Summer Crafting: The High-Level Plan

I could probably craft from now till October and not finish all of my imaginary projects. Alas, one's got to make choices - even with the leisure activities - so I've put together a list of sewing and knitting to take me from here till summer's end. 

Sewing

Hepworth Dress (Sinbad and Sailor):  

OK, this one was NOT on my list until last weekend. But, having made Allison's dress, and finding that the fit was unintentionally close to my dimensions, I cannot resist giving it a go. It helps that I've got a fabric I believe will work very well. I'm going to lead with this garment since I've just tackled a version and it's fresh in my memory. Also, it's very useful for summer weather. With a cropped cardigan, it's perfect for work or weekends.

Fabric:

Rayon Challis with 10% crosswise stretch from Fabrications Online

Rosie Top (StyleArc): 

Well, you know this one's been in play for quite a while. I ran out of fabric, then I had to make the "bridesmaid dress" (if we can call it that)... But it's time to return to this "reverse princess seam" top. (Note how the lines are convex rather than concave to the centre front of the top.)

I'm at the next muslin moment but, if this top fails again, I may well put it away for the summer. I'm not interested in arguing with my creative endeavours. Five muslins is enough, IMO.

Fabric:

Silk Crepe with 15% crosswise stretch from Fabrications Online

Originally, my intention was to muslin use the rayon crepe (above), and I likely still will. However, my intended fabric is a beautiful silk crepe, reminiscent of the one gifted to me by S, my fitting friend. Be assured, I will not cut into this until I'm confident about the garment fit.

Rachel Comey Pants - V1323 (VoguePatterns): 

These are the pants I've been dared to make by Sara. In truth, I like them, so I'm game. Really, who doesn't like elastic waistbands when they're used intentionally, and as a design feature. My hope is that the fitting isn't too tricky given that I've done some work on crotch curves with other stretch woven pants patterns.

Fabric: 

Royal Blue Stretch Broadcloth with 50% crosswise stretch

This broadcloth has a lot of stretch, though it is a woven (so it's suitable for these pants). As it happens, I am not overly thrilled with the weight of the fabric, or the quality. But I think it will work well for pants that need a very light hand.

Leather Tote (Making Leather Bags Craftsy Course): 

Well, I've talked this one up a lot. Now I've just got to make the thing! All of my notions, materials and gizmos are amassed. I'm truly excited to use my new roller foot. It's like Lego!

Materials:

Read more about these materials here...

Leather Skirt (from TNT high-waisted pencil skirt V8640): 

I've decided to cut my teeth on leather (as it were) with the bag (above). But once that's done, my goal is to make a sexy leather skirt. What better pattern to use than my standard high-waisted pencil? No need to reinvent the wheel...

Materials:

Read more about this lambskin from King Textiles in the Garment District

This absurdly gorgeous leather has a LOT of give because it is very soft lambskin. I do intend to line the skirt (at least partially) but that adds another element of complexity.

And if there's time...
 

My bonus pattern is the compelling Nettie body suit, which is SO my scene:

I seem to be very into the electric blues, lately, because this is the (long-loved) stash fabric I would likely use:

Jewel Blue modal (really, it's more purple than blue...) from Fabric Mart (I think)

Knitting

Aisance Cardigan (Kristen Johnstone): 

As you know, I'm currently working on this cardigan, a pattern I hope to complete before the end of June. As such, I'm including it in the Summer Crafting category. I figure, it spans the gap between spring and summer - and it is a substantial project.

Yarn:  

Shibui Staccato in Caffeine

Karner Wrap (Americo Original Design Team): July will be a wildcard month for me, from a crafting perspective, due to some interesting adventures I'm not at liberty to discuss (yet). Nonetheless, I do hope to have this stockinette shawl to keep my hands busy. Apparently it takes a very long time since it uses 1000 yards of laceweight yarn... Really, the pattern is not exciting. Mind you, the yarn is spectacular…

Yarn: 

Americo Original Abrazos Lace in Blue Ink from the Americo store in TO (the only one)

I never realized what a hub of amazing knitting options Toronto happens to be. Really, when it comes to yarn and leather, we have it going on! Americo, a store I've gone into on a few occasions, has never called to me the way it did on a recent visit. In the past, textured fibers have been a turn-off - as has cotton (a prevalent fiber in Americo yarns).  But I've lived to regret saying never, craft-wise, on a variety of occasions. Let's call this one of them.

