Fall SWAP Style Sewing

[RuthieK]

Its raining, my burda Plus Fashion Fall/Winter arrived yesterday and I received 2 fall/winter fashion catalogues in the mail.
All of a sudden I've forgotten Khaki and Coral City Safari and I'm dreaming about Chocolate orange cream Office Wear!
I've been collecting fabrics along this theme for a while now and I'm not sure I can wait until the Timmel SWAP starts in December.

Photos of fabrics sometime later in the week  for those who are interested.

[mcgintie]

RuthieK,
Oh good, someone has started up this topic! I am in Bristol, and for once my summer clothes are going away hardly worn. I have already cut out and serged the pattern pieces of three pairs of wool mix trousers (pull on boot legs from a worn pair I took apart). I bought the material from Fabrix mail order special offer. Good value.
Where do you buy good material? I visited Mulberry in Shepton Mallet last week and bought 2 metres of soft black coating (wool/angora mix) 150cm wide - for the princely sum of ten pounds. They still had some lovely purple wool knit that I made up into a cross-over top last winter (Sandra Betzina). if you like to stash it is worth going out of your way for.

[MaryOK]

ruthie,
I've been in a sewing slump lately -- maybe this will help me get going again!

[RuthieK]

Im in Warrington in Cheshire, and particularly like Abakhan in North Wales, I had a trip over there on Sunday afternoon and got a few more cream/ornage/brown things and other stuff too.

I work in a cool aircon office so I need long sleeves and a jacket pretty much all the time anyway!
I have been very excited about some stretch suiting I bought in TP textiles in Warrington which is chocolate brown with variegated stripes in orange/yellow/beige/white. his will be the basis of the whole Autumn Collection.

[RuthieK]

ruthie,
I've been in a sewing slump lately -- maybe this will help me get going again!

What colours/theme are you planning to sew to Mary?

[Robin]

I am definitely on board!
This is my haul from a shopping spree a few weeks ago.  This was, by far, the largest & most expensive fabric purchase have ever made.
(but these were all roll ends at more than 50% off, so I was a Girl Gone Wild!)

My colors are mostly cool shades with blue undertones.  I am not sure what I will make out of each piece yet, but ideas are brewing.

[vtmartha]

Robin, that is a wonderful collection of fabrics!  Did you pick them out all by yourself?  I am really impressed.  Would you please tell us how you did that?  Ruthie has that same knack for picking out fabrics which go well together.  I can do two or three but eight  -  wow!

[Susinok]

I've already started my Fall Wardrobe Plan. It is based on brown wool crepe that I got on sale early, earlyi this spring. Going to make jacket, pants, and skirt. I also have a lot of orange and brown slinky knits to make coordinating tops. The plan is not fleshed out just yet but I've definitely got a start.

I noticed that brown is still fairly common in RTW, too. It's always a bonus to be in fashion, even though often I go more on what looks good on me rather than what's popular out there.

[Carolyn]

I stocked up on black and taupe slinky at Gail K's in Atlanta this spring.  I plan to sew around these colors.  I also have some RTW brown slinky purchases.  I figure I can make many mix and match pieces with these colors.

I've been cutting out ideas from catalogues and magazines, particularly from Chicos and Coldwater since I have the slinky.  I then file them in folders labeled "dresses, pants, ensembles,etc." so I can remember what I liked and put them to use.

I've lost weight doing Weight Watchers, so the fall wardrobe is going to be alot of fun this year!

[Sewshopper]

Oh good, I spent the weekend putting away spring/summer fabrics and pulling out fall/winter ones.  Last week 4 of us took a road trip to Ginny's in Rochester.  We are needing to make 5 pieces, '2 tops, 2 bottoms and a cover' for the Sept. ASG meeting.  It helps to have specifics to get you started.  I have a piece of boucle from Textile Studio for a Capri jacket, some light majenta r/l knit for one top and another knit that is somewhat red and black from Sawyer Brook to go with 2 pair of pants.  The black tencel LH Cruise pants are done and I am leaning toward a black matte jersey for the LH Basic Pleat pants (without the pleats.)  I have that pattern made up in an olive jersey that I have worn a good deal.  They just fold up and go, you don't even have to shake them out.

