Things I wear vs. Things I want to wear

Hi,

I just want to muse on my wardrobe today!

Basically I am starting to feel drab most of the time.

I work in a job where I don't have to be smart all the time. I wear a lab coat most of the day. I am still not the weight I would like to be (not sure I ever will be, I really do enjoy chocolate and carbs and do not enjoy forced exercise). I have an active 1 year old and want to be comfortable but I also want to look 'put together'.

Some current facts about me/my wardrobe:

I never actually use a wardrobe, everything is in boxes in an Ikea Kallax

I currently live in Dorothy Perkins Eden jeans. I have about 8 pairs.

I have a lot of basic tshirts.

My work wear generally consists of 3/4 sleeve tshirts/ stretchy tops.

I like things that are loose on my belly.

I don't like ironing.

I don't like a tight waistband - as soon as a sit down I feel uncomfortable and self conscious.

I never wear patterned fabrics other than stripes

I love a nice wrap dress but only own one.

I recently bought this dress for a wedding and felt quite nice in it.

I have a limited colour palette. 

I wear ugly sketchers shoes as they're comfortable.

I suit a v or a scoop neck

I would never wear a top tucked in

Even in summer I prefer to be relatively covered, I now steer away from sun vest type tops - especially with low backs - it is too much effort lathering myself in sun tan lotion to go out at lunch. After this amazing summer we have had (even up North!) I realise I cannot be in the sun, ever. I prefer a sleeve, especially for work.

In winter I need to be warm, I generally wear a vest top and a jumper. 

Here are the conclusions I think I have come to:

I want to wear more skirts / dresses.

I want to wear more prints and/or colours

I would be willing to iron more often for clothes I love.

I need to find perfect patterns. And buy them if needed.

I want to fully conquer some reliable patterns

I need to learn to cut and sew jersey well

Due to lack of time I need relatively simple projects. 

I would like to use my current fabric stash as much as possible. 

I do love fabric and I am not scared of repetition of a pattern if I love it. I think A Million Dresses is excellent (more active on her Instagram these days), the prints aren't in my confort zone but I love that she has found her style and stuck to it.

These are the clothes patterns I own that I think would help in bringing my conclusions alive:

Cashmerette Appleton

Cashmerette Upton

Cashmerette Concorde

Can you see a theme yet?

Cashmerette Springfield

Colette Zinnia

Unfortunately the Zinnia will need grading up to my waist size but i think it could work perfect, wide waistband and A-line shape (supposedly good for apple shapes)  - I need Cashmerette to bring out a simple skirt pattern!!!

And these are the patterns on my to-buy list - there is more cashmerette! I love her patterns what can I say

Cashmerette Turner

A jersey dress, this is lovely and doesn't look too complicated to start sewing in jersey ( i know I have the appleton and the concorde but I think i will start with this one! Naughty I know)

Cashmerette Montrose

I love the springfield but this is much more practical, a woven top with sleeves! This I think can be made is viscose which I love the variations can get (even if I don't love the ironing). Can also be made in cottons which are easy to pick up too.

Now I don't live in London it is much harder to go 'cheap' fabric shopping, but maybe that isn't a bad thing. I may only have specific projects in mind when I buy fabric, even though Leeds has a couple of really good fabric shops.

Well, this ended up quite long - sorry! I will be back soon with a 'to-do' list to give me a bit more motivation!

What do you think about making the same pattern many times? If it is one you love and suits you?

Thanks for reading!

Kristy 

To Do List 4

Hello There!

How was everyone's lovely long weekend? Mine was nice and relaxed, and not at all diet friendly but hey ho I had fun so you have to live eh?

I went to the zoo on Saturday, shopping Sunday (with very limited success and watched a mouse run around a shop for a couple of minutes) and then yesterday met with a lovely friend, had a few drinks and a YUM vietnamese meal (if you like Viet food and are in London I would HIGHLY recommend this place)

I haven't done too bad on the last to do list and managed to get quite a few ticked off:

Seamwork Osaka V2                                                  

1. Sew button holes
2. Sew on buttons

Concord tee 

6. Finish cutting

Charity Shop Refashion

11. Blog

Fabric Swap

12. Book Venue URGENT

Baby Girl Gifts

V1
26. Handsew side
27. Add buttonholes
28. Add buttons

V2
29. Handsew side
30. Add buttonholes
31. Add buttons

V3
32. Handsew side
33. Add buttonholes
34. Add buttons

V4
35. Handsew side
36. Add buttonholes
37. Add buttons

V2 Miette

38. Sew up

Handbag

42. Tape pattern

44. Cut lining fabric

Ties for Richard

49. Tape pattern

21 out of 51 is not a bad effort!!

I may have also cut a new delphine skirt too...ooops! 

