Fashion Board

At last, I have finished my fashion board. I had to unearth my patterns to see what I had. I had to dig out my fabric, and look at my choices. But I finally have my proposed fashion board for this year's JCC which I am calling "A Second Serving of Limeade". I'm pretty happy with it.

I might switch around which fabrics are going with which blouse pattern, and I'm contemplating making the collar and cuffs on the white blouse lime as an accent. However, I have a plan, I have patterns, I even have fabric. This means I can begin sewing! The only stumbling block left is that I haven't made any of these patterns before, so I'm thinking muslins are a necessity to make sure there is some semblance of fit happening.

I feel cool and comfy just looking at my board here! I can't wait to finish it and wear the lusciousness!

Orphaned Sandals

To enter the June Capsule Challenge officially, I needed to post my picture of my orphan item. I'm a little late with it, but I finally got the photo off of my camera! Here is my orphan:

And the fabric:

Yes, I know it's the same fabric I used for the JCC last year, but it's what I have, and buying more fabric is just not in the cards this summer. Besides, the items I sewed last year aren't even in my closet anymore! I've lost a fair bit of weight this past year, and I really need new clothes!

Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to sew. I know a few things right off the bat, because of what I need. I need tops, badly. So I'm leaning toward three of those, and one bottoms. Obviously my orphan is my accessory. I think that's how it works when your orphan is a pair of shoes. The question is what patterns am I going to sew? I'm also using patterns I already own, rather than buying any. Since the goal is to sew with a plan, I intend to make my fashion board prior to starting. Ok, I had actually intended to get all the planning finished this weekend, BEFORE the contest began, but that is not what happened. With any luck, I'll be planned and sewing before this weekend, but I never can be too sure about these things.

I mean, what pants pattern is going to look good in lime green? And it has to be pants, because I have more than enough skirts. I even have skirts that will match this capsule, once it's done. Then again, I do have a softer green lightweight suiting, which could work quite nicely for pants, but that would be a totally different capsule, wouldn't it? Yep, more planning is definitely needed.

JCC 09

Hard to believe that six months have passed! It's been crazy, and hectic, and I sewed not a thing for the SWAP. That makes me sad, but obviously it was not meant to be. The good news is, it is once again time for the June Capsule Challenge. I participated in this challenge last year and loved it. Maybe short and sweet is more my style. And once again, like last year, I'm in desperate need for some summer clothing.

The rules for the challenge are much like last year. The capsule must have four coordinating garments plus one accessory. One of the pieces can be previous made, or purchased. The "twist" in the contest this year is that one of the pieces must be an orphan in our closet. That means a garment, or accessory that we have hanging around, that just never gets worn, for lack of something to wear it with. Fun!

After a quick search of my summer wardrobe, I don't really have any clothing orphans, but I did find those sandals I bought last year, and have never worn! Why don't I wear those sandals?! Lo and behold, I have found my orphan. Now I just need to plan my capsule.

May is looking a bit frantically busy. Hopefully the busy won't spill into June, too! I've got a capsule to sew!

Hibernating Spellbound

Halloween has come and gone, and sadly, I never finished quilting my Spellbound wallhanging. Too many things going on, not enough time. This way I have a full year in which to get this little baby done in time for Halloween! With so many other demands on my time, I think I'm going to officially hibernate this project until some future time. But this way, I'll get to rediscover just how damn cute this fabric is when I open it up again a few months down the road!

Holiday Party Costume

As if I didn't have enough on my plate right now, anyway. And, you know, it's not like November isn't crazy busy or anything what with the 50,000 words deadlines, and the start of the 2009 SWAP, and getting Holiday stuff done, and that Thanksgving thing, and getting my house clean enough for my mother to see it when she visits in December (which might involve some painting, or something). Nope not busy enough. My friend's company Christmas party (on the first weekend of December) has decided that this year is a fancy dress party. That means costumes. In fact, the theme this year is Latin dancing. Apparently there will even be a dance floor! With lessons! I love me some dancing!

