For several years, I have lurked on other people's sites as they went through the Sewing With A Plan (SWAP) contest offered each year. As a fun puzzle exercise, I would try to put together a collection to sew using the rules outlined for each year but never had any serious intentions of entering the actual contest. Unfortunately, I was never very successful with committing to a color palette or choosing patterns where all the pieces worked together well.
Fast forward to this year and I actually think I may be on to something. Using my Soft Summer palette as the basis and further refining it to this lovely image below, I have put together my 11 piece collection to sew.
I am chronicling my efforts on my own project page on the forum. I've also created a Pinterest page. This year's rules require that you sew a minimum/maximum number of garments in the following three categories: Upper, Lower, Over. I have chosen to make 5 Uppers, 4 Lowers, and 2 Overs.
Since my job doesn't require a Business Casual wardrobe any more, I've tried to put together a collection that will work for casual, work, and dressier events (like church). I will be sewing with some of my stash fabric but will also purchase some as well. The plan is to make a pair of trousers, a belted vest, and a skirt out of this lovely muted navy silk tweed fabric in my stash. Then, I will make a pair of jeans using some stash gray denim. My purchased fabrics will be a couple of floral prints, one for a blouse and the other for a skirt, an amethyst wool for a blazer, and three knits for tops.
I expect to complete my cutting out and prep to start sewing the trousers today and should also have the belted vest and skirt for the navy tweed cut out and ready to sew as well. Today's other tasks include cleaning and straightening up the sewing room and washing my white cotton jersey underlining for two of the knit tops.
Fast forward to this year and I actually think I may be on to something. Using my Soft Summer palette as the basis and further refining it to this lovely image below, I have put together my 11 piece collection to sew.
I am chronicling my efforts on my own project page on the forum. I've also created a Pinterest page. This year's rules require that you sew a minimum/maximum number of garments in the following three categories: Upper, Lower, Over. I have chosen to make 5 Uppers, 4 Lowers, and 2 Overs.
Since my job doesn't require a Business Casual wardrobe any more, I've tried to put together a collection that will work for casual, work, and dressier events (like church). I will be sewing with some of my stash fabric but will also purchase some as well. The plan is to make a pair of trousers, a belted vest, and a skirt out of this lovely muted navy silk tweed fabric in my stash. Then, I will make a pair of jeans using some stash gray denim. My purchased fabrics will be a couple of floral prints, one for a blouse and the other for a skirt, an amethyst wool for a blazer, and three knits for tops.
I expect to complete my cutting out and prep to start sewing the trousers today and should also have the belted vest and skirt for the navy tweed cut out and ready to sew as well. Today's other tasks include cleaning and straightening up the sewing room and washing my white cotton jersey underlining for two of the knit tops.
