TKOB - The First Pieces

You may call it cheating, but I prefer to think of it as maximizing my time and increasing my enthusiasm levels - and so I have made the first four pieces of my Taking Care of Business SWAP 2013 (TKOB)  using some very quick and easy patterns.

First off is the two piece dress using a lovely grey Aztec print in sweater jersey from Fabric.com that I got for Christmas.  The skirt is a 4 gore pattern Simplicity 4221 that I have used here and here.  I made it a little shorter than previous incarnations and lined it with a plain black lining.

Apologies for the headless shot but I was taking photos using the timer on the camera and my facial expressions are a little disturbing!!

Both of the tops are pullovers with polo necks - well, it is winter time and I wanted to try another neck treatment - I am pleased with how the neckline looks.  Here I have used my franken top TNT based upon Kwik Sew 3752.  One of the tops is in the same grey Aztec sweater print as the skirt and makes my 2 piece dress, the other is made from some brown cotton/lycra fabric that I have used before in red, white and black to make similar tops (sorry, no photo just yet!)  The other skirt is a new pattern for me (Butterick 4877) - the first time that I have tried it.  I used a grey poly fabric.  I am not too sure of the composition but it one that I inherited from my mother's sewing room and feels great against the skin and drapes well.  This has a fitted waist so I put an invisible zip in the back centre seam and lined it all with a plain black lining again. It also has a flounce and I love flounces!  Both skirts have 1" lace added to the lining as it makes me feel special when I am wearing them!

I am a little disappointed with the look of this skirt - I L.O.V.E flounces, but I think that in this case it really cuts the skirt in half and is unflattering.  I will need to think a little more about this - as it is one of Mum's fabrics, I am annoyed at my poor pattern choice.  On the positive side I have used the top half of this pattern to make a fitted straight skirt, and ran one up today in black corduroy - it fits a treat.  So much so that I will be swapping out the long black corduroy skirt from my Ikat Winter Collection 6PAC and replacing it with this new version.  Photos to follow!

I think that my next pattern to tackle in this collection will be the Sorbetto tops.  Once I have mastered the fit, I can cut a few out and get them sewn up.  I am thinking off entering the 'One Pattern, Many Looks' competition on Pattern Review (I know it has been done before, but it would be such a great opportunity).

So, how are you getting along with your New Year sewing?

Taking Care of Business

I am happy to say that I am busy making the most of a few days off work.  I having been planning, cutting out, and am about to put needle to fabric - that is for tomorrow!  I needed to make one more item for my Ikat Winter Collection (previously mentioned here and here) that is part of the Winter 6PAC on Stitchers Guild.  Today I cut out a cardigan using the pattern that I fitted in my pattern fitting class.  It is from McCalls 4466.  I have made a couple of changes to the pattern - changed the neckline to a slight 'V' shape and I will add a band to make it more 'cardigan' like.  The fabric is a lovely Ponte knit in a burnt orange that I bought from Fabricland.  The fabric is a poly/rayon mix and is incredibly soft.

I have also been making plans for the 2013 SWAP on Stitchers Guild.  The rules are that one is 'to make two 4 or 5 piece collections, with a single other garment that can be worn with both capsules. 

Each collection is either 3 tops and two bottoms, or 2 tops, 1 bottom, and 1 dress, which all form a cohesive group.  The 11th garment should be a jacket or other piece that coordinates with both collections, both in style and color.

These collections can be for different occasions, or in different colorways, or simply reflect two very different styles or images. 

There will be no requirement this year to use a particular fabric or pattern choice, no fussy print matching or need to master any new skill. 

Sewing will begin December 26th, and all garments must be finished by April 30th, 2013.'

The main colors that I am playing with are brown, grey, mustard, red and cream.  Interesting eh?!  For each of the two collections I am planning a 2 core two-pieces (skirt & top or trousers & top) with a co-ordinating cardigan/jacket and another jacket that would work with each mini collection.  So, in total there will be 4 bottoms (skirts/trousers), 4 tops (short sleeved polo necks/shells) and three cardigans/jackets.  I will be using some new patterns - making shorter skirts and attempting to fit trousers, my shell tops will probably be based upon Sorbetto by Collette Patterns, and I am looking forward to trying Vogue 8146 or McCalls 5763 for the final jacket.

This is the first collection of fabrics and from the left I pan to make a 2 piece dress with the grey Aztec print (Christmas pressie fabric!), a solid grey skirt with a fitted yoke and circular flounce, a Sorbetto top with the grey floral and a jacket with the mustard solid (which really needs a good press!):

And here is the fabric for the second collection.  From the left is a brown jersey to make a top.  I also have some poly/rayon jersey in the same color so will make at least one more top and maybe a jersey wrap skirt, (I've just realized that I have missed a patterned brown fabric for another potential Sorbetto.  Oops.  I guess that will just have to stay as a surprise!), some brown corduroy for (hopefully) a pair of trousers, and an cream textured fabric for a cardigan/unstructured jacket.

And here is the collection (less the above mentioned brown patterned fabric!) with some red Ponte knit (a super soft poly/rayon mix) that will be used for another cardigan/unstructured jacket that will work across the whole collection.

As these items are all for work, I am calling this collection 'Taking Care of Business'.

So, having introduced you to my plans, I reserve the right to make changes as and when (well, I did stop off at Fabricland today and they had some FAB-U-LOUS poly/rayon stripey sweater prints and a few metres may have fallen into my basket!)

What about you?  Are you taking part in the 2013 SWAP or do you have another lists that you are working from?