Finished: McCall's 6078 and March Sew-a-Palooza!

Did you see my last post about the great closet cleanup? Look at this pile of hangers!!!

I've come up with 10 immediate "must haves". No, I'm not going to sew all 10 this month alone! haha! But I will make a nice dent. I will have lots of time to sew from next Tuesday through Friday and I will be making the most of it.

Besides, you all know if I need to get some fast sewing done, I can get some fast sewing done! ;)

So, I decided I need:

2 woven tops with sleeves

2 woven tops w/o sleeves

2 knit tops with sleeves

1 knit top w/o sleeves 

1 vest

1 jacket

1 cardigan

I could really use a pair of lighter pants and will try to squeeze those in in the coming weeks as well.

Tops:

Starting with the sleeveless knit, since it's done (yay for pattern's that have been made before and sergers!)

I made M6078, view B from this really pretty navy and white diamond print ITY from Fabric Mart

Size M

1/2" seam allowance through bust and waist

narrow hems on arm openings and 2" hem (turned up 1" twice and twin-needle stitched)

As worn on Thursday

This has become one of my most favorite patterns ever. Swoon.

Already mentioned B6169 was next, I cut the pattern pieces out today, will do some measuring and hopefully get it going this weekend.

It'll be made in a gray suiting fabric 

Burda Style 07/2013 #103 in an ivory rayon challis 

 Vogue 1436 in a springy bright green cotton lawn (this color is all wrong here)

New Look 6104 in red (not pink) cotton chambray (this pattern has been made 3x before)

Simplicity 1916 in a colorful jersey (pattern made twice before) 

Burda 6911 in striped jersey. I will muslin this one to check that twist and the depth of the v

Butterick 6026 in a lightweight navy polk-dot cotton sateen

Simplicity 1499 vest in a deep red-orange (more orange than red in real life) cotton twill

Lastly, I have this white jacquard double knit. I originally bought this for more of a jacket but it is not very structured at all. I need to do a little more thinking on what kind of cardigan I want from it. Initially I was thinking S1945, which I like, but I don't want it to read 'couch or curtain'. Maybe something more fitted?? We shall see.

At any rate, I kinda want all of these in my wardrobe like - NOW!!!!!!  With any luck I'll have the Butterick jacket done before Tuesday and can knock out at least two of the more time consuming tops (buttons, collars, etc) during my sew-a-palooza days :) and will go from there.

The wardrobe contest was just announced on Pattern Review!! I will angle the sewing plans to meet the contest rules:

4 tops

3 bottoms

2 choice (ONE item may be previously sewn or purchased)

Each top must coordinate with each bottom. If a dress is sewn it must coordinate but can be worn alone.  

I *love* the wardrobe contest! :-D

ETA: A Style Arc sale and a dress needed in May and ta-da! Mini wardrobe planned. 

So from my above plans; I will save the Butterick shirt, Burda tank and Simplicity top for the contest. Still...I'm going to be busy!!!

The moto jacket will be my one "previously sewn" item.

Happy sewing!!

It HAD to Happen Eventually!

I have 3 closets -- a closet in my bedroom, the closet down the hall and the front hall closet that no one uses. Now, yes, I only store coats/outerwear and boots in the front hall closet, but there is so much stuff.

And I was having too many days where I couldn't "find anything to wear". That's crazytalk.

I did a bunch of research and liked the seasonal approach of both Project 333 and the 37 piece capsule wardrobe at Un-Fancy and also read up on the Maria Kondo method and Wardrobe Architect.

The first step of all of these is to take EVERYTHING out of your closet(s). So I did. I broke a sweat y'all!

(after sort #1 of the other closet, main closet is sitting in a pile over there)

About 40% of the stuff that was in the garage that was in good enough condition to sell. Yes, there's stuff with tags on it. Sigh. 

All of this stuff is RTW size 8. My daughter suggested listing it as lots online (I'm gonna go Craigslist cause; free). 

Step 2 is to sort everything into

1) Keep

2) Maybe (the maybe box gets stored away to see if you miss any of the items)

3) Mend

4) Donate (and/or sell)

5) Trash

(Each method features a variation on these sort categories.)

Step 3 is to pare down for that season. HOWEVER; because I live in MN, there isn't a true delineation between seasons so I chose to go Spring/Summer (March-August) and Fall/Winter (September-February). Somehow, someway, spring has sprung. I would say on a typical year it would really be September-early May and May-August but we're gonna roll with it! :)

I felt IMMEDIATELY relief after just sorting the spring/summer vs. fall/winter!!!!

My keep pile

Mend pile 

Nothing too crazy as I don't like mending; but both striped shirts needs new necklines and the skirt needs the lining sewn to the skirt, simple things like that...

Maybe pile

It was surprisingly easy to put stuff in the maybe pile. Even handmades. I then separated this pile into "maybe spring/summer" and "maybe fall/winter". 

A huge pile of "donate/sell"

A big pile (that grew) of 'trash'

I was smart enough to go back to the trash pile and harvest buttons and zippers that could be reused! Yay me!

I hung my spring/summer wardrobe up in my closet and assessed it. There are definite holes to fill now that it's cleaner.

I am not strictly following a certain number of pieces. As a sewer I am fine with having a slightly larger wardrobe but I need it to WORK and to accurately reflect me.

In my research, I'd come upon the Pantone spring 2015 color palette

So many of the things I kept fit within this palette. Of course there's black/white/etc. But I was really happy to see that AND that many projects that I had in my head for spring/summer fit this too!

The tangerine and custard aren't *quite* me; I need more intense versions of those and maybe a slightly less intense version of marsala. 

I went through my stash and pulled fabrics that I'm likely to sew over spring/summer -- not that I can't go into my stash and pull other things BUT colors/weights of fabrics that are certain to become warmer weather garments.

Here's the lighter (in color and weight) version of my stash. I am not saying I will sew all of these over the next few months but I will likely pull from these pieces.

Printed knits and wovens for tops/dresses

solid knits and wovens for tops/dresses

Jackets/cardigans

Bottom weights  for skirts/pants/jeans

trouser fabrics--still pretty dark. 

But at least there's a pattern/print...I'm not sure how light/colorful I'll go on bottom for work pants

I have A LOT fewer items in my closet yet I had no problem getting dressed this weekend and feeling pretty danged good about what I was wearing.

We had plans today (Sunday) to go to the Auto Show. I put on a top that I placed in the 'keep' pile even though I rarely wore it. I had it on for about 2.5 hours before I decided I didn't want to wear it (it's a nice top; silk, and in to the donation pile it goes).

I whipped up (hey! you know how I am!!!) a little tee instead.

Simplicity 1317 (which I made for my daughter 3 times already) 

I used a size medium and sewed the front raglan sleeves at 1/2" instead of 5/8".

I used a graphic print mesh for the front over a lightweight white ponte and lightweight black ponte for the rest.

I left off the sleeve and hem bands and just twin-needle stitched a 3/4" hem. There WILL be more of these in time. Very quick and skims the body nicely.

It could probably use a CB seam but...eh. Maybe next time :)

(yes, I organized and cleaned and  STILL bought 3 pair of shoes this weekend. Oy.)

Still here? Whew! :)

Up next; I don't have a grey jacket or cardigan. That's totally a necessity!