I planned to blog about pants fitting this week, but I came up short on time. My next pants-fitting post is going to be heavy on illustrations, and I couldn’t pull them together by today. Sorry, gang. Next week!
This isn’t the worst thing, though, because it gives me a chance to chat, real casual like, about what my sewing queue looks like for November. In a nutshell, November is all about Project #SewMyStyle, the Instagram sewing challenge where sewists tackle one pattern a month. I aim to sew the final two garments of the 2017 challenge back to back so I can move to TNT patterns for the tail end of the year. (WHERE DID THIS YEAR GO? Seriously, whoa.)
The final two #SewMyStyle patterns are the Anna dress from By Hand London and the Ruri sweatpants from Named.
Anna Dress from BHL
The Anna dress is November’s pattern, to be finished by Nov. 26 (in case you didn’t know, #SewMyStyle makes are shared on Instagram the last Sunday of each month).
I’m combining two views; I’m making the V-neck bodice and the maxi skirt with the slit, va-va-va-voom.
I seriously contemplated skipping November’s #SewMyStyle and waiting until spring to sew this dress. Sewing out of season (it’s been in the low 40s in my parts and windy = BRRRRRRR) is hard.
My husband, being the man of commitment he is, talked me out of skipping. “You’ve made 10 garments! Don’t quit now!” he said. Sigh, he’s right when he’s right.
Regardless of whether I made Anna this month or six months from now, I already had fabric picked out: glorious Liberty of London peacock print Tana cotton lawn. I got this yardage at THE Liberty of London IN LONDON.
Could there BE a more perfect fabric for making a By Hand London dress? Answer: Nope. I’ve literally been waiting years to use this stuff.
So, late this month, you will see me prance around in a summer dress.
Ruri Sweatpants from Named
For December’s Project #SewMyStyle installment, participants picked a pattern from Named’s fall/winter 2017 collection. I chose sweatpants! Or joggers, if you’re fancy.
I like the collection very much, especially the Beryl bomber dress. But I wanted something easy to fit and easy to sew. Hence, sweatpants. Plus, I’m positive I’ll wear the Ruris more than I’d wear the Beryl. I’m excited to see which patterns everyone else sews!
I bought the Ruri pattern and let it sink into my brain so I could identify the right fabric for it. I was at Jo-Ann, picking up notions for something else, and I spotted β wait for it β suede scuba knit.
Suede. Scuba.
The scuba definitely was heavy enough to be a decent bottomweight, and I did enjoy working with scuba when I sewed theΒ Victory Patterns Jackie dress. Hmmm, I hmmmed.
My little guy was with me, and his Jo-Ann’s browsing patience already was running low. We were at the point in our Jo-Ann visit when he pulls every bolt he can touch to the floor and says, “Sar-we, Mom.” (I doubted his sincerity. Lucky for him he’s cute.)
It was not time to get a cut of suede scuba, and I wanted to think on it.
The next day, after re-examining the Ruri pattern, I packed up little guy and returned to Jo-Ann, saving cash money on suede scuba with multiple coupons (as one does at Jo-Ann).
In the interest of transparency, I also want new sweatpants for Thanksgiving weekend maxing and relaxing. Yet another reason I’m sewing back-to-back #SewMyStyle patterns!
Longing to Sew Tried-and-True Patterns
This fall, I sewed a few doozies. They turned out fine, but getting there was a challenge.
It’s important to challenge yourself as a sewist, and as any kind of craftsperson or artist. You expand boundaries by pushing them.
The truth is, I’m up for an non-challenge. I want a quick and dirty sewing project, and I want it yesterday.
Since I started up the blog again, I haven’t made many patterns more than once. That’s partly because I want new content for Sie macht readers, and partly because, well, novelty is fun.
But I’m getting burned out on novelty. And I’m getting burned out on buying new patterns. And printing them, taping them, tracing them. Too often I find my enthusiasm for a pattern starts to drag by the time I actually get around to SEWING it. Does this happen to anyone else?
When I get honest about my lifestyle and what I like to wear, I’m all about T-shirts (long- and short-sleeved), sweaters, and jeans. My closet aches for these staples.
