal for this year is to focus on a more cohesive wardrobe, and to sew more pieces that I'm going to wear every day rather than special dresses. So maybe I'll finally get around to making a desperately needed tank top...
I'm currently trying to get out of a sewing rut. I absolutely adore this fabric scrap that I have, but I can't figure out what to make with it. I wanted to make a miniskirt, but the scrap is so tiny that it will be VERY mini. Maybe I could do some color blocking or something, but I'm just feeling uncreative at the moment. We shall see.
So two things for the die-hard Totoro fans before we even begin:
1. I know the leaf is on backwards. It was actually on correctly before we started and while I was ON THE ROOF, I was all, "Hm, I think this should be the other way." Of course, I was wrong.
2. The ears are no longer floppy! I thought I fixed them, and my lovely photographer had no idea that they weren't supposed to be floppy. As this was a gift, I had to fix the ears and ship them off with no time for a re-shoot.
Here's proof that everything is better:
That is my incredibly happy sister, who says she has not stopped wearing this since Christmas. Woohoo.
My sister had been dropping hints the last few months that she wanted an animal cowl hood type thing, and I didn't really get the hint until I was all, "Oh my gosh, I have no idea what to get her for Christmas."
Apparently, she wanted an animal cowl hood type thing.
I thought she was joking and continued shopping for her, but then one day I realized making a Totoro hat would be perfect for her.
(Good thing, too, because when I half-apologized on Christmas she said she only wanted me to make her something.)
For those who don't know, Totoro is a loveable forest spirit that, in the words of my boyfriend, looks like a scary monster. It's a really cute kid's movie. Think of Winnie the Pooh in terms of his loveability.
I decided to make a scarf and hood combo rather than a cowl and hood combo because I tend to overheat with things wrapped around my neck. Plus, they can be itchy so it was a no go.
The scarf ends each have a bit of Totoro's fuzzy chest and design.
The ears were fairly simple to construct. I used an I-cord combined with increases and decreases to shape them.
I really hated the point on the hood at first and I tried to figure out a way to get rid of it, but then I realized it was perfect for balancing the leaf and holding it up.
The leaf was a variation of a few different leaf designs I found on ravelry. Oh, and in case you're wondering, the leaf isn't permanently attached, but I safety pinned it on in case she wants to take it off.
Overall, I'm super happy with this construct, and I can't believe how relatively simple it was to design.
Perhaps every year is busy and formative and life changing, but we never stop to think about it and examine what happened (or at least I don't) so we just move on, thinking that another year flew past us. And really, this year completely flew by. Before I get in to some of the crazy ups and downs, let's start by addressing the goals I set for myself at the beginning of this year:
Sewing Less. I definitely achieved this. I sewed a lot less than normal, but I am SO pleased with the results. I think my finished products are much higher quality than they would have been if I was just zipping through them. While I want to sew more next year, I'm pleased with how my garments turned out, and I like the whole going slow movement.
Mend and Refashion. I think I mended zero things this year. BUT I did do one refashion. I was actually going to make a blog post about it - I took pictures and everything - but a few days later I decided I wanted to redo the contrast fabric in something else. I have yet to do it.
My one refashion!
If you recognize the fabric, it used to be this dress that was pretty shoddily sewn. To be fair, it was only my second project! Anyway, I used Vintage Butterick 6647 for the jacket and generally I love it and I'm counting it towards my Vintage Pledge this year. So why haven't you seen a blog post about it? Because a few days after I took pictures of it, I decided I wanted to change it. The gray cotton contrast is lovely, but it feels a bit too much like a robe. I want to switch it out with some charcoal wool to make it a bit heavier, and I'm thinking about adding some cuffs. So this finished object is officially a WIP!
New blogs. I started two new blogs this year. The first, Crunchy in the City, is all about food, fermentation, and skin care products I make. I want to do more with it, but I'm pleased with how it's coming along so far. The second, We All Knit Here, is dedicated to the beginner knitter, or anyone who wants to learn to knit from home. I think announced it in March, but apparently it's hard work to create online video courses - my first course launched this month, and you can find it here (and hey, it's half off for the holidays!). Enjoy my bloopers.