So here is week 4! Done in word and posted as a capture as Blogger really does not like formatting into columns

Have a great week everyone! 

Kristy xx

To Do List Review

Happy Monday Peeps!

How are we all? Did you have a nice weekend? I had a very productive Saturday, all helped by my To Do List!

I did not have a productive sunday, I went out and got drunk and I am absolutely hanging today, work is too much today! Trying to get students through some calculations has hurt!! Bleurgh

So here is what I crossed off

1. Add button holes to V2 of Seamwork Osaka
2. Sew button holes onto V2 of Seamwork Osaka
3. Photograph V2 of Seamwork Osaka
4. Blog V2 of Seamwork Osaka
5. Update costs (fabric and wardrobe) pages
6. Finish cutting Cashmerette Concord
7. Sew up Cashmerette Concord
8. Cut up fabric for cushion covers
9. Sew up cushion covers
10. Buy cushion inserts
11. Hem the Tilly and the Buttons Miette Skirt that is lurking in the back of the wardrobe
12. Wear the Miette Skirt for my #MMMay16 pledge
13. Refashion charity shop skirt
14. Photograph charity shop refashion
15. Blog charity shop refashion
16. Tidy/clean out my sewing storage box
17. Tidy and refold fabric stash draw - decide what to take to the Fabric swap I am organising through The Foldline
18. Tidy up patterns/book shelf - decide what to take to the swap 
19. Book a venue for the fabric swap
20. Rip apart the second hand leather coat I bought to use the leather
21. Finish the fabric basket and mat for my mum - same as what I made for Mothers Day presents
22. Sew up V5 of Colette Laurel
23. Sew up V6 of Colette Laurel
24. Photograph V5 and V6 Colette Laurel
25. Blog V5 and V6 Colette Laurel
26. Make the first muslin of the Pussy Bow Blouse from issue 26 of Love Sewing
27. Make some summer skirts - STARTED
28. Sort through scrap bag to see if actually usable pieces in there 
29. Plan what to make for friends baby girl (deadline for final pieces 18th June)

So 7 out of 29 crossed off and one started! Not too shabby! 

I think you will be seeing many more to do lists on this blog as it really does help!

Here are a few photos as proof!

the lid will now close!

So messy!

Much better

Two neat layers of fabric - and there is still room for more! :)

Cushions cut but I realised I have 5 fabrics so ordered one more, will sew them all up in one go

All finished, will write a proper blog post about this at some point, the skirt is currently in the wash though (pesky yellow chalk lines!)

All hemmed and wore yesterday for #MMMay16

To Do List

Happy Friday!

I was just sat thinking of my nice non-interrupted weekend ahead of me and what I want to get done. I started writing a list in my head but I felt the need to write it down (mainly so I can tick it off!) and I thought I would make the list official by publishing it on here! I may make this a regular feature - if I remember!

I love lists, I write them at work ALL the time but I don't seem to write them at home as much, I am hoping this means if I cross some off I will feel a bit more accomplished. At the same time sewing is for pleasure so I don't want too many deadlines! I like breaking down tasks into managable chunks which obviously creates a very long list of 'To Do's' but crossing them off is soooo satisfying!

1. Add button holes to V2 of Seamwork Osaka
2. Sew button holes onto V2 of Seamwork Osaka
3. Photograph V2 of Seamwork Osaka
4. Blog V2 of Seamwork Osaka
5. Update costs (fabric and wardrobe) pages
6. Finish cutting Cashmerette Concord
7. Sew up Cashmerette Concord
8. Cut up fabric for cushion covers
9. Sew up cushion covers
10. Buy cushion inserts
11. Hem the Tilly and the Buttons Miette Skirt that is lurking in the back of the wardrobe
12. Wear the Miette Skirt for my #MMMay16 pledge
13. Refashion charity shop skirt
14. Photograph charity shop refashion
15. Blog charity shop refashion
16. Tidy/clean out my sewing storage box
17. Tidy and refold fabric stash draw - decide what to take to the Fabric swap I am organising through The Foldline
18. Tidy up patterns/book shelf - decide what to take to the swap 
19. Book a venue for the fabric swap
20. Rip apart the second hand leather coat I bought to use the leather
21. Finish the fabric basket and mat for my mum - same as what I made for Mothers Day presents
22. Sew up V5 of Colette Laurel
23. Sew up V6 of Colette Laurel
24. Photograph V5 and V6 Colette Laurel
25. Blog V5 and V6 Colette Laurel
26. Make the first muslin of the Pussy Bow Blouse from issue 26 of Love Sewing
27. Make some summer skirts
28. Sort through scrap bag to see if actually usable pieces in there 
29. Plan what to make for friends baby girl (deadline for final pieces 18th June)

This is all I can rattle out right now, I am sure this will change when I see some pretty fabric...

Have a productive weekend everyone :)