Planning and Plotting

Still no actual sewing going on, but planning for Spring proceeds. First up: what to make for a bottom layer.  So far I have decided on (and purchased) two pant patterns and one skirt pattern.  

For warmer days - a culotte pattern from Itch To Stitch

And for a little more coverage -- the Clare pant from Style Arc 

For days when a skirt is wanted -- Ravinia Skirt from Love Notions

Probably the midi length, but I'd love to swan about in the longer length too. Love that it has pockets!

I'd really like to make a casual dress too, similar in style to this one except with shorter sleeves and a little more fullness to the skirt --basically I just want the small shawl collar! Haven't yet found a pattern that I could adapt, although the dress itself is fairly simple I suspect the collar would need to be self drafted. I've done a passable job of doing that in the past, so within the realm of possibility.

And plotting? Well, all of these patterns are PDF purchases and need to be printed out. In the past I've taped, trimmed and sworn, but recently I heard about a printing service that was reasonably priced and had fairly quick turn-around. I'm probably the last sewist alive to hear about it, but if not -- they are PDFPlotting in the Richmond area (VA, USA). Ordered my copies on a Monday morning and had them delivered by mail on Wednesday -- not too bad at all. Price varies by pages needed (and there is a reasonable shipping fee) but it was worth it to me for the total lack of pattern piecing aggravation.  As an example, the Gobi culottes were printed on one large sheet and cost $1.39 as opposed to printing 21 pages at home (just the pattern - instructions are separate). I'm sure my cost at home (paper, printer ink) probably works out to be cheaper, but sanity -- priceless!