One thing leads to another

Have you ever freshened up a room with a new coat of paint and found that suddenly the bedspread, or pillows, or curtains look dowdy -- or the wrong color, or just somehow not right? 

Well, it happens with planning a new capsule for spring sewing -- how can you complete your plan when you know your closet is overfull with clothes that just don't work for you anymore?  So, after figuring out the pants/skirts I wanted to sew I decided it was time to do a little closet organization. DH was away for a few days, so timing was perfect. I could pull out/try on/make piles to my heart's content. And make piles I did -- such a huge pile of things that just weren't right anymore.  No photos, because it was an embarassment of poor choices and over-consumption. Hopefully I've learned an important lesson and will be more mindful of future fabric purchases and garments sewn. 

One thing I will show though are the little tags I bought to label different 'areas' of my closet. They're called "blank clothing rack size dividers" (mine came via Amazon) and they've been so useful in bringing order to my slacks and leggings -- now I know when I reach for something that it is exactly what I want. No more cropped length when I want full length, or navy when I need black -- such happiness from a little piece of plastic!

I'm hoping that now that the closet is sorted that I can get back to choosing which tops/blouses will be made to go along with the skirts/pants I have already picked out.

Another goal I've set myself this year is to use up more of the stash -- not only fabric, but also yarn, beads, etc.  To that end I pulled some ribbon yarn (Berroco Zen, now discontinued) to make a spring/summer light coverup. Since letting my hair go grey it's no longer one of my best colors, but I think I can get away with it since it pairs well with navy -- which is one of my basic neutrals.  Here's hoping next year I won't be going through the closet and saying "what was I thinking?".

Pattern is a variation of Soft Serve by Doris Chan from her book "Everyday Crochet". 

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!

Little knitted things and a class

Sewing seems to have ground to a halt -- probably because no new cold weather items are needed, and it still seems a bit early to start on spring wear. Planning is underway however, and I'm thinking of doing something similar to The Great Module Sew Along by TomKat Stitchery. 

In the meantime, a couple of small knitting projects have been completed -- the first a hat from the December FIFC (Fall In Full Color) club (2013, I think?) by Knitspot and Anne Hanson.  "All Boxed Up" in a yarn listed as FIFC Festivus (special edition). An easy knit, and this one will go in the donation box.

 

The other project is a scarf -- "Punch and Judy", also by Anne Hanson -- and this one was knit in Everlasting DK (Amethyst colorway) by Dream in Color. This one is heading to my scarf drawer, as I think it will add a nice purple pop of color to my grey leaning wardrobe.

I do hope to soon start sewing again, and one of the things I hope to start is a "cut and sew" top made from machine knit yardage (made by me, not purchased). To that end I bought an online course by O! Jolly! on "How to Cut and Sew a Sweater". Olgalyn Jolly teaches machine knitting at Parsons School of Design in addition to courses  at FIT. I'm finding it full of great information, and look forward to trying out her methods on my own project.