Sewing with a Plan 2015 0.6

Progress to date

Sewing with a Plan requires

• five tops
• three bottoms
• three wildcards
• all of which have to work together

I am getting closer to finalising the plan. I would like to toile garments 5, 6 and 8, but I”m not sure I’ll have time before Christmas. As well as decorating the tree and printing some fabric for Christmas presents I am working on the toile for garment 4.

Garment 1 Squiggle jacket (top 1)

I made up the jacket of Simplicity 7305, as a wearable toile, and I am relatively pleased with it. Apart from adding an additional inch to the bust measurement I am ready to go on this jacket.

Garment 2 Squiggle skirt or trousers (bottom 1)

I am leaning towards matching this jacket with a pair of tailored trousers. I have toiled the pattern but I am not entirely satisfied with it. I need to reduce the rise (for style reasons), redesign the waist band (to a contour waistband), narrow the trouser leg, remove the turn-ups, add belt carriers, and decide on the exact length. I suspect I may need a second toile before proceeding with the trousers.

Garment 3 – Linen Blouse (top 2)

This has become the already made item. I printed the fabric, but decided I wanted to wear it for a Christmas party (Christmas beetles, plus sparkle – it was just calling out to be worn for Christmas). If it is too much with the Squiggle suit I can make a plain grey one instead. I like the shape and it has got me thinking about a top that can also be worn as a dress (as per the SWAP rules suggestion).

Garment 4  – Charcoal jacket (top 3)

I am very excited by this jacket, which I have started toileing.  I will be using a dark grey wool for the final item, which is shown with the selected blouse fabric.

Garment 5 – Charcoal skirt or trousers (bottom 2)

I am unsure about garment 5. Simplicity 100 is essentially a city suit with pencil skirt. But is it? It is also suitable for “the country”, advises the pattern envelope (second home anyone?). So I am considering introducing 1980s pleated trousers, which seems somewhat counter-intuitive, although not that different from the pleated country skirt shown in the drawing. It may not work. The other problem is that I do not know if I can wear a pair of pleated, wider legged trousers, but have decided to try Tamotsu’s Vogue 2959. So I will make this toile to try the trousers with the jacket, but also on my body shape – giving fuller pants a fair chance. Only then will I be able to decide if this jacket is having baggy pants or a pencil skirt. If it is a skirt it will be in wool, but if trousers I may use the grey linen I used for Garment 3 – the beetle blouse.

Garment 6  – Blouse to wear with Charcoal suit (top 4)

I want a simple shirt type blouse to wear with the suit, and this pattern looks OK. I have the white beetle cotton lawn ready. It is necessary toile this blouse first, which I plan to do after Christmas.

 

Garment 7   – Casual trousers (wildcard 1)

This is the same pattern that I used in last year’s SWAP, to make casual trousers. It is a 1960s pattern and I have altered it to fit. I will use the turquoise cotton for these.

Garment 8 – blouse to wear with casual trousers (top 5)

I haven’t decided on the pattern, but I like the idea of something rather flowing, and ornate. Perhaps a wrap round blouse with a close fit. I quite like the Burda 05/14 134 vintage blouse , but would need to toile it. But the simple shell pattern for garment 3 could work well in a more colourful print.  I haven’t decided on fabric. I bought an old skirt to recycle, or I could paint on silk. This is a vague area at the moment.

Garment 9 – Pink Skirt or Shorts (bottom 3)

I have toiled the shorts pattern; they need  a lot of alterations. I will recut the pattern, making a smaller size, changing the waist band to a create a snugger fit, narrowing the legs, changing the length, omitting the turn ups, and adding belt carriers. Then these shorts will be good to go. Pink shorts. Yeah!

Garment 10 – Purchased top to wear with trousers (wildcard 2 – purchased item)

I have been looking for a jumper in the shops. There are a few nice cardigans out there that I would consider, but I am waiting for the sales. My fall back choice is to embroider a plain RTW sweater or cardigan with colourful wools. Before I embroider anything for myself I would like to practice. Last week I bought a charity shop cardigan for Kit which I hope his Mum might allow me to tamper with.  As the boy is growing so fast I anticipate the cardigan will be outgrown before the SWAP deadline. If not I am sure he will enjoy wearing colourful daisies on his cardi.

Garment 11 The coat (wildcard 3)

This may be the garment I start on, once the sewing stage really starts. I have made up this coat before so know what I am doing. I have fuchsia wool, so it is going to be bright.