Spring is not in the air
In fact, after a completely mild winter, we are currently experiencing the sort of slushy snowy mix that makes one want to stay inside, drink lots of tea, eat soup and watch movies. Our first snowstorm was in October, and up until now it’s been dry, often mild, sometimes cold. Bizarre.
I made my palette, and once it was done, noticed it is extremely similar to my fall palette. By chance, I tell you! I guess I just lean toward certain hues, with varying shades & intensities.
Despite the slush in the streets, there is still a spring in my step. Once my most recent project gets posted on the Sew Weekly (this week’s theme being refashion, one we know I’m all over), I’ll do a wrap up of my fall/winter sewing palette.
For now, let me share with you my plans for spring/summer. They are quite ambitious. But by taking a more organized approach, specifically pairing pattern and cloth, I hope to complete each item. My fall/winter plans were a little more generalized. Once I started actually matching yardage to patterns, all hell broke loose. Okay, it wasn’t that dramatic. Yet I should have compared the yardage in my stash to the pattern envelopes, instead of guesstimating. I am also listing items in the order I hope to complete them, though I’ll allow myself wiggle room in the event I get one of my harebrained ideas. A musthavethisnow moment.
The only real glitch I foresee is that I plan on sticking with the Sew Weekly, albeit not every single week. I’ll try to align my projects with the themes as best as possible. However, upcoming themes are only posted a few at a time. Sooo… I’m going to try reeeeally hard not to get crazy distracted, yet still be part of that wonderful community.
I also have two surprise projects, but I can’t really mention when they will fall in the queue, or what they are ;)
I’m going to utilize my Pinterest board more this time around. A few of the swatches there are for inspiration/wish list, but otherwise I’m only putting up what I plan on making. Taking a cue from Amy’s charming Tuesdays with Gertie series, I’ve assigned myself specific days for working, so that I can piggy back a couple of projects at a time. I’m curious to find out if this more methodical approach works for me. I tend to vary in the way in which I work – loving all things organization and method, then becoming wildly spontaneous and doing whatever suits my whim.
1. Vogue 1198 in waxed canvas w/thrifted bed sheet lining
***
2. Jeans, using the Kenneth King Jean-ius class. They’ll be in denim. Later on, I’ll make a pedal-pusher pair in red sateen. It was my original fabric for Clover, though I didn’t purchase enough.
***
3. Colette Taffy in iridescent chiffon. Difficult to photograph, lovely to look at.
***
4. Sewaholic Renfrow in stripey lemon meringue goodness.
UPDATE – interwebs dislike… just went to purchase this and it’s gone. sad face.
***
5. BurdaStyle Alison swimsuit in this swimwear lycra from my stash.
***
6. Colette Clover, though most likely a FrankenClover. I plan on remaking the Purple Reign version, then another in the fuchsia. Heck, maybe even a denim pair, but that’s getting too far ahead…
7. Short, flippy skirt in the blue rayon at the bottom of the above photo. Possibly a FrankenLinda. This is the same rayon, different color Pretty Things was made up in.
***
8. Hot Patterns cowl tee in chevron jersey from stash.
***
9. Simplicity 2724 in this lightweight, semi-sheer linen blend from my Mom’s stash.
***
10. Decades of Style 1948 Siren Sundress, in this poly chiffon from stash.
***
BONUS – Finishing (face it, starting) my Bombshell dress. I’m also in the mood for another JJ, and have been for some time now. I’m thinking voile for summer. Ryan deserves a pair of jeans after I master the art of copying. My bra kit and pattern finally arrived, so I’ll get that done right away. And there are sure to be gifts to make along the way.
What do you think, guys? Am I in over my head? Or is this manageable, considering it is both a spring and summer plan?
Jen organized a Flickr pool for our Spring 2012 handmade wardrobes (see my sidebar). Love that girl!
threadsquare 
You are busyyyyyyy! But you can do, I know you can!
Only because I spend all my time sewing now! It’s shameful, I know :)
It’s ambitious but achievable. I’d be inclined not to expect finishing more than 2-3 garments a month, but that’s just cuz of the way my life is set up. I’ve made 2 of those patterns and found them quite doable, not tough. I’m intrigued to follow your progress.
Thanks for the vote of confidence! Three per month would be fabulous, and a great pace for proper fitting and finishing. I’d be happy with that. Which have you completed?!
The Hot Patterns top and the Clovers. I’ve written about both on my blog (the Hot Patterns was the second thing I ever made!) I also have the Renfrew and Taffy patterns. I don’t have them in my queue but hope to make them both in the next while…
The top can be seen here http://line4line.blogspot.com/2009/11/top-of-mind.html (keep in mind that when I made it I had only sewn one other thing – so that’s the reason I write about how hard it was. I had no skills and I was making it up from books and my imagination.) It is in no way a difficult top.
Aaah! I did see that one! HP kinda suck in their instructions, but I love sewing knits. I threw this one in the mix because a) it’s been in my stash since it came out, b) as a no-brainer between fitting other things, c) I need tees. :) Kudos on going knit for your second garment!!!
mmhmm it’s bloody cold here too… it hailed the other day… two different sizes!! LOL We got a real selection… *eyeroll*
I totally relate to loving the same colours in different combinations and shades; I always gravitate towards vibrant oranges, reds, and muted blues.
