Seasonal Sewing Plan

Eucalyptus tree bark

Am I the only one feeling "Seasonal Transition Disorder"?
 ( Don't google that I just made it up)  Maybe it's just my ADD working overtime but I can't settle down to my sewing.  July went so well...and then August just fell apart, and here we are its Sept. 1st....National Sewing Month and I simply must pull it together.

I suppose it is in part due to all of the fall trends being released and a bit of Pinterest overload.  Last week though I decided I had to take control of the situation so I spent a day deciding on my fall & winter sewing line up.  Once I had a plan I was able to settle down and I am now looking forward to my sewing once again.

My fall plan is inspired by this Eucalyptus bark.  I have fond memories of eucalyptus..I can smell it in the air and hear the distinctive rustle of its leaves every time I say the word.  It reminds me of dry September days, dusty toes, playground fun and ponies....it's all good:)

I thought about joining the Fall Wardrobe Challenge at PR but I don't really need a wardrobe, mine got a fine start last year....Remember.......


My needs are:
          Ministry clothes -  Skirts, Dresses and Blouses, dressy
                                       layers - vests, sweaters,blazers
   
           Studio clothes - Jeans, cords, Henleys, T's and sweaters

I made this skirt last fall along with several other items and I simply need to add a few items to the mix.  I have enough of the skirt fabric left over to make a vest from.....

This is a Folk Wear vest made last year and I will probably use the same pattern for my vest for this year or the double breasted version is another option.

These are some stash fabrics I pulled and I found a use for the burnt orange (2nd from left) which will mix in nicely with my other dressy separates.

This is a tried and true pattern which I will make up in the burnt orange silk adding a flutter sleeve to it.

I also have some brass sequins which I will add to the hem of the sleeve and possible the hem of the blouse, or possibly scattered over the silk....


The brass sequins came from a jacket I made for my mom.  The silk dupion yardage she chose had a fairly dense covering of these lovely sequins on it.  They had to be removed from the seam allowance which produced a fine stash of them for future projects:)

This piece of linen on the far left was planned for the blouse on the right as part of last years fall sewing plan....Ah well the best laid plains will be just as suitable a year later.....right?

 



My Jalie jeans have worked out well and I think I will modify the pattern to create some straight leg corduroys.  I have some green medium wale corduroy in my stash that will be suitable for studio days.

In the evenings I can knit on this vest, which will be suitable for both the studio and the ministry:)






This is a knitting class being offered thru Craftsy which I signed up for because.... I like to knit, have not done any Fair Isle and have found knitted vests to be very useful here in WI.

I have had a love affair with this pattern for a few years, could this be the year it gets made up?........

I don't have fabric in my stash for this one and I have been trying to use all the glorious fabrics I already have but.....could I break my "no fabric buying" streak with.....
   


....this plaid from fabric.com?  



So this is the Fall plan and we will talk about winter once I have a few of these babies made up.  I do not expect to accomplish them all but if I don't have a lot to do I procrastinate and then nothing gets done...Anyone else have this issue?  

I will stop sewing fall items on Nov 30th  and sew winter items from Dec. 1st thru Feb 30th.

Do you like to plan your sewing seasonally? or just as you're inspired?

Denim Floor Mats

Today I made a bra for my mother....which I cannot share with you....because that just seems a little weird, but once that was done I completed a project that has been kicking around in the back of my head for years....literally.  

Do you have projects like that?  

This one began with an article in Martha Stewart Living magazine.  Before the regular use of the internet I would clip articles out of magazines and file them...yes I know...file them under subject.  

This article went into my home dec. file and was for making a rug using strips of denim from old jeans and was described like this :

 "This fluffy rug, so welcoming to bare feet, is made from hundreds of strips of denim. The frayed edges in shades of blue, gray and white create subtle modulations in color"

Denim Fringe Floor Mat from recycled jeans

Not being sure if I would like it enough to sew "hundreds" of denim strips to make an entire floor rug, I opted to try it out on a few floor mats for the back of our jeep.

My floor mats measure 18 x 20 and required 3 pant legs each. 

Torn denim strips

These are so easy to make and so worth the mindless sewing.  Put some good music on, invite a friend over or watch an old movie while you stitch denim strips...for that matter do all three.  

Denim floor mat in situ:)

We are in total rug love here in the studio.....seriously Chuck wants them in our bathroom because it is "welcoming to bare feet"  Peg is ripping jeans as I type( no doubt) to make some as gifts for the kids, and I am mesmerized by the " subtle color modulation" 

Do you "file" projects or "pin" ?

Have you completed any stalled projects lately? 

Jeans That Fit You...Oh happy thought:)

The Nicolet Continuing Education Catalogs have arrived.  The Fall schedule runs thru Dec.  You can also print or save the pdf catalog if yours has not arrived yet.