I also get hung up at about 7 fabrics that coordinate.  That is one of the reasons that I have not gone with the official SWAP, 11 fabrics have just been beyone my scope.  I figure that if I do 3 or 4 groupings of 5 -7 fabrics, eventually, more things will go together.  Lynn Cook says that every piece should go with 5 other pieces, well that might eventually happen, but not by my planning!

[RuthieK]

I also get hung up at about 7 fabrics that coordinate.  That is one of the reasons that I have not gone with the official SWAP, 11 fabrics have just been beyond my scope.  I figure that if I do 3 or 4 groupings of 5 -7 fabrics, eventually, more things will go together.  Lynn Cook says that every piece should go with 5 other pieces, well that might eventually happen, but not by my planning!

The way I am going to tackle that hoary problem this time is to make a suit jacket which has a matching vest, straight leg pants, gauchos and skirt all from the same fabric (I have 6 yards of 60" wide) and then the other pieces are mainly tops which co-ordinate in orange or cream, and then the other things are bonus items.

Let's see where I have got to at the end of November and we'll see if it was a successful strategy!

[MaryPat]

Thanks for starting this new thread. I loved following all the Summer SWAP stories,
(even though some were for Winter, like Yummymummy's).
I have been playing with some Autumn fabric groupings. Here is one that I really like.
The colours all work well together, better than the photo, I notice.

I am not sure I want to give up on the summer stuff yet, though.
MP

[Saashka]

Not a full SWAP here, but I've started my fall sewing last weekend.

The fabrics are black wool crepe and charcoal wool flannel for pants. These are almost done - I'll put the waistbands on and hem them today. The white and blue fabrics are shirtings and I'm planning to use NL 6407 because I like the neckline. The two sweater knits will be simple pullover style, with a loose turtleneck or cowl.

I enjoy reading about everybody else's plans and seeing pictures. Thank you, Ruthie, for starting this topic.

[simonfreep]

I have two full fall SWAPs created, I just needed to decide which SWAP is the one that I will start on first.  Like MaryPat, I still have some summer sewing that I need to get done, but then it's off to the races!

MaryPat - I recognize one of your fabrics.  It's the taupe one with the chocolate and teal flowers.  I love that fabric.  I used mine to make a skirt.  I can't wait to see what you do with it. 

[MaryOK]

Ruthie said:

What colours/theme are you planning to sew to Mary?

I'm not sure.  I'd like to extend the brown and blue swap I did two years ago, with one skirt, 2 or 3 blouses, something sweatery, and a dress.

Another option is brown, red, and ivory.   I've got a beautiful wool-rayon herringbone, bittersweet chocolate brown and cream with a red stripe, with enough to make a jacket and two bottoms or a jacket,dress and skirt or pants.

A third option would combine ivory and a dusty blue. 

A complicating factor is that I've begun a weight-loss program, and know my size will change.  I guess if I make a simple pencil skirt and engineer the waist band treatment correctly, it will be easy enough to take in.  Maybe I'll push on with the blue and brown.

Thanks for asking -- just writing down these thoughts has helped me to clarify my options.

[Marji]

Saashka I love that grouping you've got going on.
We're leaving in about 1/2 hour to take the youngest to Univ South Carolina to move into a dorm. When I return in 4 days, we'll be empty nesters (YEAH!)...I'm so ready to have all the baby birds out there and not worry about curfews anymore and deal with their daily dramas and slovenly bathrooms and bedrooms...I digress...anyway, when we return we've decided that it would be prudent if I were to come out of retirement and go back to work for awhile.

