Projects Worth Considering

There are a few projects I am considering and I thought I would share some of them with you. Like most people who work full time, there are many projects I'd like to make, but just don't have enough time. I tend to blog only when I have completed a project and often life takes over: visitors, shopping, taking the car for a service... It all takes away from my sewing time, but I think I can still share my prospective projects, after all a lot of fun can be had - and shared - in the choosing.

Please note that some of the links are affiliate links and I may earn a commission if you buy anything from the links on this page.

Now autumn is on its way soon, I am looking to pick some projects that I can wear in late summer and into late autumn, or even possibly into winter. If I don't get to wear it this year, I will wear it next year.

I love looking at YouTube to look at what the current runway and ready-to-wear fashions are. My personal dress style is quite eclectic and I usually buy what I fall in love with immediately. As I have previously said, I want to start sewing clothes that will last more than a season or two, partly because I bought cheap fabric (due to a lack of confidence in my ability to make a wearable garment) and partly because I was learning to sew a new fabric or a new skill I'd never before attempted.... in any case, now I am better at finishing collars, cuffs, and internal seams, I think I can try different things. I am sure I will probably fail at some, but there is so much fun and satisfaction to be had when everything goes well...I loved the Kenzo Show

I also loved the Gucci Show

The Dior Show also never disappoints:

I notice that there is still a lot of attention paid to the sleeves and collars on coats and blouses. It looks more like the classic styles of the past, mixed in with very feminine floaty details. I also notice a number of dropped shoulders on some of the larger jackets. There is definitely a mix of different styles, which is very refreshing. It looks like you can still get away with classic designs.

Since I started sewing clothes, I am always looking out for design details in top fashion as well as what is on the high street, as I aspire to sew such lovely styles. At the moment, I am quite limited in my sewing ability, but I do think that I could attempt a simple blouse pattern that has some of the features depicted in the shows. A creation of my own, with an acknowledgment of a current trend. Hopefully, a trend that won't date too quickly.

I am thinking of possibly creating a simple blouse and emulating one of the collar or sleeve styles (pushing one skill boundary at a time).

I have a number of blouse patterns, some shirt patterns, and a book called; Metric Pattern Cutting for Woman's Wear, 6th Edition.

I hope to use some standard blocks from Sew Many Dresses So Little Time to create some new designs of my own. I used the standard bodice block in my article called; Design Your own Clothes and I firmly believe that the same principles can be extended to all manner of outfits, including sleeves, necklines, and hems. I just have a few more skills to learn before I get there. Some of the design items I am going to share are not generally explained in patterns - usually, you would find information on how to manipulate patterns in books that deal with pattern drafting. Some of these books can be very expensive. I would like to make this type of information more accessible to people, to enable them to buy a basic pattern that they can modify themselves and build a library of reusable elements that they can reuse and integrate with other patterns to create something new, or to emulate - but not to copy. As I start to try out these various pattern manipulations, I will share them with you.

 

If you want to be updated, please subscribe to my email newsletter. You will have access to offers from my affiliates and you will be updated on new posts and new YouTube videos.

I noticed that Marks And Spencer have some lovely denim winter dresses. I have wanted to sew a denim dress for a while now. I think I will sew one for Summer and possibly one for Winter. These are the patterns I want to sew:

Rosa Shirt Pattern Tilly And The Buttons (Paper pattern - only a few left) or Rosa Shirt Pattern Tilly And The Buttons (pdf pattern) for Winter This pattern features a dress version. I really love the pointed yoke on the back - this reminded me of denim,  like this dress on Amazon:

I am in two minds as to whether I do it in lightweight denim - or something more sturdy.

And I want to sew the Tilly And The Buttons one for Summer - I will use topstitching instead of piping. 

I currently have a project in progress and I will update you when I have completed it. It will be my first introduction to denim-style topstitching, buttons and a fake fly - although I hope to fasten it at the side with buttons, not a zip as on the original design - I have another set in my wardrobe that I think I can copy the add-on button placket which will be hidden. 

All will be revealed when I post a pattern review.

It is a lovely chambray floral print. It has been a bit delayed  - I really wanted it for Summer, but I will be very happy to have it for late Spring. It is a more detailed item of clothing than I would normally choose, but I am trying to sew things that I normally wear and extend my sewing ability. The chambray dungarees will be a stepping stone and I should get some experience of topstitching, denim buttons and buttonholes as well as felled seams. Felled seams make me a little nervous - but I love the way they look, so I am going to give it a go. I will also make use of my overlocker to keep the seams under the top stitching neat on the inside. I will try to take pictures as I go and share what I discover...

 

I have recently found Instagram and I thought I would take this opportunity to share links to some small businesses I follow, that you may not be familiar with. I have no affiliation with them, I just like the look of the fabrics that they offer.

https://www.designedinprayer.com/fabric

https://aviefabrics.co.uk

https://onceuponafabric.co.uk

https://www.elephantinmyhandbag.com/

https://www.alwaysknittingandsewing.co.uk/