SWAP 2008 III

[cmarie12]

Oh these are all such wonderful story boards...it made my heart go pitter patter and almost, yep almost made me wanna SWAP!     Good luck with completing your wonderful wardrobes ladies!

[AnnRowley]

Starting again here...

Edited to add links to the previous threads

SWAP 2008 I

SWAP 2008 II

[clambaby]

My apologies if this is a sort of repeat posting. I wrote a long post and think it was lost because the minute I tried to post it the topic was locked, so I am trying again here.

I start teaching today and have been off line while I do classs prep but have been active in sewing in my head. My colours are black, white and red based around a wonderful black and white zig zag wool for a coat, which of course leaves me with a problem about the extent to which I can use black and white geometric prints for some of my blouses. I am going to have to post all my fabrics this weekend, probably on a blog which I understand how to do rather than a story board which I haven't figured out yet, and get some honest advice. I am a lot more comfortable with construction than with design thinking and planning. I have also settled on four black bottoms, which I know I would wear to death, the thought of a red skirt strains my brain too much trying to figure out if black and black and white tops would work. I think though that the purpose of the SWAP is to make what you would actually wear not just to fit into the formula.

My patterns are really exciting. I am going to use a Simplicity vintage for my wardrobe base and my DH drafted and graded vintages for the rest. He has observed that the sewing is simple but the shapes are really complicated, although there are few pattern pieces, obviously as a result of draping and then taken apart to make the pattern not flat pattern designed. Will post some of them so you can see what I mean.

Off to work, and looking forward to the weekend to get some pictures up.

Barbara

[Brenda]

The black cotton for scrubs you're so right!!! I wouldn't use it for the scrubs swap!!!
I think of what I've posted, and I think, oh my goodness, attention deficit disorder, or what? I think I enjoy the planning as much as the execution and the wearing later! And hence, I'm having a great time!

[RuthieK]

.....I have also settled on four black bottoms, which I know I would wear to death, the thought of a red skirt strains my brain too much trying to figure out if black and black and white tops would work. I think though that the purpose of the SWAP is to make what you would actually wear not just to fit into the formula.

Barbara I think you have hit the nail on the head there! I am trying to remember that as I move on to my final planning.

My green boots with rust colour detailing arrived today and work beautifully with the green/rust/brown print from my stash, as well as the brighter burnt orange from Julie.
I'm going to make my final choices of the other fabrics now, though I have already started a rust wool waistcoat (tailored vest) which is altered slightly so it can be worn on its own as a top (although I will tend to wear it over sleeved shirts).
Woo hoo this is all so exciting :-)

[turbopip]

Your wardrobe plan of black white and red sounds very practical and useful, Barbara. Of course, this is one of my favourites so I always think its great. I agree about making pieces that will fit with what you like to wear. I will be doing the same and giving the blouse-style tops a miss as I would never wear them. I want to end up with a versatile wardrobe that works together, is comfortable, matches some of my existing clothes and whose pieces I can wear with other things outside the SWAP. Fairly lofty goals, eh?

Ruthie, I LOVE your boots. They are absolutely so wonderful that a girl almost doesn't have to worry what she wears with them!

FITTING:
Boscopup, I always have to alter and fit every single pattern I make. Its a darned pain and makes things take longer but that's just the way it is. At least I then end up with something that actually fits as opposed to RTW which rarely does. If you would like a handy reference tool, I suggest getting your hands on a copy of Sandra Betzina's book, Fast Fit, Easy Pattern Alterations for Every Figure. It is organized by area (back, shoulder, bust, sleeve) and is very easy to use, even if you are just beginning to learn about fit. She tells you what the problem might look like (eg. wrinkle forming under the collar, neckline riding up, gaping armholes), waht the problem is, how to fix it and then there is an easy-to-understand sketch to illustrate the remedy. I have found this book to be a valuable reference guide and highly recommend it to those of us who have to fit and alter our patterns and aren't fortunate enough to have husbands to grade them for us.   :-)

[Licarrit]

Okay, I'm blaming Ruthie!  I had to get new shoes for my no black at all SWAP and I zapposed these!



They were $70+ dollars but they came very highly recommended for comfort(of all things!) Can't wait for them to get here!
I was going to wait till later in the contest but I need to get the pants hemmed and I need the right shoes for that, Right?!
I can rationalize almost anything as long as nobody is getting hurt!