Ack, I need office wear again. Suits. Business attire. I'll be putting together office conservative and sewing like mad as soon as I get home - in between finishing off the resume and scheduling interviews. I can't figure out how, in the 4 1/2 years since I left Michigan and left my job, I can't figure out how I managed to divest myself of an entire work wardrobe, but it's nowhere in evidence.
Fortunately for me, I still have oodles of stash fabrics that are best suited to work clothes.
 

[fzxdoc]

Wow, Marji, that's going to be quite a change from full time mom/stepmom to part time (or full time) career woman once again.  You may actually have more discretionary time as a career woman, since a Mom's job is never done!    Good luck in the job search, or do you already have a position in the works? 

It will be fun to see the nice career wear that comes rolling off your sewing machine over the next few months.  Perhaps you could bundle it with a tutorial on designing a career collection for lots of sewists who are about to embark or re-embark upon a professional career. That would be lovely to read, IMHO.  Best of luck!

Kathryn

[J Culshaw]

Well, we have all seen how Marji can sew and knit.   I wont' be surprised at all to see gorgeous work clothes coming out at record speed.    You must be a very efficient sewer, Marji, you and Carolyn, get a lot accomplished.   Looking forward to seeing everyone's pictures.   Julie

[MaryPat]

MaryPat - I recognize one of your fabrics.  It's the taupe one with the chocolate and teal flowers.  I love that fabric.  I used mine to make a skirt.  I can't wait to see what you do with it. 

I thought that I had seen it before. I was planning to make (another) shirt, but your skirt makes me want to make one of those, too. I might have to get more of it. It is only $3.50/m. right now.  The knit in the middle foreground is the marine blue from Wazoodle as well. Great minds think alike!
MP

[Diane Egelston]

Marji, I'm in a similar boat. I need at least one "suit" to wear to a client site in San Francisco, where the daily dress is very buttoned-down. For a Fall SWAP, I should sew

- a jacket and pencil skirt, "tropical" wool, possibly charcoal grey
- coordinating pants
- two or three tops, one knit (like the one I just made, in a different color and the others woven

This is what I want my suit to look like. In fact, this is what I want my wardrobe plan to look like

A girl can dream, right? 

Ack, I need office wear again. Suits. Business attire. I'll be putting together office conservative and sewing like mad as soon as I get home - in between finishing off the resume and scheduling interviews. I can't figure out how, in the 4 1/2 years since I left Michigan and left my job, I can't figure out how I managed to divest myself of an entire work wardrobe, but it's nowhere in evidence.
Fortunately for me, I still have oodles of stash fabrics that are best suited to work clothes.
 

[LindaF]

Yes a girl can dream.  And thanks for sharing that dream too.

I love this jacket.  I think I'll have to make something like this.

And I love you new Tee every time I see it.  I have to make something like that.
Linda

[Saashka]

Marji, good luck!

Diane, thanks for sharing. I love the funnel neck jacket. And the textured wrap. And the quilted nylon jacket is cool, too.

[Liana]

Marji,  Now I'm dreaming too! 

I've been looking over my inventory and realized that I probably have enough really nice fabric that I really like to do Fall wardrobes for several years.    Now to decide what to work with this year.  I've got a lot of really nice coppery/tobacco colored things, and now to make some decisions.  Of course, there are the greens and the taupes as well, and some killer camels.  I need to make a concrete list and try to stick to it, at least halfway.

[Susinok]

Nice collection from Armani, but I'd need warmer colors (and more colors all together). Love the cut of the jacket.

I hope I'm not the only one who wants to poke a stick into the model's spine and shout "Stand up straight!"

[bleimsk]

On the Armani jacket that has the small ruffle insert at the edges of the jacket and sleeves, what do you suppose they used for that ruffle? It's not too shiny and not too rufflely. Just a nice touch.

[mcgintie]

Susan,
You made me laugh! Maybe Armani has enough customers shaped like bendy long toys not to bother appealing to normal shaped people (whatever they look like!). If you take a second look at that wrap top, I remember at least one very similar in the Vogue catalogue, and the Sandra Betzina wrap top in there would suit as well.