See that amazing texture built into the yarn? It creates a distressed, almost burnout effect. And the colour is special - moody grey with blue subnotes. As you know, cotton is my least favourite knitting material on the planet (other than linen), but somehow, this cotton/bamboo blend has a beautiful drape (without being limp). It also has a nice feel – it’s not stringy.

And if there's time...

I'm utterly intrigued by this (small) garment, even if it is lacework:

Die Cut Vest by Sara Morris from Knit.Wear (the only knitting mag consistently worth buying, IMO)

It calls for a linen. That's not happening. I hate linen. It's like knitting with kitchen string. So who knows what I'd use instead? 

The Proviso
 

Needless to say, I reserve the right to change my mind. I mean, it's my freakin' hobby. In fact, since first I envisioned this list (a month ago), I've added to it, moved stuff around and removed the outliers. And who can say? I may decide that I don't feel like working indoors if the weather actually one day goes summery. 

Today's questions: Do you make a list of summer crafting projects? If yes, do you stick to it? And, while I'm asking... What do you think of my chosen projects? Which of these is your fave? Let's talk!

Guns Ablazin'

I'm running on so much adrenaline right now, I feel I have the heart of a gerbil. Honestly, who needs cocaine when you have my natural predisposition.

Lord, where to start?

Well, everything on the planet arrived by post today. That hideous bridesmaid dress redo from my sister? Check. 63 swatches of fabric? Check. New fabric from Fabrications? Check. New jeans (story to follow below)? Check.

Then there's the fact that y'all are fantastic and you've made my foray into leather (does that sound dirty?) a super-fun, totally relatable experience. I've got a lot to tell on this topic, but I just want to say thank you to every person who's taken the time to tweet, comment, email or call. It's because of your support that I have every intention of making not only a skirt but also a bag!

The Leather Files

Last night I researched the best prices (not that there are so many options with a refurbished machine from 1978) for a walking foot and a roller foot for my Viking 190. I've now got both on delivery. Etsy, peeps. It's your friend.

I also bought cold tape (on Gail's advice) it's an adhesive twill tape, made for soft leather, to stabilize seams.

Many of you have suggested great sites for bag patterns. Hot Patterns and Bag'n-telle are two great places to start, as are your Pinterest pages. Um, apparently I wasn't a member of Pinterest until yesterday. I think I got it mixed up with Instagram (which I also don't use).

Sara and Gail told me I'd have to sign up for Making Leather Bags (Don Morin) on Craftsy. I'm not known for my frugalness, but after having spent a bomb on everything leather, I told them it would go on the list for the next sale. Um, the Craftsy peeps, who are always trying to get me to buy, sent me a 12-hour sale coupon this afternoon and I got the 50 dollar course for $19.99. The website pleasantly informed me that it's a savings of 61%. It was hard not to buy every other class that Craftsy teaches, but really, I don't get enough use out of them in general.

Now, while I love the idea of making a bag, as you can see, I do not think I'm going to do it with the very soft electric blue lambskin. I don't think that fabric will have enough stability; it's perfect weight for a pencil skirt and really, I know how to make a skirt from my TNT. I need to put in the time with some other leather (and vinyl to start!) before I think of spending material of that quality on a bag of my own making.

Mind you, if I have a knack with bags, I think we may have a new compulsion to write about.

The Bridesmaid Files

How little can I say about this? The dress arrived. It's horrid. The fabric from India (extra to remake the bodice) still isn't here, but this is a start. I've got to pick the dress bodice from the skirt (which is fortunately so big that I can reuse it) but I don't think I'll start till the other fabric gets here.


The Jeans Files

OMG people, OMG. OMG. I did something crazy - bought jeans, sight unseen from America - both an expensive and crazy experiment - and I won!

I did send them to my mother for delivery to me in TO, because Nordstrom - while they like to tell you they're in it to win over Canadians - charges 30% more (for shipping and non-refundable brokerage) and they cannot tell you how much it will cost to return an item until you've bought it. Yeah, you read that right. I was told there would be a brokerage-determined restocking fee, that they'd be able to advise me about when and if I were to undertake the return process. Um, fuck that, Nordstrom.

This is the post that convinced me I had to try. (Note: I discovered afterwards that blogger is 6'2".)  Look, that woman is the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen, but I have to say, I think the jeans look better on me.

I DO NOT KNOW how they can make me a willowy sexpot?! My ass is awesome. My stomach flat. My legs are elegant pins. The denim is fantastic. The construction is better. If I can say all of this given how I feel 80 per cent of the time these days, you know these things are a must-have. Really, I might need to try another style soon.