But MORE sewing? Really? I think I might cry. However, the sales at the fabric store are pretty great right now, for those things called costumes, and the sale ends on Saturday. You know, right after Halloween. Go figure. So I hocked some valuables in order to scrap together enough funds to buy fabric and patterns to do this up right, and spend as little as possible on it. I'm pretty damn proud of myself. Two costumes for under $50. We just won't talk about how many hours I'm going to have to sew this month!

I'm pretty sure this costume is seriously over the top, and that we will be the ONLY people who interpreted the extremely vague instructions of "Latin dancing costume" in quite the same way. But hey, it's not my company party, and my friend is totally keen on the hot pink shirt he gets to wear to match my very, um, colorful outfit. Now all I have to do is actually get it all made. Along with everything else.

Oh yeah, I AM going to wear all those colors in one costume!
Can't miss me coming!

First Ideas

I'm actually starting to get some ideas going here. The theme of this SWAP is a week in the life, so our garments need to fit our everyday life. I think I want pants that are a little more fitted than what I've been wearing. Same for the shirts. I always prefer a more fitted look, but the last few years, and few pounds, I've gone the way of the knits. Here is my chance to reclaim clothing with buttons! My palette will likely be determined in large part by the Limeade fabrics I have left over from the JCC, just to cut costs. Not really where I necessarily want it to be, though. More thought needed on that front. I still prefer natural fibers for my fabrics. Here are a few patterns that I'm thinking of getting, and basing my collection on these.

SWAP Thoughts

Patterns, colors, fabrics, styles. It's a lot to plan out. Time to start narrowing my options. First of all, I don't have the funds to buy all new fabric, therefore I must use as much of what I have as possible. What I have in stash is pretty limited, so I think that means I'm starting with my Limeade fabrics. I bought a lot more than I needed for the June Capsule Challenge. I even have some pieces that never got sewed, so I guess if I start there, I'm a leg up on my planning, huh? That makes this Limeade, the wardrobe. I'll come up with a better title. I'm only bummed that I can't make my dress for this SWAP. I really, really want to make that dress!

One of my biggest dilemmas is what style to pick for my bottoms. I'm thinking mostly pants. My life is more casual, but I'd kinda like to wear pants with buttons again. That would mean I need a lot of fabric, since I don't have any bottom weight fabrics.

Tentative ideas:

• Colors: White, Lime, Beige, Chocolate, Black
• Styles: Button shirts and slacks
• Fabrics: Cottons and linens

Need to work on:

• Acquiring patterns
• Fabric selections
• Building storyboard

2009 SWAP Announced

Time for a new SWAP! (Sewing With A Plan) Remember that June Capsule I did back in, well, June? That was the baby sister of the annual SWAP, which is for 11 coordinating garments:

• 4 bottoms
• 6 tops
• 1 jacket

And by coordinating, they mean it. Everything has to go with everything else. There is some flexibility in the rules about what qualifies within each category (especially important in the jacket arena, since I live in a desert and don't really need jackets much). The contest begins on 1 November and ends 30 April. Usually it only lasts four months, so I'm thinking I lucked out with the extra two months.

Right now, I have no clue what I will sew. The rules state it has to fit my every day life, which I would do anyway, so it's not exactly limiting. My budget is crazily tight, and that will effect what I do the most. I don't have any TNT (Tried and True) patterns, so everything I sew is going to have to be fitted and altered and adjusted to fit my current weight. It sets me a bit behind the eight ball for the SWAP, but is really exactly the sort of motivation I need. I'm going to be quite challenged to get a storyboard together so quickly!

The Votes are In

And the winner is.... ME!!!

My camisole won second place for best garment!!! I'm thrilled, and tickled, and excited, and pleased, and proud! THANK YOU everyone who voted for me!!

For anyone interested in seeing the entries they are here. And the first place winner in all three categories (Best Capsule, Best Garment, Best Accessory).