 

Jeans That Fit: 

This class has 4 Saturday sessions in September. We will using the Jalie pant pattern which has received rave reviews. There is a class material fee of $45.00 dollars which will include the pattern, denim, zipper, jean button and studs essential for professionally finished jeans. You need to understand pattern instructions, sew basic seams and have your own machine.    If you struggle with finding jeans that fit, we will end that struggle for you. You get to be the "Decider"! Low rise? Medium rise? High rise? Boot cut? Straight cut? Flares? You decide......excited at the possibility of having jeans that fit you in the waist and the hip? Please join me then in making your perfectly comfortable jeans

Class starts on Sept 3rd is held for 4 Saturdays thru Sept 24th. 

Time: 10:00 - 3:00  Class #20700

Cost: $65.80  Seniors pay $43.08 with a $45.00 kit fee.

Which will provide you with a custom made pair of jeans and a pattern for future pairs!

Location: Nicolet Campus BC107 ( building 7 on the map)

Mail in registration begins Aug. 11th, Phone in/walk in Registration begins Aug 19th

Stretch Jeans

The Stretch jeans have a low rise, or regular rise option and although the pattern calls for a modest 2 way stretch, we can make the necessary pattern alterations in class to provide for a non stretch denim if your prefer.  The pattern also provides sizing for little girls as well as accommodating a hip measurement of 36" to 53"

This is the style I am planning on using for my sample jeans and I just purchased this yardage from Sawyer Brook  denim collection to make them from.  Cannot wait for it to arrive:) My 2nd pair will be in corduroy...for sure.

The twill weave featuring black and white results in a deliciously subtle charcoal color that works with so much. Great weight for jeans or jackets. Cotton/spandex. 62 in. (C)  

 Jalie also has this more traditional style pattern to choose from it also includes children's as well as women's with a hip measurement ranging from 36" up to 67" and is made for use with a non stretch denim, but remember we get to be the deciders so you could use a modest stretch denim with this pattern as well.

Traditional  non- stretch jeans

The kit for the class if you choose to purchase it, will include a traditional navy denim with the necessary supplies to create your jeans.  Alternatively you can provide your own denim and zipper with a reduced kit fee of $25.00. 

I would appreciate being notified as soon as possible when you have signed up for class so that I know what kind of supplies to purchase and in what quantity.

Let me know if you have any questions as well.

Hope to see you all there.

You might also be interested in:

A link to the finished sample

Jeans that fit......me:)

The Jeans that fit class at Nicolet begins on Sept 3rd and so I thought as a teaser I would show you how my sample jeans turned out. 

I am really quite pleased. 

What I like: 

1. The color, this Charcoal is a nice change of pace and will help me move into fall. The fabric is a lighter in weight than standard jeans, which will be dynamite for summer, but I am thinking a bit thin for winter...you all know how cold I always am. 
2. The Fit...this should really be #1 right?  They look great and are comfortable. 
3. The rise is just where I wanted it
4. The top stitching color and width pleases me
5. Construction - they were simple to put together, but I am glad I have a few machines to set up so that I did not have to change my thread and needle constantly....having 2 machines made it more convenient.
6. My husband says they look great
7. My husband says they look great - lol

After a day of wearing, they look just like my favorite BKE jeans but shorter....Hmm, not happy with how short they are, great with flats though. 

I am throwing in some additional construction pictures....why not...right?

The back pocket

The Front pockets and fly.  I added the coin pocket.

This is my waistband which Jalie has you place on the bias.  As you can see I pressed a gentle curve into it prior to sewing to keep it from gaping on along the back.

I used a piece of selvage tape along the top of my waistband to keep it from stretching out on me as I top stitched.  I made the length of the tape the same as my low rise waist circumference to insure it would not become to large or to small.  You know how that bias likes to stretch on you.

Had to add a final shot of the rivets.  I chose this tarnished silver, but the tarnished brass was another tempting option.

These jeans are part of my wardrobe plan for fall of 2011.  To see more check out the links below.
Fall wardrobe plan

Fall Wardrobe 2011

I am loath to admit that summer is coming to a close...glorious warm and sun drenched summer...But my despair at summer's passing is always brightened by Fall Fashion.  Fall is my favorite fashion season because I love sportswear and separates, textures and layering and of course that is what fall is all about.  Some brilliant women on Pattern Review started a thread for a fall sew along.....I do love a sew along....and I do love fall fashion....and I do need some new items in my wardrobe...or perhaps what I need is to sew up some of the lovely fabric I have here in the studio.

So what do I have in my studio?

Nothing says fall quite like a pumpkin plaid right?

Now for the plan....

Jalie jeans in the denim ...which are already underway...Hooray! 

A vintage Vogue wool jacket, which will really dress those jeans up, not to mention brighten up some other items in my wardrobe.  This project has been in the stash for ....4 yrs now, so I think its time don't you? 

This wool came from Sawyer Brook I believe several years back as well and I want to make this pencil skirt with the interesting detail at the hem.  I will make this from my skirt block and use it as a sample skirt for my Sewing Lab 102 class coming up in September....Better get a move on then:)

The Pumpkin felted wool I have just enough to make a vest from.  I am not sure it will be this Folkwear pattern..I am mulling over something far more simple, but we shall see.

So what do you think of my plan?

Have you started sewing for fall or are you onto winter? Sheesh

Want to see the finished items?  Just click on the links below.
Jeans