[Robin]

OK, I know some of you  might not have selected your wardrobe pattern yet, so click here for my suggestion.
 

Seriously, though- do a search on 'wardrobe' and you'll get 19 pages of wardrobe patterns, many of them VERY cute.
I am sure you already know of this website, but I'll post a link anyway:

http://www.lanetzliving.net/home

[RuthieK]

Lisette, those are very nice shoes!
And a bit more all season than my boots. Hope they are super comfy.

My first piece is finally started, a little vest that can be worn alone as a top (on brave days) because I raised the front neckline slightly, or over a blouse.

[girl_in_bleue]

Robin, that pattern is adorable!

I agree that Lanetz is a great resource for patterns. I've ordered from her before and she always has great service and the patterns are in as excellent condition as she describes them to be.

Lisette, gorgeous shoes!

I've been slowed down by a cold, but feeling much better now. I talked to Julie today and she's furiously sending all the orders we made while she was away. Julie, I don't envy you right now, doing all that work, sorting through all those orders!

I want to finish my two skirts and then cut out as much as I can before I move. If stuff's already cut out it will be easier to hole up in a corner of the hotel room with my sewing machine without taking up too much space.

[Fox Valley Patti]

Just chiming in on the new thread!

[Morzel]

then cut out as much as I can before I move. If stuff's already cut out it will be easier to hole up in a corner of the hotel room with my sewing machine without taking up too much space.

That´s smart! I think you are right, the cutting is what needs a large surface and is also creating this "Fiberdust", that´s all around my apartement. I sometimes walk along the corridor and some Dust/Thread/Fiber-tumbleweedlike thing is floating past me... But Hotelrooms  usually have carpets, so you wouldn´t notice this much. 

I am not proceeding any further right now, as there are other things intervening. I had to finish an ensemble for my niece (we will visit next week), now I am just starting a dress for my pattern class (checking if what we design also works out! Teacher wants us to) on Monday and Next Thursday I am off to Japan (for that visit) for the rest of the month. So I am right now just planning with one more pants that I want to get done before the trip, as I want to take them with me.

Eva

[sewrose]

WaHoo! This thread gets me excited!!! I wish that I could meet all of you in person.

Morzel, I love the outfit for your niece. An outfit for my granddaughter is on my AS (after-swap) list.

Oh my -- I may have to do some online shoes shopping. I vowed not to buy more fabric until I get some things sewed, but that doesn't stop my shoe and pattern addictions. You know, it's wise to work on only one addiction at a time!

I am soooo impressed with what you all are doing. Sometimes, I wonder what I'm doing sewing with such creative and talented people. I'm counting on some of that rubbing off on me! Meanwhile, my daughter is coming to visit today and then it's time to cut out those pants.

Rose

[xtiand]

I've added my storyboard on the other SWAP page.
Christian

[Elle]

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year.  I had introduced myself awhile back as a SWAP participant and posted a pic of my wardrobe pattern, a vintage pattern resurrected by Alexandra Reynolds at EvaDress.com, SE50-1993.   Coincidentally, I fell in love with a plaid boucle that I bought at FashionFabrics.com.  Then I saw the Timmel 2008 SWAP, and a plan was born.  Well, multiple plans were born, but one has emerged as somewhat final.  Sort of. 

So I began my swing jacket in the plaid boucle, a somewhat rash undertaking on my part, never having worked with a plaid before, nor a boucle.  Following Julie’s excellent suggestions for working with plaids, I have managed to get them to match up at the major seams, and have an idea as to how to accomplish this for the remaining side seams.  But I cut the plaid boucle on the bias, just because I liked it draped that way on my dress form, and now it looks like a plaid serape.  Super drapey.  TOO drapey.

The pattern calls for light hair canvas to be used as interfacing for the closing and collar parts of the front pieces (front, collar and front sleeves in one).  I thought that might be too much of a contrast with the rest of the garment, which also needs some support.  So I thought that, instead, I would interface the entire thing in Palmer-Pletsch medium weight interfacing, perhaps using two layers for the parts that were originally to be interfaced.  To provide additional support (and keep the front from stretching out even more than it already has on my dress form over the last couple of days), I am considering cutting to interfacing on the straight of grain, as opposed to the bias.  Does this make sense?  Most of my references say to cut on the same grain as the fashion fabric, but there are some that say straight of grain can stabilize bias seams.