Too ambitious? Please! I know you can do this, and probably more ;) My spring palette consists of a list of potential pieces, a bunch of colour swatches, and a pair of very expensive shoes I’m hoping to squeeze onto my Visa LOL. Not sure how to turn this into a coherent visual plan I can convey to others, but I’m gonna try! ^__^
When do you figure you’re gonna do the Bombshell? I’m aiming for maybe June so maybe i’ll see you there :) Oh also, keep meaning to ask you… where do you get the blog widgets for Gertie’s classes? I want! ^__^
Ooh, June would be a great month for the Bombshell! I was originally thinking of aiming for the SW Mad Men challenge, but there came a point where I just knew it wasn’t going to materialize :) Scan those swatches, get ’em up on Pinterest! I want to drool over your shoes. I couldn’t find the widget on Craftsy, so I hopped over to Gertie’s blog, control-clicked (right click) the widget she has for the class, then used that for the img src and the h ref the class page on Craftsy. Ima just email it to you :)
Your wish is my command…. spring palette blog posted for your viewing pleasure ^_^
Ooh, I like your choices! And your fabrics are smashing! I’ve been soooooo unproductive lately– I’m wondering if making a plan like this would help me to get more done. My work and personal lives have gotten super busy, and I’ve been devoting a lot of time to projects that haven’t been finished (knitting stuff that got frogged, a shirt that I started and messed up, a gift that I missed the deadline for… sigh…). I’m inspired by your plan!
Quality over quantity, Ginger!!! Knitting looks like it takes ages. Lizz & Amy totally inspired this organized approach. I am always so late with gifts, it’s quite shameful. Honestly, if I were still at my day job, there is no way in hell I’d get this done! That makes me a little ashamed, too!
Ooh nice, LOVE that you’re going to do a bathing suit! You can totally make this happen, I’m really excited to follow along with the progress.
Also totally with you on this weather. Yesterday I was roaming around the city sweating with no coat on and a sunburn on my nose and today I’m bundled up in a puffy coat and winter works. WTF?! This has been the strangest series of seasons ever.
Right! I’m such an old man, going on about the weather. But it has been very strange. Thanks for the encouragement! Just need to stay focused. I don’t think I’ll model the bathing suit… maybe with a sarong. Leg elastic? No.
I agree with Jen – I’m so excited that you’re making a bathing suit!
I hear you on the not getting distracted from Sew Weekly – I had personally committed myself to 1 challenge a month but sadly February came and went and I didn’t participate. I need to get back on it and submit something this March. I figure I’ll double up somewhere down the line.
I’m so jealous of your ability to find suitable fabrics for the Clover. I just spent the afternoon roaming a couple of local fabric stores and I still don’t have anything for mine. Grrr —
Crossing my fingers it doesn’t get butchered. And if so, I think I got this on the cheap, and there is plenty of it for learning!
I have a hard time saying no, and I think your once a month goal is great! Your sewing organization in general is inspiring. Both the purple & fuchsia stretch cotton were purchased online, I think from Denver Fabrics. Sarai had posted something about a sale many months ago, so I snatched up yards of each, knowing the Clovers were going to take several tries. Swear it was like $2/yd, so I wouldn’t feel guilty with all my attempts! It’s thin, though… definitely needs the underlining. Locally, I’ve seen jack. I hope you find something soon!!!
This is a wonderful plan, and I have every faith that you’ll complete it :-) Wonderful fabrics and patterns—>they were very tempting to me and I almost went shopping. But, I am committed to shopping my stash for a few more months. Wonderful post.
Thanks, Mary! Sorry to tempt!!! Most patterns/fabric are from my stash, but I broke down and bought the waxed canvas, Renfrow pattern, and yellow jersey. The only jersey in stash was the chevron, and that HP pattern has been matched up to it in my mind for waaay too long!
What a bold palette and I think a totally do-able plan. The tops will probably be very easy and leave you more time for the more difficult ones. I love that Decades of Style dress! And where did you find waxed canvas? I so want to find a fabric like this for a parka of some kind…
That’s what I was thinking – break up the more time consuming items with quick & dirty jersey. I’ve had that dress pattern four years, and it’s feeling neglected! The canvas came from the local shop I occasionally teach at, Grey’s Fabric. I’m hoping my machine makes friends with it :)
Wow. I may get my sewing mojo back after seeing all these. Looking forward to seeing them.
Hunt down that mojo, trap it, and keep it well fed!
Ooh, I need to start on my spring sewing planning! I think 10 garments for spring/summer sound reasonable, especially since you have a good mix of simpler and more time intensive pieces. I love the decades of style dress and the swimsuit pattern!
Here’s to good planning and high hopes :) I can’t wait to see what you’ll be making! Always so colorful!
Oooh! I love your ideas especially your bold color pallet. I’m excited to see your swim suit, too. I don’t think it’s overly ambitious. You’ve got plenty of time to finish everything!
I know what you mean about the sew weekly themes. I’ve decided to try to do at least one a month and also try to match themes to things I’m already planning on making (which has worked for me so far).
I was following along so well, and then things just fell apart. Oh well… one per month is a great goal, and it definitely helps to work them into your existing plan.