Sixteen Windows Begins

I truly indulged my newest love today. I cut, I stacked, I sewed, I arranged, I sewed some more. I really do love this fabric. First there was the cutting, and much cutting there was. The first pic shows my piles and their height. Then I had to sew those 120 little rectangles into little threesomes, so I arranged them all out so I could see the fabrics (second pic), and then I mated them into their little family groups (third picture). And finally, on a large board on my craft table, I laid out all the little squares, and spent hours arranging them to perfection (fourth picture). I did start sewing them into rows, but I did not finish. My love will have to wait until tomorrow. A girl needs her beauty rest after all!

Spellbound

I have fallen in love.

Yes, that's right. I'm in love. It was love at first sight. From across the room we saw each other, and I knew I was not going home alone that night. I've been Spellbound.

Meet Spellbound. It's a line of quilting fabric by Maywood Studios, and I really have fallen in love. In fact, I have done what everyone hates, I've forsaken all others to spend time with this one. I cleared all my many projects, half-done, urgent and otherwise, and swept the table clear for my beloved hobgoblins and spiderwebs. I simply love this fabric.

So today I finally took the plunge. I began the first of several projects I have planned for this fabric. It's the wallhanging that I first saw in the quilt store, that stopped me in my tracks and sent my little heart doing flip flops. I've blown everyone and everything else off for the weekend, and I'm going to indulge myself in this project that is for no one except myself. (I think it's been a decade since I last did that.) And so what if Halloween is still four months off! :P

I've never done a quilt like this. I've always been all about the strip quilts and fast cut, fast sew methods where you never really cut little squares. This one is all about the little squares, because it uses 19 different fabrics. Today I cut (16) 6½-inch squares, and (25) 4½-inch squares. I cut them all individually. One at a time. Tomorrow I get to cut (120) 2½ x 4½-inch rectangles. Then I sew all 161 pieces together. I can't wait! Then I get to add even more fabric.

Ah, yes. I am very much in love with this fabric.

JCC Finished

I've sent in my entry. That's it. I'm done. Finished! And what an amazing accomplishment it's been for me, too! Because I've got a stress fracture in my clavicle, I had to call it without doing the dress. I'm a little bummed about that. My capsule is still great, however, and I've done more sewing this month than I have in YEARS! Since the rules of the contest allowed one item to be purchased, I finished up my capsule with a skirt I bought to fit into my Limeade wardrobe.

Limeade

A capsule that is all about staying cool in temperatures that are over 110F. The vintage style camisole with hand crocheted lace and lime ribbon accents compliments the cool shorts in both white and a lime print. A purchased skirt can take this capsule out to dinner, or the desk deli bag can carry lunch on the go, complete with pockets for utensils and even some blue ice.

Patterns and other Info:

• White Camisole: I began the camisole before June, having cut out the handkerchiefs it is made from, and started crocheting the trim. I did all the sewing, and 90% of the crocheting in June. The pattern is from a vintage magazine article which I read at this website.
• Patterned Skirt: The skirt was purchased.
• Both Shorts: McCalls 5010, View C.
• Desk Deli Bag: Pattern is the Desk Deli by Quilts Illustrated

Desk Deli

The Desk Deli, by Quilts Illustrated is designed to be a lunch bag, complete with interior pockets perfectly sized for utensils, blue ice, and anything else one might want to carry with their lunch. I loved this bag pattern when I saw it at the quilt store, and I knew I had to have it. They were sold out, so I even had to wait for them to order more of them! Since time is fast ticking away, I decided to change my accessory from the sun hat, to this bag. For one thing, I think it will sew up faster, for another thing, this pattern has been burning a whole in my brain ever since I bought it. After making the shorts, I had some of the green cherry blossoms fabric left over, and I decided to take a chance that I wouldn't use up too much of the love is fabric, because I wanted to make my bag out of those two fabrics.

I must say, I had a blast making this bag! The pattern is great, the bag is the cutest thing ever. It was my first time using fusible fleece, and I loved the stuff! Such a great way to construct a bag. I want to make one for everyone I know! LOL! And since pictures tell the best stories, here it is.

