Halloween 2010

Coleen decided she wanted to be Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice this year.



The exciting thing is she made her costume herself (with only a little help from me, mostly in the pinning things together correctly area). She used the pattern offered by Sense and Sensibility for a Regency Dress. She was initially intimidated by the several pages of instructions, until she realized that they were just a lot more detailed than what she is used to and they really did not involve many more steps than other things she has made.
Her dress turned out very nicely and we found the perfect accessory in a lace sweater that I wore to my wedding. The tshirt and pants underneath were a bow to Halloween in Wisconsin, which is usually a bit chilly.

Devil's Lake, WI

We went on an excursion yesterday. The fall color was lovely and it was an excellent hike. Can't wait to go back and explore more of the park.

The end of Self Stitched September

Well, September has come to a close. It was a very interesting month and I put a lot more thought into what I was wearing each morning than I usually do.

You will notice that of the last eight days of the month, I only have pictures of about half of them. I did have company, but also I got tired of taking pictures of the same outfits that I wore earlier in the month, so you'll have to take my word for it that I did finish out the month...

What did I learn?

I need a more well-rounded wardrobe and though I love to jump from one involved project to another, I need to spend some quality time just making some basics- a few more tshirts and a couple pairs of pants and I would not have been so bored with what I was wearing at the end of the month to stop taking pictures.

I love skirts and I pulled them out and wore them more this month than I have in years. And right now I have a job where I could wear skirts more often. The next few months might get to be too cold, but in the spring, I am definitely going to keep wearing skirts...

Work more on fitting. Since I also started working on the Lady Grey coat sew-along this month, I have noticed a couple of alterations that I could probably consistently make to patterns that would make them fit better. I need a swayback alteration and I also have narrow, sloping shoulders.

And find some TNT patterns. I noticed that a couple of patterns I used over and over again this month. There can be infinite variations just with fabric and details, so find some well fitting pieces and develop a wardrobe around them.

Thank you Zoe for dreaming up this challenge. It has helped focus my sewing and I will have a better wardrobe to show for it!

Pants - altered simplicity pattern
Lady Grey muslin - the project I'm working on right now!
Ottobre Woman cardigan, burda blouse and the simplicity pants again- as much as I wear pants- I really need to get a couple more pairs made!

Simplicity blouse
Altered simplicity pattern for pants- these were the muslin for the tan pair and they get almost as much wear! Except because I was only going to use these for a muslin, they have no pockets- I won't do that again! Pockets are too useful a thing to leave out.

Burda blouse and simplicity pants again
This time teamed up with one of my favorite vests bought at Express ages ago (probably at least 15 years). I really should pull it out more often.

I will probably continue to incorporate self-stitched items into what I am wearing most days!

SSS Days 17-21

All are from Ottobre Woman
2/2008 #10 knit cardigan
2/2007 #4 tshirt
2/2007 #8 skirt

Finished socks today and wore them! The pattern is 'Sunshine' from Cookie A's book Sock Innovation Otherwise, I spent most of the day in my sewing room in very casual clothes that did not get photographed.

This is another version of the simplicity pattern you have seen before... this time with long sleeves. Believe it or not, there is still one more version... I really liked this pattern. All of these shirts are at least five years old and a couple of them should probably be retired soon.

Ottobre Women 2/2010 #6
Jalie Pants - These are actually my husband's - yes we are very close to the same size- at least when I make pants for him a size too big! I was planning on wearing a skirt, but it was chilly this morning and sometimes you just feel like wearing pants...

Ottobre Woman cardigan again... will probably only wear half the day. It has been chilly in the morning and warming up in the afternoons - perfect fall weather!
Ottobre Woman 2/2008 #4 tshirt
2/2007 #12 skirt

Progress on my coat

As of Sunday, all of the pieces of my muslin are cut out. The seams are all thread traced and ready to sew together.

I've had a few minutes here and there the last couple of days and have the back sewn together and am working on the princess seams of the front. I hope by this weekend to have the musling together and fitted.

SSS Days 13-16

Hmm... you'll notice there are only 3 pictures for the four days covered. Forgot to take pictures on the 14th, but it was just a repeat of what I wore on day 3.

Top Ottobre Woman 2/2008 #9
Tank Ottobre Woman 2/2009 #1
Skirt Ottobre Woman 5/2007 #4. Stitched for me by Coleen.

Skirt is self-drafted from RTW. It is a mock-wrap and extremely comfortable
Blouse is the same pattern as the red checked shirt on Day 1. Actually, in the picture below is a 3rd version of the same blouse.


Also wearing the pants from day 1,3,4 and 7...see, I told you I wear them lots.

Lady Grey Coat Sew Along

I'm participating in the Lady Grey Coat Sew Along over at Gertie's blog.
I am so excited! My fabric came yesterday from fabric.com. An unclipped corduroy and one of Amy Butler's prints from her Midwest Modern collection plus ivory satin for the sleeve lining. I think it will be lovely. I am definitely starting on the muslin today when I get home from work!