Hello again!
Between Couture Club goings-on, big family affairs, work, PT for a bum shoulder that I let go for a year and half, and (sadly) the sudden death of a good friend, things have been mighty busy around Ann-land. I’ve been sewing, but it’s all been basics that you have seen before. I have my muslin for Susan Khalje’s Craftsy class ready to be sewn up and fitted. Hopefully Phyllis and I will get together soon to help each other with our muslins. But I haven’t been doing anything terribly exciting. I have to admit that, for the last couple of seasons, I have been uninspired by the pattern offerings, at least for my personal sewing. Maybe I’m going through a bit of an identity crisis. Or maybe the patterns have just been boring.
Oh, did I say that out loud?
But that seems to be changing. I’ve noticed a couple of things that are perking up my interest. First, there was a great article today in the Wall Street Journal about the monochromatic trend for fall. That’s a trend I can get into, literally and figuratively. Sorry you color-blockers out there – I think that trend will have legs until fall, then it will be oh-so-two-seasons-ago. Being as fair-skinned as I am, I’m not a pale colors girl, but I loved the all-olive look they showed from Givenchy. I haven’t figured out my palette/fabrications yet. But it does give me something to work toward.
Second, there seems to be an uptick in styles and patterns that appeal to me. I’ve come to the conclusion that, much as I love skirts, for my job and my life I’m more likely to get use from pants, jeans, knit tops and jackets, with the occasional dress thrown in for date night. The plain fact is that I live in jeans and knit tops during the week. That “uniform” is suitable for the reaching, pulling, cutting, hauling, etc that makes up my day. So maybe it’s time to, dare I say it? Sew with a plan. (gasp!) I can feel Carolyn kvelling from here.
I do know myself well enough to try to avoid “committing” to sewing up anything, but I also know myself well enough that if I stock my pattern basket at home with certain items, I am liable to make them on the weekends when I have some time. So to that end, I’ve pulled a couple of oldies from the pattern drawer, put a couple of others on the list to buy next time I pass a JoAnn (yes, I shop there – great for notions and patterns). And I’ve placed one order with more to follow on some pattern sites.
ETA on June 1 – I can’t recommend the pattern that was in this space at all, so I have pulled it off the blog rather than give any kind of tacit endorsement. You can see the picture of the finished garment in my following post. Do yourself a favor and avoid it.
For pants, I want to finally make up these StyleArc Sailor Sue Palazzo Pants
They have been in my pattern drawer for almost a year, and I am going to make them, dammit! Chloe recommends lightweight jersey in the swatch she sends with the pattern (love that feature – it’s almost as good as the pattern recommendations I make for my fabrics 
), but I think I’ll make them in this mango rayon doubleknit. It’s got lots of stretch, and it will be great for lounging in the summer.
I think it would be loads of fun for a weekend look my fave-rave McCalls pattern cut down to a top. I’d make it up with this georgette (and wear a flesh toned cami underneath).
I’m also thinking that, for summer, it might be fun to do a pair of capris. If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know that I’m not a huge capri fan – at all. Unless the proportions are spot-on, they can make even the lithest legs look stumpy. But I may (may) give them a shot, with Phyllis’ help and critical eye. Besides, Shannon always manages to look great in hers, so maybe there is hope. We’ll see – I’m not entirely sold, but these Butterick capris have been in my stash drawer since the last 99ยข sale, so I’ll try making a muslin.
If the muslin looks good, I’ll probably make them up in this cotton in deep cream
It would also look good with either of the tops.
I also want to pick up a couple of patterns from StyleArc and Jalie
StyleArc has a new Bermuda shorts pattern that looks fabulous, and Jalie has several knit top patterns that I don’t have in my collection.
So that’s where things stand. Have a great weekend!
Happy sewing!
Great plan – I like all the pieces you have chosen and, of course, the fabrics!
You’ve been bored with patterns and color blocking, too? Oh my, and here I thought I was just having another bad fashion year. However, unlike your brilliance, I haven’t much to say for my plans … but things are beginning to stir, I can tell when I start dreaming about fabrics and patterns. Things will pop when I get as much of the garden in as I can. I hope (or I’ll be naked)
Boy o’ boy life is such a roller coaster at times. So sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. I am glad you took the time to share your inspiration for your upcoming sewing plans. I love seeing what patterns you are considering and the fabrics too. I can just imagine that Hot Pattern’s design made into a dress! Good luck with your capris. I hope you find that you are happy with them. I have another pair coming up soon myself, in navy blue
I think I’m entering my HP phase. I just finished a top from them and am sewing buttons tonight onto their sailor pants. I have another HP pattern I’m considering for linen pants. All that being said, I think I have to make shorts this summer. I don’t own any and it’s gotten to the point where I kind of really need at least one pair
You’re right that most patterns are starting to look the same. I have seen some Vogue patterns where I think the designers all get together in a big room and design the same thing. Or else they design some weird stuff with big hunks of fabric at the hips. My hips cannot take any additional fluffing. I’ve started butchering patterns to get what I want and then putting them back together with design changes. I guess everyone’s a critic! I did find some Burda patterns I like and i love Style Arc but shipping is so high! Ah well YOU need to design patterns!
I’m very hopeful that the color blocking trend will wear itself out soon. It’s cute, no doubt about it, but not everyone can pull it off, and I definitely don’t have a body that can take the number of horizontal lines that color blocking produces. I’ve found a lot of the patterns boring this year as well, though the McCalls collection with the 70′s vibe “hostess gown” is quite appealing (again, though, I’m not only short and wide but busty and this would work well on a more willowy physique.)
My condolences on the loss of your friend, I lost a friend recently as well and sometimes the pain of it can hit you so sharply, out of nowhere.