OK, TO ladies, do not despair. There's a new store that opened up on College and they sell the full, fabulous line. Alas, the price tag is $160 pre-tax in our town. But, had I known, I would most definitely have bought locally. At the boutique (the name of which I cannot remember), I did try on the same style I bought online (Lauren)- and I was pretty pleased to see that I'd called it right on the size. This was a very enjoyable online experience.

The Fabric Files

These are my newest woven fabrics (meant to simulate the burgundy fabric I used to make the original Rosie Top muslins) which I'll use to make the next versions of the fledgling Rosie:

Garnet Silk Rayon from Fabrications

That online thumbnail does not do justice to this beautiful (and not dissimilar) fabric. And the natural stretch content is perfect.

Patterned Rayon from Fabrications

This rayon fabric is also lovely, but the stretch content and drape are not the same. Since this was my muslin fabric option, I suppose it'll be fine, but I'm not going to be able to extrapolate as well from it, fit-wise, as I would like.

Oh, and really, nice rayon is great fabric, but it has nothing on silk crepe.

Given that I'm not into reds, I find it interesting that I've gone for 2, predominantly red fabrics. I wonder what that means... Note: They're reds that work with my complexion.

The Swatch Files

I wish I had the energy to photograph the ZILLIONS of gorgeous swatches I have to consider. I never intend to be without adequate stash again (muahhahahaha). I'm sure more to come on this topic.

So that's me today. I'm happily overwhelmed by creative endeavours and things to learn. And I didn't even tell you about the new sweater I started knitting over the weekend!??!??!? Well, that's what the next post is for.

Today's questions: Have you tried IT Collective denim and, if yes, what did you think? How do you like my new fabrics? What do you think of my idea to get new leather for a bag? Let's talk!

Blue Streak

The title of this post refers both to my sharp ability to buy fabric, these days, and a constant sense of malaise that I cannot seem to shake. Yesterday, having decided I'm on hiatus from parenting because it's fucking thankless, I opted to spend the entire day - morning till night - out in the city. I knit and took breakfast at Fika, had a snack at Terroni, shopped the garment district and went looking for yarn with Sara, discovered something hilarious (which I'm saving for another post about denim - but it involves buying denim from Nordstrom in America though the brand is now sold down the block from me). I perused all of the boutique windows. I went out for drinks and dinner with Sandra. Then I went out for more drinks with Sandra. I walked 10 square miles.

One thing I'll say, if you want to save money, don't go out in the city from morning till night.

To wit:

This is the first time I've bought leather. I haven't felt confident to work with it in the past. I barely feel confident now though many have told me that it's no harder than working with fabric. These skins are like butter with an electric hue that would stop traffic. I don't know what kind of animal this comes from (maybe I should have asked). Each piece is about the same size (they both have a 6 and a 2 stamped on the back). Each was 30 bucks.

It's enough leather to make 2 bags or a skirt and I don't know which would be the better use of a truly sublime material.

Pros of Making Skirt:

• I know how to make a skirt and I have a great TNT.
• Who has a butter soft leather skirt in electric blue for 60 bucks??? Seriously, that would cost 800 bucks in a shop, given the quality of this skin.

Pros of Making Bag:

• I have enough leather to make 2 medium-sized bags, the first of which I could iron out the kinks and give away as a gift. 

Potential Challenges in Making a Bag:

• I have no idea of how to make a bag and I don't know if this is the material to practice on. I mean, it's soft and forgiving and I do have 2 skins, but maybe I need to start with less special leather.
• I haven't seen any patterns that appeal to me. I want to make a very chic bag which simulates a modern shape such as either of these:

Opelle Creative Fold Over Bag

Rough and Tumble Sling Bag

Admittedly, I haven't done much research of bag patterns as yet, but what I've found is very "fabric tote for carrying baby things" or messenger bag. If anyone can point me in the direction of patterns like the bags I've linked to above, I'd so appreciate it. BTW - I can branch out from these shapes, but I don't want something that looks like a suburban fabric carry-all. Now that I'm wearing flats, I cannot drop the ball with the bag!

Today's Questions (and I really need your feedback!): What's your favourite bag pattern? Have you made a leather bag and, if yes, how did it go? What other notions might I require (i.e. leather needles)? Do you think that very soft leather can hold up to a bag (if it's lined)? Fuck, how do you line a bag??? I know Craftsy has a course but I find I don't put those to very good use. I prefer online resources - websites or YouTube - cuz they tend to be quicker. I hate those Craftsy waste-of-time bumpers.