Green Shorts

The second pair of shorts worked up even better than the first. I was using better quality cotton, for starters. I did make a few changes to the construction. Nothing major. Instead of sewing the ties in half, then turning them right side out, I folded them like double fold bias tape, and stitched them that way. No turning involved. I made sure it was going to end up being the same width when I was finished, and it was. I also did a top stitch along the top of the shorts. It just looks cleaner that way. These shorts are perfect for what I wanted, light, loose, and cotton. Ideal for the 115°F [46°C] weather we've been having so much of this summer.

I love the print. It's the cherry blossoms I bought at the quilt store. Their fabric is so supple and the weave is even and dense. Love their cottons! They make great shorts, too!

Shorts

The shorts are done. Nice and quick, just like I expected. I was pretty sure that I was making a tent, but it turns out that they fit quite nicely. I even managed to avoid getting sucked in by the error in the pattern directions. I've got a second pair of shorts already cut out, so I'll probably whip them up, too.

Camisole Done

I finished ribboning my camisole. It's all done and pretty!

Lace Pattern

Crocheted Beading Edge (with holes for ribbons)

Chain 10.
Foundation Row: SC in 2nd ch fr hook and every ch to end, ch 3, turn.
Next Row: HDC in 2nd SC fr end *(ch 1, sk 1 SC, HDC in next SC) 3 times, ch 5, turn.
Row #1: HDC in 5th ch fr hook *(ch 1, HDC in sp below) 4 times, ch 3, turn.
Row #2: *(HDC, ch 1) 3 times, HDC, ch 3, turn.
Row #3: HDC in 1st sp, ch 3 (sk 1 sp) HDC ch 1 HDC in last sp, ch 3, turn. [3 sps total, large sp is for ribbon].
Row #4: HDC, ch 1 *(HDC, ch 1) 2 times in 3 ch sp below, HDC in last sp, ch 5, turn.

Repeat Row 1-4 to desired length. (Before tying off, see To Join Lace Edgings.)

To Join Lace Edgings: Cut 12" [45cm] tail at end of work, and pull through loop. After sewing in place, sl st chained edge to last completed row, pull through loop, thread 1" [2cm] back along edge and clip.

Source: Folkwear Patterns, Edwardian Underthings.

Not much time left

Only a week left, and I'm still working on my first piece for the JCC. Granted, it was terribly time consuming. Still, I may have to completely change my pieces, in order to finish on time. Maybe I'll substitute a second pair of shorts for the dress, or something. One more week. Wonder how much I can get done this final week?

Finished Lace

I finished the lace. Finally! At last! It's the wee hours of the morning, but I was so close I had to stay up late to finish the lace. Much as I'd like to finish this camisole, and sew the lace on, I figure it's much wiser to wait until I've slept. Making a mistake while sewing the lace on the camisole would not make me happy, at this point. I've spent a shocking number of hours crocheting that lace. But it's beautiful, and I've gotten really good at the pattern!

I did try to put the camisole aside, and work on the shorts, so I could get some speedier progress, but my camisole just refused to let me. It whispered in my ear, insisting that it be finished first. I'm really wishing that it fit better, because I've put so much work into it! It will be lovely, nonetheless. I did get my shorts cut out, so those will sew up very quickly. I'm pretty much guaranteed two items finished by the end of the weekend. Then I get to decide if I stick with the plan or change it to something I can finish in the remaining week. I'm looking forward to making faster progress. If I realized how much lace I was going to have to crochet before I started the camisole I would not have included it in the capsule. Of course, then I probably wouldn't have ever sewn the camisole, either.

Slow Progress

Progress is slow on the camisole. I've crocheted 26 of the 120 inches of lace I still need. That's a lot of lace!

Half-way through June and I should be half-way through my items, but that is not how it is working out. I still have hope that if I can devote the better part of the next two weeks to sewing, I will still be able to finish. That's a seriously tight schedule to make, though. Five items in ten days? I think I just gave myself an axiety attack!