[fzxdoc]

On the Armani jacket that has the small ruffle insert at the edges of the jacket and sleeves, what do you suppose they used for that ruffle? It's not too shiny and not too rufflely. Just a nice touch.

It looks like a piece of wide bias silk ribbon to me, bleimsk. 

Thanks for the link, Diane.  I'd say you have your sewing future cut out for you, no pun intended, if you choose to knock off a few of thos Armani looks!

Kathryn

[Diane Egelston]

Linda, thanks for encouraging me. I look forward to seeing your ruched tee. I think I am dangerously teetering on the cliff of having repeated my excitement about my poor little tee once too often  When one has been slogging through a dry sewing desert, and finally reaches an oasis on the other side, one runs the risk of relying on that one saving-grace garment until it is worn out before it has ever been worn!

Anyhow, back to SWAP, Armani style. I love that beautiful berry-colored Caban coat, too. And the ones Saashka liked, and that ruffly-piped one that bleimsk noted, too. I agree with Kathryn - that jacket's embellishment looks like a ribbon, but a ribbon with some body, so that it stands out nicely.

Okay, I'm on the hunt for some really beautiful grey fabrics.........

Yes a girl can dream.  And thanks for sharing that dream too.

I love this jacket.  I think I'll have to make something like this.

And I love you new Tee every time I see it.  I have to make something like that.
Linda

[mcgintie]

Hee hee - the website now has a note stating that the Caban jacket is currently unavailable - have we been scaring them with the number of hits?

[Diane Egelston]

mcgintie, it is certainly possible!!!

You know what I really like on the second, third, etc. viewing, is that wrap top with the buttons on the side. Pretty!!

[andib]

Diane you have great taste in RTW!

I am trying to plan out a few things to sew..altho I can probably eek by with most of what I have.  I would like to look a but more up to date.  Are bias skirts totally out?  I figured it was pencil skirts only, so I figured I would ask.

I am going to try to use some brown and grey and reds, as I have a sweater/jacket that is in that pallet (If I  ever finish the sleeves!)
I also need some blouses.  After perfecting my knit top pattern, I am deciding I look better in the structure of a blouse.  Now to find the time!

[Licarrit]

After drooling over everybody's colors I'm ashamed to admit that my fall sewing will be mostly greys (I am boringly predictable! but hey, it is not black!) I have suiting patterns already altered, and a couple of different wrap and corset style tops planned. I don't expect to get started on anything until after Labor Day (9/3), the thing that make this SWAP different for me is that I am using patterns that fit "The Pocket Stylist" guidelines for my shape and Pantone's color recommendations for my coloring which conveniently enough are the "hot" colors for fall!

[Susinok]

My fall suit plan is chocolate brown and I have a lot of top fabrics in oranges in blends, prints, mottled fabrics, and such. Then I have golds and rusts and russets in the stash to go with it all. I'll probably sneak in some olive as well. Can't have fall without olive! It's my main neutral.

[Vicki]

Diane, that Amani collection is gorgeous.  I really, really love the gathered waist jacket!!  Maybe is I start my fall sewing now, it will be ready for our Autumn next April 

[RuthieK]

Diane, that Amani collection is gorgeous.  I really, really love the gathered waist jacket!!  Maybe is I start my fall sewing now, it will be ready for our Autumn next April 

That made me laugh. I have a jacket I started when I used to attend sewing class. I started one October and was feeling very Autumnal - its in a green/black/cream tweed. I only sewed in class and by May it was almost finished and class stopped. I was rather sick of it by then and could not bear to finish off hand sewing the lining as the teacher wanted so its remained unfinished ever since. Maybe I should finish it off now to wear this Autumn!

So Vicki, if you sew fall stuff with us now you'll have the most fabulous wardrobe all ready when the season starts for you!