I’ve only recently returned to sewing and am a bit amazed at all of the choices and resources out there.  Overwhelmed, really.  I did sew up a hunt jacket that turned out well, but I used a Suitability pattern that had superb instructions.  Insert Slot A into Tab B, couldn’t really go too far wrong.  As much as I love this vintage pattern, the instructions are quite abbreviated.  I would appreciate the feedback from this group.

My SWAP board is attached, with the wardrobe pattern in the upper right hand corner.  I think I’m going to take the advice of some on this thread (SWAP II postings, I think) to stay with simpler pieces.   This probably means that the beautiful Donna Karan knit tops (V1961) will be substituted with some simpler tops, just so that I keep my sanity.  If anyone has sewn those patterns, I’d love to get feedback on their difficulty level, because I do love them. 

If anyone has worked on EvaDress SE50-1993, I would really like to hear from you!

I’m also thinking of dumping V2989 and using as my other dress a combination of the EvaDress SE50-1993 blouse and skirt, permanently sewn together.  Does that qualify for the SWAP? 

Regards,
Elle


[attachment deleted by admin]

[girl_in_bleue]

I sometimes walk along the corridor and some Dust/Thread/Fiber-tumbleweedlike thing is floating past me... But Hotelrooms  usually have carpets, so you wouldn´t notice this much. 

And someone else gets to vacuum it up! 

[Licarrit]

Elle, I might use the PP Light instead of medium. The light adheres better to textured fabric and shouldn't alter the hand of the boucle. You could always use the medium as the extra interfacing. Shannon Gifford uses this double layers and different kinds to great effect and gets better than RTW results.

[J Culshaw]

Someone has emailed me about the photo rule in SWAP this year.   Unfortunately, but understandably,  she thought I might have been referring to her when I put the rule about composite photos not being allowed.    I apologize, I never meant to single anyone out with reference to photos.

Here is the rule:
New rules regarding photos: in order to put everyone on an equal footing, one photo must be a photo of one garment or one outfit. Composite photos consisting of three photos will be counted as three photos, not as one. Participants are encouraged to submit a minimum of 6 photos and no more than 10. The final SWAP page will show no more than 6 photos per entry.


Last year, I did get a call from someone who mentioned  (not really complained, just noted)  that the composite photos ended up with some people having more photos, plus they look really good.  Those who don't know how to do that kind of presentation, would be left with their option of single photos.  
So I thought that, if we all could only use single photos,  that everyone would be on an equal footing.   I never intended to say that these changed the votes, although it is easy to see that good presentations are always received more favourably than ones that don't look quite as professional.  

Once again, I want to repeat, that SWAP is about making a coordinated wardrobe.   The finalists should be judged on that criteria alone, not on their level of skill, or their computer smarts,  but the winning five should show garments that are coordinated beautifully in pattern, colour, texture.   The purpose of SWAP is to encourage sewers to make lovely clothes that will get worn,  that can be combined into outfits easily.    The more striking and pleasing those outfits are,  the better the plan has worked.  

I don't want to discourage anyone here.   The efforts made by all are incredible, and I wouldn't want anyone to feel they had been slapped on the wrist for something they did or did not do.   This contest should really be called SWAP support group, because the goal is to cheer each other on in our sewing efforts.    I apologize to anyone who felt they had been criticized by my comments.     Julie

http://www.timmelfabrics.com/swap.htm

[RuthieK]

Julie, lots of us used those composite photos last year though some were of a better standard than others :-)
I never saw it as particularly targeting one person.
Can we still have a single shot of the whole wardrobe as long as the garments are all physically there?
Ie can I wear one outfit, hang the other items on a rail behind me and get hubby to take a photo of me plus rail?

[J Culshaw]

Ruthie, your suggestion of one photo showing all the garments is an excellent one and I hope that everyone will do that.    It shows the coordination much better than several photos.    Julie

http://www.timmelfabrics.com/swap.htm

[hawkemorningstar]

Ruthie, I love your idea of hanging all your garments together. I have seem such shots in BWOF hanging on arail eg in Jan 07 edition.