That why, after I’m done with the Anna dress and Ruri joggers, I’m going to make multiple Megan Nielsen BriarΒ TsΒ and Seamwork OlsoΒ cardigans. Then I’m probably going to move into jeans.
You heard it here first: I’m booking a ticket to TNT City. I’ll let you know how batch sewing goes!
My dear sewing friends, what are you working on this month? I can’t wait to read your comments on the contents of your sewing queue, the comfort of TNT patterns, SUEDE SCUBA (!!!), and more. I read and reply to EVERYTHING. β€πβπ¨π¨
P.S. ICYMI, here’s the last Sie macht post:Β Sewing Pants, Part 1: The Measurements You Need for Success.
P.P.S. Do you like this type of post β casual, a little wandering, fast and loose? In general, I aim for timeless “evergreen” posts that are optimized for search engines (I get most of my traffic from search). Sometimes, though, I worry that I don’t share enough of my personality on Sie macht. What are your thoughts?
I like ALL of your posts, casual or not! I actually read every word of yours from start to finish. I especially appreciate your pattern reviews because of all the details. You give so much information about the pattern that I feel very confident sewing it, and it helps me to know if the pattern would work for me. I follow alot of blogs, but so many reviewers gloss over the details and just say how much they love the pattern, but nothing really specific about sewing or fitting it. I’m a Seamwork subscriber, but it was your Oslo review that nudged me to get that pattern and I’m so glad I did. With your advice, it turned out great and I just love it.
Thank you so much!
THANK YOU! I’m so glad I was able to help you successfully sew an Olso! You made my day, Barbara! π
I saw someone on IG mention that sueded scuba and it took all my restraint not to run to the nearest Jo-Ann and buy some, because YASSSSSSSS. What would I make with it? Who cares, I need it, LOL! But a pair of Ruri joggers…hmm. I may shamelessly copy you there, because that’s a fab idea! π (Seriously, in that fabric, they’d be “leave the house” joggers, which is a revelation!)
Your feelings about TNTs make a lot of sense; sometimes, it’s nice to just sit down to make something that’s basically guaranteed to work out. Even better if it’s the sort of thing that serves as a wardrobe builder, like the patterns you’re looking forward to going back to soon. I’ve worked my way through a few TNT projects recently and it’s nice to just end up with necessary clothes without having to put a lot of effort in. But I’m about to start on my Totally Unnecessary Holiday Outfit for the year, so my TNTs will be pushed aside for a while! O_o
PS: I enjoyed this post–I enjoy reading people’s thoughts and plans, not just about finished things. As you say, it’s a bit more of “you” shining through. =D
Thanks for your reply, Abbey! You TOTALLY should get sueded scuba! I am positive it will sew and wash like a DREAM, because stable polyester FTW. There were other colors tooooo… just sayin.’ #enabler
Yeah, I’m just about ready to start work on the Anna dress and Ruris – but my mind keeps wandering to Briars and Olsos. It’s where my heart is, clearly.
I can completely identify with your “tired of the pattern by the time I get around to sewing it” dilemma! I’m the type of person who LOVES logistics and planning, but actually following through with the plans only works out maybe 10% of the time (a generous estimate). That is particularly true of my sewing, knitting, crocheting, and cooking. I am definitely a product maker rather than a process maker, which is why the actual sewing (knitting, etc) are work rather than a joyfully zen experience.
Like you, I’ve decided to focus on finding some TNT patterns and making things that are everyday wardrobe staples, even though those are not nearly as fun to plan. To indulge my planning side, I actually use powerpoint to put together my version of a maker’s idea book; I can pull pattern line art and thumbnails of fabrics and build slides for my imaginary garments. Aaaand then go to my sewing room and make things that are actually practical and useful =)
Also, carry on with the rambling posts. Those are the most fun to read!
Ha, glad you like the rambling posts, Julia! π
I REALLY like your PPT planning method! Very cool. I imagine it’s nice to see everything in one place vs. rolling around in your head. When I do planning like this, I always surprise myself with new ideas and changes.
I’ve recently starting using Trello to organize the sewing process. I get overwhelmed with projects, and breaking them into steps helps me stay optimistic as I “eat the elephant” one bite at a time.
Thanks for reading!