when did making clothing by hand become the path of least resistance in my life?
Each Wednesday, I take stock of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.
The main “making activity” of my week has been wet blocking Shawl Geometry swatches – which is turning into a rather large project.
Normally, this wouldn’t be such an endeavor. I’d block them on my bed, and it would probably take two or three round to get all the swatches wet blocked, but then that would be that.
However, I’m currently subletting and rather than sticking a whole bunch of pins into a mattress that is not mine – I’m blocking on a cork-board.
This has the added benefit of being able to block swatches overnight (the main drawback of blocking on a mattress is not being able to leave it overnight), but the downside is that I can only block a handful of swatches at a time. So, the whole process is taking a while. Le sigh.
So, I’ve been distracting myself by planning an infusion of summery clothing into my wardrobe.
But of course, when I was packing up the clothing I wasn’t taking on my trip with me, I didn’t really think this far ahead. I was more concerned about maximizing space efficiency over ease of unpacking. So everything is packed in vacuum seal bags, and nothing is packed by season.
So rather than going on a clothes hunting mission in my storage unit, which could very possibly be fruitless and just might end in tears – I’m planning an easy and breezy handmade summer wardrobe infusion.
Sort of like an extended Me-Made-May, or a truncated Self-Made Wardrobe Project, either way, a not “normal” way of adding clothing to your wardrobe.
And I’m sitting here wondering, when (for me) did making clothing by hand become the path of least resistance?!
Also! I scored the jackpot on recycled pattern paper – old theatrical lighting plots. Because of course, all my patterns are also in an unknown box in my storage unit…
Oh and! I am not forgetting about my laceweight sweater – it is sitting right next to me on my desk and getting a couple rounds added at a time. Luckily I’m working on the sleeves – so the rounds are short, and a couple rounds at a time for the past couple weeks, has resulted in getting about halfway down the second sleeve!
summer wardrobe infusion – a fabric haul
I had a plan. And now I have fabric to match.
I wrote up a plan for infusing some new handmade summery clothing into my winter/spring wardrobe on Thursday – then Friday afternoon I closed my computer and headed down to the garment district. I didn’t have a whole lot of time, so I made it a one stop shopping trip to Mood Fabrics – not my favorite fabric store, but if you’re looking for one stop shopping, it’s a pretty excellent bet (plus I had a gift card…)
I bypassed their silks and laces, heading straight downstairs to cottons & jerseys. I knew what I was looking for, and that always makes for easier shopping.
My list was: black substantial cotton jersey, black lightweight cotton jersey, fabric for a maxi dress, lining for the pink plaid I brought back from Stonemountain Daughter in SF, and possibly other over-shirt fabrics.
And that’s more or less what I got.
Tank Tops & Camisoles
The Fabric: 2 yards of a solid black organic cotton
The Pattern: my own self drafted go-to tank top pattern
The Plan: re-draft pattern. cut. sew. wear.
Unfortunately, the original tank top pattern that I made, developed and refined throughout the self-made wardrobe project, is in an unknown box in my storage unit. Sad panda.
I figured this might be the case, so I’m not terribly sad or surprised – just a bit annoyed. Luckily this is not a difficult or time consuming pattern to draft.
To be worn with: everything
Over-Shirts
The Fabric: 1.5 yards of a burnt-out cotton jersey & 1 yard of a black/white/lime green graphic print silk/cotton blend
The Pattern: a self-drafted/traced tee & possibly a hacked up Anna Dress
The Plan: make something… then wear it.
The plan for the burnt-out is pretty straight forward – trace my current favorite tee, draft pattern, cut, sew, wear.
The plan for the silk/cotton blend is a little more amorphous. The fabric is an amazing(!) large scale print, with a drape that is too yummy for words. So, I want a pattern that will play to those strengths – something with large expanses of uninterrupted fabric.
At the moment I’m leaning towards doing one of two things – either hacking the Anna Dress from By Hand London into a tunic, or self-drafting a draped top. Whichever I path I choose, this pieces is at the end of the queue, so I can mull a little longer.
To be worn with: all the things!!
PJ Bottoms
A change of plans: I was originally going to make a new pair of shorts (or two).
But I was looking my current ones over and the fabric is fine – the only thing shot is the elastic.
So I’m moving this project from my “to build” pile into my “to mend” pile, with a plan to replace the elastic and then enjoy.
Anna Maxi Dress
The Fabric: 3 yards of a lightweight blue & white print cotton.
The Pattern: the Anna Maxi Dress from By Hand London
The Plan: squeeze pattern out of fabric, sew & wear.