See how beautifully they co-ordinate together !
I for one would much rather work on getting a photo like that than spending hours on computer working on a composite..I am so computer illiterate..tried the paint version to make a storyboard to no avail I would much rather spend all that time sewing.
BUT
 I do want to be able to show how beautifully everything goes with everything..I am working so hard trying to acheive that..trick is how to take  a great picture, may need to look into getting a rail too !!

[Marji]

If I recall correctly, last year one requirement was that the whole 11 garments be photographed together in one shot, to show the coordination (same light etc). I know that some did use the photoshop editor to put all in one picture, but for the most part, if you look at the photos from last year, every entry has one composite photo with all 11 garments.
Makes perfect sense that all 11 should appear together as a whole collection in one photo.
And Julie, I went back and looked, and I'm also one who used mulitple views of photos in composite layouts to achieve the requisite 6 photos, although my skill with photoediting leaves a lot to be desired. Anyway, I didn't take it personally, and I don't really think that it came across that you were singling out anyone in particular.

[J Culshaw]

Thanks for the kind posts, Marji and Ruthie.   And Hawkemorningstar,  what a gorgeous example of a great photo.   
I think these might be close to your colours, are they not?   
That is a great photo to show what can be done by simple hanging of garments on a rail.   Then other photos can show some outfits, some details, etc.    Thanks for posting the picture.  Julie

http://www.timmelfabrics.com/swap.htm

[RuthieK]

Ooh that is a great photo isn't it, I will try and do something like that for mine.

I think the problem I had last year (and why I did not do a single shot with all the garments in) was finding some way to display them all and take the photo.
My house is quite small, and full of stuff, and every wall has pictures or doorways or a bookcase or something in the way of a shot.
So when I saw the garment rail on sale very inexpensively I picked it up, planning to use it for this sort of thing.
It dismantles down into a smallish box and doesn't take up much space like that. I might even assemble it near the sewing machine and hang the garments up as I complete them for the whole 'Designer Studio' feel!

Then my other photos can show the garments actually being worn in combination to show their mix-n-match-ability.
Anyway less posting more sewing my first garment (a very simple waistcoat (vest) is almost done!

[Elle]

Elle, I might use the PP Light instead of medium. The light adheres better to textured fabric and shouldn't alter the hand of the boucle. You could always use the medium as the extra interfacing. Shannon Gifford uses this double layers and different kinds to great effect and gets better than RTW results.

Lisette, thanks for your suggestion.  I haven't used this weight and will look into it. I was worried about whether the PP Medium (or any other fusible) would adhere to the back of the boucle, and I'm glad to hear that the PP Light adheres better to textured fabric.  Did you have any thoughts on cutting the interface on the straight of grain to stabilize the jacket, which is cut on the bias?

Elle

[marciae]

I received my Aust Stitches - Vol 15 No 7 yesterday.  Barbara Emoldi had a list of the top 10 wardrobe mistakes of a sewer.  I won't go into detail but want to list the 10 - as I think some of it is useful in preparing/planning the SWAP.
1) Wearing the wrong colour  2) Sewing and wearing garments that are too big  3) Not wearing what we sew  4) Not accessorising  5)  Putting all of our money into fabric and not enough into ourselves  6) mixing day and evening wear  7) spending all of our time sewing and not enough grooming  focusing on big projects and neglecting everyday cloths  9) neglecting undergarments  10) not investing enough time in fit.

Under #8 she said "Time to make a dog-walking, floor-washing outfit I guess."
Her further info under 6 makes sense - However, I do mix a bit - how else will I use all the glitzy fabric??

[Licarrit]

Elle, I might fuse the body on the bias and the other areas on the straight grain but I would definitely make a test first. Fusing the body on the bias would keep the drape but the interfacing would not stretch as much as the boucle alone. I'm assuming you want the other areas to be a little more stable so they would get straight grain. There are other women on here though that have WAY more experience than me at this.

[KathrynT]

Speaking of photos, I have one giant piece of advice for all participants:  Allow plenty of time to take the photos!!!!  This was the most frustrating part for me last year.  My husband was busy working and the photos my kids took left a lot to be desired.  I tried to arrange all my clothes in an archway, but the hangers wouldn't co-operate and the sun was setting and ...  The only time DH had time to take photos was in the evening and the flash played havoc with the colours and I was going away the next day so they had to do.  After all that sewing effort I felt sabotaged by technology.

