SWAP 2014

City-wide Couture (CWC), a wonderful sewing group of inspired and inspiring sewists, has issued a challenge. And I love a challenge. The challenge is to create an organized, coordinated set of clothing. This might be called a 6PAC, as it is on Artisan's Square, but in this case, it is called a SWAP - Sewing With A Plan.

The 6PAC comes to mind because it is the one and only time that I actually - sort of - pulled such an organized set of sewing all together. I gathered fabrics, selected patterns, and sewed as planned. B.O.R.I.N.G. I much prefer to sew as the spirit moves me. Now I did love seeing the other 6PACs. Those were great fun to view.

Notably, though my 6PAC was successful in some ways, I never enjoyed wearing the pieces. The 6PAC I chose resulted in clothes that worked together but did not make my heart sing.

The CWC SWAP is fairly simple - 5 pieces by late fall. Not many rules, just that the pieces need to mix and match. After much thought, I believe that the best path for me is a modified SWAP. In my SWAP world, I make one garment after another that makes my heart sing.

So what makes it a SWAP, you might ask?

Well, I've added my own little personal challenge. Each garment must coordinate with the NEXT,  I mean, LAST garment. Sort of a linked list. Or serial monogamy.

While I love the idea of the pretty story board with fabric swatches attached and patterns neatly listed, it just is not going to work for me unless I force it. And if I force it, well, no singing heart.

And I've decided to use stash fabrics, another minor twist to the SWAP.

So here is garment 1:

It is the High Five jacket from the Shapes line of patterns, made as a pull-over. The fabric is a light-weight shot linen, hot pink in one direction and yellow in the other. I added some yellow sashiko to warm it up a bit.

And I'm trying these pants out for garment 2:

Not too sure if these really work together, color-wise. What do you think?

I do love each piece. The pants are Cutting Line Design one-seams with added pockets and elastic gathering at the hem, also linen but a medium weight. This linen has a subtle stripe that may have taken the color tones too warm to wear with the cooler colors in the top.

Now I'm looking at tops that work with these pants to continue my linked list. A yummy chocolate brown top would be pretty maybe. But first I'm off to spend a week learning about indigo dyeing. So maybe my SWAP will be replanned around that!

Does planning to sew make your heart sing?

Growing a 6PAC

Vogue 8546, brown pin-striped linen

5PAC: Vogue 8839 jacket in ponte knits, TSW Ann's Tank, TSW eDress, both in ponte knit, TSW mimosa pants and shell in cotton/lycra solid brown

6PAC: V8561 skirt in brown striped linen, TSW eDress, V8546 jacket in linen, TSW mimosa pants and shell in cotton/lycra solid Brown, Christine Jonson shell

In a previous post, I indicated that an evolving approach to the 6PAC would be best for me. It has grown two branches, each starting with TSW mimosa fitted pants and a matching shell in a solid brown cotton/lycra canvas fabric. The shell is a much modified version of Cynthia Guffey's simple princess lined dress.

After making the initial brown column, I made the Marcy Tilton jacket (V8839) in ponte knits. Then I was stuck. So I returned to the column and make a brown striped skirt from another Marcy Tilton pattern - 8561. So then I had two 3PACS and and I was stuck.

Finally I grew the gray and brown PAC to 5 pieces:

• fitted brown pants
• fitted brown shell
• jacket in brown and gray ponte knits
• eDress, also in brown and gray ponte knits
• gray ponte knit shell

And the gray and white PAC grew to 6 pieces:

• fitted brown pants
• fitted brown shell
• brown and white striped skirt
• brown and white jacket
• eDress in coordinating poly knit
• shell in same coordinating poly knit

The final test is this - what just hangs in the closet and what is worn? I have a hunch it will be mostly the set with linen. I just love linen.

6PAC in progress

Artisan's Square has a challenge thread titled 6PAC - six piece autumn collection. Normally I sew whatever makes my heart sing at the moment, so I end up with a lot of this and that in my closet. I decided to try a little discipline.

The first part was the brown (yawn) column posted here. Then I moved on to something fun - Marcy Tilton's knit jacket posted here. Love, love, love that little jacket.

Then I was stumped. What next? Problem solved - I went back to Gail K and bought more of the ponte knits that I used in the jacket. Hooray for retail solutions!

From those ponte knits, I made another eDress and Ann's tank top, also from The Sewing Workshop (TSW). Wow - knits are so fast!

For this eDress, I shortened at the shorten/lengthen line about 5 inches to create what I think is a more flattering length for me. My first eDress is a maxi dress.

I used Louise Cutting's rule of thirds - measure the distance from the crease in the knee to the floor in bare feet. Best lengths are one-third up and two-thirds up. This eDress is 12 inches off the floor on me.

The tank top in TSW's Ann's Cardigan and Tank pattern was almost too easy. I followed their instructions completely, leaving all the edges raw and simply top stitching 3/8 inch from the edge. I did raise the neckline in the front a bit and I'm glad I did.

So the 6PAC is currently a 5PAC:

• Brown cotton-Lycra mimosa pants.
• Brown cotton-Lycra top from sheath pattern.
• Solid gray and solid brown ponte knit Marcy Tilton jacket
• Solid gray and solid brown ponte knit eDress
• Solid gray Ann's tank top

'Course I am not proceeding quite so smoothly as this might indicate. I also went off in another direction, making that classic Marcy Tilton skirt, the one with all the bias bits (future post) from a yummy brown and white linen pin-stripe. 

But it doesn't go with the ponte jacket, so I'll need to make a matching Louise Cutting jeans jacket to accompany it. Eeewwww - maybe too matchy-matchy.

I'm realizing that a 6PAC or any of the sewing-with-a-plan variations require balancing statement pieces with the basics, as well as avoiding boredom and matchy-matchy. And there is a test at the end - how much will I wear these pieces? 

Another learning experience inspired by fellow sewers.

The Disciplined Sewer

Which I am not. But, from time to time, I strive to be.

Over on Artisan's Square there is a thread on the 6PAC - six piece autumn collection. I love seeing all the story boards and postings of gorgeous fabrics to go with their chosen patterns. Usually people go with something like two pairs of solid pants or skirts, two to three tops (usually out of same fabric as pants or skirt), and a topper like a jacket or cardigan that magically goes with everything. And I think, that's what I will do.

And then I don't.

The truth is that I am addicted to patterns, to new patterns. Yes, I have a few TNTs, but mostly I just love the puzzle that a new pattern presents. I also enjoy stash-shopping for the fabric - part of the puzzle. My idea of fun.

But. I have a closet full of fun and nothing to wear. You knew it, right?

That's a bit of an exaggeration. I've become more consistent in color choice when I shop for fabric (*) so occasionally I finish a great garment, walk it into my closet, and surprise! It matches something there.

Back to the 6PAC. I have decided that mine will be evolutionary:

Start with one basic garment, make it, and then use it to choose the next garment. Garment number 2 must coordinate with garment number 1, and garment 3 must coordinate with garment 2, and so on. Of course garment number 1 may or may not coordinate with garment number 3, but I'm going with it.

Garment 1 and garment 2 are finished! Both are made from TNT patterns. And since they are made from the same fabric, they coordinate. Yes, I can do this!

From a much modified version of TSW mimosa pants, I made a pair in brown stretch poplin. And then I made a shell from a fitted sheath (thanks, Pam Howard!) by simply making it short. I used the remnants from the pants and so, of course, I didn't have enough. Hence the seam just below the bust on the center front and center back pieces.

Not too exciting but I am pretty sure it coordinates with something in my closet.

Or it will.

(*) I almost never buy a piece of fabric with an idea of what I will make - do you?