I know the pattern calls for at least 3.8 yards (3.5 meters), but I think I might be able to squeeze it out of three yards. Or I might run back to Mood and pickup a separate piece of yardage for the bodice.
I know if I try to squeeze this dress out of 3 yards I won’t be able to care too much about pattern matching – but the fact that Heather at Closet Case Files managed it, is giving me hope.
To wear with: sandals, all summer long
San Francisco Plaid Maxi Dress
The Fabric: 3.5 yards of a cotton gauze bought in SF. A TBD lining.
The Pattern: a copy of my current favorite summer dress.
The Plan: find a lining. Draft, cut, sew, wear.
My shopping list included picking up a lining for this fabric, but I was standing there and the only thought going through my head was: “What the heck do I line this plaid with?!”
I was thinking of trying to find something that would match one of the colors, a beautiful pink, or yellow, or brown, (definitely not white).
But then my internal monologue was like:
“What about lining it with another plaid and making it reversible?
“But that would not be an easy, breezy project!?
“So, just line it with a solid?
“If so, which color?!
“Pink? Yellow? Brown?
“Introduce a new color?
“Charcoal? Green? Blue? Purple?”
It was one heck of an internal monologue. And enough options to make my head spin – so I didn’t buy a lining. I figured I should at least figure out which color I wanted to look for before going back to find a lining.
As of this typing I’m leaning towards a green or blue. But yesterday I was all about the yellow. So what it will end up as is anyone’s guess.
If this were your plaid, what would you use for a lining?
easy, breezy & beautiful – it is time for a summer wardrobe infusion
For the past fifteen and a half weeks, I’ve been living out of a suitcase I packed in the middle of December.
We’ve been getting up into the 70s and high 60s pretty reliably the past couple days – beautiful! And luckily I packed this suitcase for Northern California weather (basically a NYC spring wardrobe).
But! we’re meandering towards summer weather, and I don’t think there’s any sort of suitcase wardrobe that could (gracefully) deal with both NYC winter, and NYC summer.
And so, I think it is high time for a summer wardrobe infusion.
What I want to make…
: a couple black tank tops
: a couple black camisoles
: a couple long, loose, lightweight over-shirts
: pj bottoms
: a couple maxi sundresses
: that no-longer neglected, lace weight sweater
(and by “a couple” I mean one or two)
Tank Tops & Camisoles
I live in them. I think they’re pretty self explanatory? (if not, tell me). I self-drafted a pattern at the beginning of my self-made wardrobe project, and have been wearing that pattern ever since.
I just need to pick up some jersey, and find my self-drafted pattern (or draft a new one). If I have to draft a new pattern, it would be sad, but not the end of the world.
Long, loose, lightweight, over-shirts
When I was packing my suitcase capsule wardrobe. I threw in a lightweight, semi-sheer, long & loose black t-shirt. I didn’t really think about it at the time, and wasn’t expecting to wear it all that much, it was just a “nice option to have.”
I’ve worn that damn shirt more times then I care to count. It’s easy & breezy and looks good with everything – so I think it might be time to give this piece of my wardrobe some companions.
I’m pretty open to the exact form (color, pattern, style) that these shirts could take, but I know I want them to be versatile, comfortable, light, go-to pieces.
PJ bottoms
Quick & easy shorts (probably in black).
A couple new maxi sundresses
I have one maxi, summer, sundress that I live in every, single summer. (One of the perks of spending this winter on the west coast is I could wear this dress all winter long too.) It’s lovely and cooling and always looks good, and I want more of them.
I’m thinking one in a solid color (not black) or a subdued print.
And for the other, I’m thinking the pink/yellow/white/brown plaid I picked up in SF. It’s bright, and loud, and I was originally thinking another Archer button up shirt, but it’s a light cotton gauze that (with a full lining) would make a lovely summer dress.
Pattern wise, I’m really hoping to not draft my own patterns for these dresses. I don’t really have the time, or the desire, to draft a whole personal dress pattern (or two) right now. So, I’m searching for the perfect maxi dress patterns.
Fingers crossed.
That no-longer neglected, lace weight sweater.
I sat down last night and finished the first sleeve! So there’s half a chance I’ll finish it before the weather starts wandering in the direction of 90 degree days.
How I want this to happen…
The name of this wardrobe infusion is easy, breezy, and beautiful (covergirl).
So I want those qualities infused in the pieces themselves, and also in how I make them.
I want to make them with intention and focus, but I don’t want to over-think or over-analyze them.
Easy, breezy, beautiful making.
Easy, breezy, beautiful pieces.
Easy, breezy, beautiful wearing.
Yes please!!