I think I've started my SWAP sewing.  I'm making work clothes and using black and egglplant wool crepe.  I've started the pants muslin which looks great from the front, but from the back - paused waiting for help from a sewing friend.  (Pants were a real downer - had to go back to sewing my new TNT shirt!)  For the tops, I've decided to keep sewing all the tops I have planned and then pick 6.  I've already got 4 1/2 I could use, (2 made late last year), but they are mostly summery.  So, no storyboard from me for a while.

[J Culshaw]

Good point, Kathryn, and easy to take lots of photos with digital cameras.   My sister is an excellent photographer and I have noticed that she takes about 20 photos to my every one.    That way, she can pick the best and she has many to choose from.   Whereas I feel that I am stuck with the one or two I took. 
Certainly taking some photos of outfits could be done as they are made,  but the one with all 11 garments would have to wait till the end.   When the time comes, we should post the tips that Threads had in an article about photographing clothing.     Julie

http://www.timmelfabrics.com

[Licarrit]

Opinions please!

I got the dark brown rayon jersey I ordered for the T shirt I was going to make, but I just don't thnk it is the  right color. I've put a purple lining in both the brown and smoked teal jackets and it looks great with both so do I go with the brown or make a shirt from the purple washed silk.
The fabrics in the middle are the basics in my SWAP

[hilda]

I like allof the fabrics you have there.  The lighter purple on the bottom stands out much more because it's brighter.  A brown top would go nicely with the windowpane plaid and the other fabrics as well.  Sometimes an unexpected color brings everything together - think of fabulous quilts you've seen and multicolored fabrics.

[girl_in_bleue]

I think both years I've SWAPped I've ended up laying the clothes out on the couch while wearing one outfit and sitting on the arm, then DH takes the picture. It's not the most professional look, but it's easy and low-tech and it gets all the clothes in one photo in the same light. It may not show the shape and details of individual garments but it shows how all the colors go together. Then I have a little more fun posing for the individual outfit shots.

I would recommend to newbies to just sew your hearts out and not worry about professional looking storyboards and photos. I think everyone pretty evenly looks at the garments rather than our digital skills.

[MaryOK]

Lisette, on my monitor, the two browns do not play well together.  I do not believe the two browns have the same undertone, and so they may not "wear" well together.  I vote for the purple top.

Hope this helps -- I've had the same disappointment with browns!

[Elle]

. . . . That is a great photo to show what can be done by simple hanging of garments on a rail.   Then other photos can show some outfits, some details, etc.    Thanks for posting the picture.  Julie

http://www.timmelfabrics.com/swap.htm

I can see that I'm going to have to finally pony up for some nice matching hangers.  It's shocking what my clothes are hanging on, now. A mixture of dry cleaners, Syms, what I "borrowed" from my mother 25 years ago, and a bunch of stuff I found in the attic when I moved in here 15 years ago. 

Elle

[Gailete]

I can't believe how far people seem to have gone with their SWAPs. My BIL asked me to make a quilt for his grandson for Christmas which kept me busy and then making other Christmas presents and then now I'm just coming out of a major arthritis flare-up. One thing I did manage to do the other day was make a list of all the sewing projects I need to do. It took half of a page and that was with writing SWAP once (which we all know equals 11 garments). I really doubt I'll be able to finish an official SWAP, but I'm going to be trying as my clothes are getting very worn out.

As to colors, I discovered something I'd never realized before (and I'm 52) but olive green looks okay on me and goes with all the pinks I like to wear. Somehow I think I will need to work that in. I do  have a stack of fabric and a stack of patterns and a closet that needs some help, so I will be making some easy to sew items and then I want to work more on well made classics that should serve me for years.

It is so nice after being sick for days and seeing a partially finished quilt laying waiting to be finished to find some friends who are actively sewing. The quilt was an old top that I had never put together, but since hubby made me a quilt frame for Christmas I had to try out pinning the layers together on the frame. No more on his hands and knees pinning my quilts for him!!! Now I have a quilt that is begging to be finished and then I can get to other projects.

Gail