RTW Fast. I pledged to not buy any ready to wear clothes this year, as part of Goodbye Valentino's pledge. I'm happy to say I stuck with that pledge with a few exceptions: I bought two pairs of leggings and a bra. In fact, I was actually really happy to have that as an excuse when I'd go out shopping with friends; otherwise I would have spent way too much money on items that I probably wouldn't have worn. It also really made me examine what I need in my closet and what I should be making, rather than just making pretty dresses. Even though I made mostly pretty dresses, ha!
Stashbusting Sewing. I pledged not to buy anymore fabric until the summer, thinking that would make a huge dent in my stash. Or even a small dent in my stash. It did not, and in fact my stash grew. I was given loads of fabric by a few generous souls, I won some contests, and I participated in some sewing swaps. And then, I think in August, I bought some more fabric that I haven't used. I bought more fabric in November, but I'm happy to say I at least made something out of that.
More crafts. I failed. I did manage to find time to make art in Central Park this summer, but my goal of crafting once a month was a complete failure.
SO. Those were just the ideas I had for myself at the start of this year. Some stuck, some didn't (isn't that always how it goes?), but generally I'm happy with them. Of course, other things happened as well:
I actually have WIPs! Typically I don't move onto a new project until I'm finished, but I've been working on multiple projects at once and actually tossing some to the side.
This, as you can see, was supposed to be my Halloween costume. I was much too slow to make that deadline, but as I continued on, I realized that it was much too large. Originally I was going to ignore the size and continue on, as a little extra room in a jacket isn't always so bad, but the arms are so gigantic that I have to go back and take a closer look at it, which I just haven't done yet.
These are my Colette Iris shorts. The pattern seems easy and straightforward, but I really hate shorts on me. See, my thighs rub together when I walk and while that creates holes in my fabric when I wear jeans, hose, tights, etc, it makes my shorts ride up into my crotch. It isn't pretty. I thought maybe it would be different if I sewed a pair though. After some investigating, I read that if the shorts are longer that the fattest part of your thigh, they won't ride up. So I made these longer to avoid that, but I HATE how long they look. I could also make them super short, but who wears short shorts? Not this girl. They're also a bit large so maybe taking them in would help? I don't know.
On a more personal note, part of the reason I didn't make as much stuff this year was because I had quite a few ups and downs. I down want to label anything as negative because it's my belief that negative situations tend to be some of the best ways to grow and succeed. I quit the job I hated with every fiber of my being and took 6 weeks off to explore NYC with my sister. It was her first time visiting and we had a blast. It was much needed because I fell back in love with NYC again by the end of her visit. (I mean, I still want to move, but at least I can appreciate it now!)
At the same time, my boyfriend's heavy drinking got way out of control. While that is/was a terrible, awful thing, it pushed me to seek outside help, make new friends, and even take a bit of a spiritual journey along the way. I hope that doesn't sound too corny, but those aren't words I ever thought I'd speak, and I find myself coping with the stress and anxiety of life so much easier now.
And then, because I hadn't grown enough spiritually or something, the universe threw an autoimmune disease at me. I've unwittingly had symptoms for years, but my body decided this year was too much and suddenly I found myself unable to walk and remember how to form complete sentences and sometimes I didn't even have the strength to open my eyes. (PS - if you saw me at a sewing event in NYC this year and I was acting weird or seemed to avoid you, that's why. I promise I'm not angry or ignoring you!) I'm very lucky in that I found some great doctors and while I don't have a diagnosis yet, I am responding to some medications so I can function most days.
I'm actually not too disappointed about the latter because I finally know what's been causing my weird symptoms all these weird, plus, as my body becomes increasingly intolerant to cold and hot days and as I can really only work part time, I find my dreams of retiring to a temperate climate, becoming an eccentric, and wearing long sundresses within reach. I've been dying to make a parasol for years now, and now I'll have to because I'll actually need to use it. Perhaps I can semi-retire and move to a beach town in Costa Rica next year after all... Or maybe California. We'll see.
Goodness me, this wrap-up is a bit long. Stay tuned for my goals for next year! (And maybe even another project, if I can fit it in this year!)
