Thursday, September 5, 2013

The Fall Capsule Collection (Plus The Summer Series): New Things, Made on an Aptly-Named Weekend

OMG, people. My currrent job is nothing if not hopping. I am not complaining. I spend all days working with people to solve problems. I talk on the phone constantly - just like in a movie montage but with less attractiveness and more accountability. Happily, we generally solve the problems. But at the end of the day I wither like a flower that needs water. And, by water, I mean a Cab Sauv. And TV. And the floor (for yoga). (In truth, sometimes, these days I get home and keep working.)

Currently, I'm about 10 posts behind in telling you the absurd number things that are exciting me lately:
  • How I've solved the plain beige bra conundrum. You have to read it to believe it.
  • How I don't like Fantasie Vivienne or Elodie
  • How I've come up with my next "knitting collection"
  • How I'm going to get around having made a bunch of T shirts with fabric having the wrong weight and drape (Loss leader: It involves buying fabric)
  • How there's this pattern I found (sewing) that I'm really tempted to buy! (Spoiler Alert: It's expensive)
  • How I returned my latest purchases on the basis that I can't justify the cost ($325.00) given that I have so many clothes, I can't even wear them all. Not to mention that I could so make both of those items in a weekend - though that sweater fabric is delicious and one of a kind. OK, really that's all there is to that story. No need to turn it into a drama.
  • How Gillian made me a fab colour palette that will, no doubt, turn into the backbone of my next sewing collection
  • How I'm really psyched about the new season of lingerie - There are pictures!
And then there's the fact that I still haven't updated you on the outcome of my crafting weekend. Let's properly cross this one off the list.

To clarify - I sewed 5 garments and finished a triangle shawl. In case you're wondering, that amounts to LONG WEEKEND INSANITY.

I showed the new shawl blocking in my last post, though it now looks exactly like this (the version I made for my mother in the spring):


The sewn garments are, frankly boring to photo. I made 2 pairs of black yoga pants that are indistinguishable (though one pair is more poorly constructed than the other) and 3 tops.

Here's the scoop on the tops (and let me assure you, the Tshirt sewing is NOT over):

I have no idea what made me think that I could use a) exceedingly firm ponte (without enough of it to cut even my regular size, much less a slightly bigger size to account for additional ease) and b) exceedingly flimsy Tencel (which I've officially decided was crap fabric - this shit has disintegrated everytime I've sewn with it?!)

I ended up with a really nice, orange shell to fit a child (or a very narrow, slender grown up). And a blue exercise shell that was almost too drapey to hold itself up under my arms, especially in light of the fact that I didn't make the armhole binding strips small enough to accommodate the world's stretchiest textile. And a blue Tshirt that fits like something your mother would wear.

Lessons Learned:
  • Using up scraps of fabric, just to use them up, yields dubious results.
  • Drapey, thin fabrics make crappy t shirts - whether you sew them or buy them.
  • If you don't have enough fabric, and you don't sew for children, just put that scrap in a bag and say goodbye.
BUT, to address my armhole raising experiment: It worked. It would have been perfect if that blue fabric had had any structure or if I'd made the armhole binding about an inch tighter. I will make another of these shells, but likely only when I have that amount of extra fabric - of the correct properties - lying around.

Mind you, I'm just getting started with the T shirts...

So, I've got all the yoga pants I'll need for 2 yrs, a couple of sleeping and yoga tops, a new shawl - and a plan. Not bad for a long weekend, don't you agree?

18 comments:

  1. Dude, you SOLVED your beige bra conundrum, and you have't told us? Spill the beans, lady!
    Glad you like your colour palette! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. The scarf is too beautiful and I'm a bit jealous because I cannot tear myself away from sewing long enough to teach myself to knit. Secondly, you've got me imagining what that wish list pattern is. There are so many of that kind on my wish list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! You'll find the time to learn to knit soon Faye, I'm sure.

      Delete
  3. I can't believe you are holding out on the beige bra!! Will definitely be anxiously waiting to hear about it! And while I'm sorry about your scrappy wadders, it might help to know that we've all been there. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. You can use those knit scraps for waistbands in knit skirts or pants or contrast necklines, if they are wide enough..

    So glad your beige bra problem solved... We want to know all about it.

    Too bad your knit tops turned out to be wadders..

    ReplyDelete
  5. All the best kinds of crazy in one post. . . just sayin' . . .

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a very productive weekend! And loads of exciting things going on! YAY! My one wadder last year was when I tried to use up some fabric.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a tricky proposition. You either feel fantastic for having been incredibly efficient and successful, or...

      Delete
  7. Wow. You are like a steam engine! Or a space rocket. I can't wait to hear about the beige bra. And your lessons learned all resonate with me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The idea of being a space rocket is weirdly appealing! :-)

      Delete
  8. oooh, much sewing, congrats! I am such a slow sewist, I have to figure out a way to speed things along so that I don't lose interest in a project before it's even completed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That can be tough. But usually the slow projects are much more beautifully made...

      Delete
  9. That shawl is gorgeous. And wow, you're getting a lot done! I'm looking forward to t-shirt posts. I used to scoff at sewing basics and now I make my own underwear. I love basics. That's what I wear! My sewing WIP tub is filled fill t-shirts waiting to be finished... ::sigh::

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, once you start making your own underwear, it's all over :-)

      Delete