MISSION ACCOMPLISHED...

...first many thanks to those of you who took the challenge of watching me work my way out of my recent sewing slump.  I accomplished my mission of creating the coordinated pieces of my

  3 Piece MINI WARDROBE CAPSULE

.Two knit tops with one pair coordinating TNT pants

Simple, yes; but I think it snapped me out of a depressed sewing stage. 

Piece 1:     Vogue 8634 Cowl neck knit top

FABRIC:  1-5/8 yards of a lightweight two way stretch knit purchased from Vogue Fabrics .  I'll need to be careful in laundering this fabric - it has a tendency to shag a bit.  I'll probably hand wash to make it last a while.

PATTERN RATING:  Super easy, super quick.  45 minutes to make less the layout, cutting time, and an hours nap I took last Saturday afternoon.

WEAR-ABILITY TEST:  Opppps!  This top made it into this weeks work rotation but did not stand up to the test.  Be careful if you plan on making this pattern because the neckline is an extremely low cut.  I spent the day pulling it closed;  got really tired of looking down at my bra all day long - should've just pinned it up.

SOLUTION:  Came home yesterday and ripped off the cowl collar.  Had enough fabric left to re-cut the bodice and sleeves for a new top because there was no way was I willing to spend time removing all of the serge stitches.  Raised the front neckline of the pattern a full 3 inches and remade the same pattern.  Now I love it and plan on making another maybe in a solid color.

TIPS OR TECHNIQUES USED:  Used Steam-a-Seam Lite to turn up hems, then stitched down.  Gives me a slightly stabilized more professional looking finished product. I have to try hard to remember to switch over to a jersey ball point needle when sewing knits.

Piece 2:     Simplicity 2181 Mock Twist Front knit top

FABRIC:  1-7/8 yards soft jersey knit purchased at JoAnn's for $1.80 (after redeeming a coupon).  One of my favorite fabrics.  Its forgiving, easy to sew up and take care of.  Minimal to no ironing needed after washing. 

PATTERN RATING:  Not so quick because pattern has 8 pieces.  A two day project for me, but well worth the time to produce.

WEAR-ABILITY TEST:  Gave this top a whirl at work also this week and it did pass the test.  Completely comfortable and easy to wear.

TIPS OR TECHNIQUES USED:  Used Steam-a-Seam Lite to hem this top too.  Used a number 2 lead pencil to mark because chalk does not work for me on jersey fabric.  Same with the jersey ball point needle.

Piece 3:     SIMPLICITY 8707 TNT PANTS PATTERN

 

FABRIC:  2-7/8 yards of really nice gaberdine - source unknown.  Washes up nicely and wears great without stretching out of shape as the day progresses.  Wish I remembered where I got this from.

PATTERN RATING: What more can I say about this pattern.  I've tweaked and tweaked it again and again.  But the only change I added this time was more stabilization of the pocket area, which  I'll address in another post. 

WEAR-ABILITY TEST:  Haven't worn these yet, but they fit real good in the sewing room.  I'm almost sure they will work out fine.

TIPS OR TECHNIQUES USED:   When ever I have to hem something that I know will leave pic marks on the right side of the fabric, I've started using stitch witchery.  I'd rather use this than try to live with pic marks showing through.

 It was such a good sewing week, now own to the next project...

 

I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER...

PLAN:  scheme, design, way of doing things. 

It's taken me some time to get it together, but in the scheme of things, I do love it when a plan comes together.  It's all about my attempt to break the slump I've been in.   I've concluded that because of:

• my lack of planning,

• my trying to do too many things at once, coupled with

• my sewing room disorder

eventually contributed to the project indecisiveness that threw me into this sewing slump.  Thank God for self-analysis, and it's free too.

That being said, I'm ready to unveil my little "snap back scheme":

A  3 Piece MINI WARDROBE CAPSULE

Two knit tops with one pair coordinating TNT pants.

Simple, yes I know, but it will give me two outfits that can be added to later - this is just a little jump start.  Sometimes a big plan is just too much for me to handle.  It not only overwhelms, but at times gives me a good case of sewing paralysis.   I mentally cannot handle coordinating six, nine or twelve fabrics and patterns right now.  But, I've been able to manage three fabrics and patterns.  I had to go back to an old adage that I use to lean on, that being "you CAN eat an elephant - just take one bit at a time".

IT'S ALL IN THE BAG(S)

Now to put the scheme in motion...

YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO ACCEPT IT....

  ...you've probably already guessed by the lack of finished garment posts that my sewing motivation has successfully eluded me now for weeks.  Yes, I am still interested, but the motivation that it takes to:

1. decide on a project and fabric,
2. commit to said project, and then
3. actually sit down to stitch said project

seems to have been playing cat and mouse games with me.  I know we all go through this thing from time to time - so I guess it's normal.  But guess what?, I HATE IT!!!  I saw where one blogger said she last saw her sewing motivation headed down some highway with her machine strapped to his back.  What a dismal sight to even imagine, but it describes my situation to a "T".

HOW DO YOU SNAP YOURSELF OUT OF A SEWING SLUMP???;

 OR DO YOU JUST GO WITH THE FLOW UNTIL SAID MOTIVATION FINALLY DECIDES TO COME BACK HOME AGAIN?

Well, I've come up with a simple plan designed to snap me out of this sewing inactivity.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to join me here as I slowly unveil my scheme.  Sometimes you have to resort to a little trickery...