Announcing: June Capsule Contest

[kiltsnquilts]

I haven't started on a storyboard yet but today I bought the most amazing silk, it is like a woven tweed a la Chanel!  I reall want to make a Chanel style jacket - by machine though!  I will quilt the lining to the main fabric, there were a couple of really good articles in recent Threads mags so I will use those for info.

I also have some beautiful silk homespun - a bit like a loosely woven linen to look at, in the most beautiful green!  My original plan was an aubergine capsule but now I have the green I am not so sure  The aubergine/purple pieces will also go with the silk jacket fabric so that is a definite    I am off to my sewing room to peruse my stash and make some decisions! 

Here is a photo of the silks, not sure how they will show up but will try 


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I have been practising in the Sandbox with the photos so hope it works!

[kiltsnquilts]

Try again! 

[kiltsnquilts]

Ooh, they are quite large!  The green silk homespun didn't show up well but it is a similar colour to the topmost green thread that is in the close up of the silk - chartreuse/pistachio type green.

[Zoubida]

Zoubida, your plan looks amazing!  I am in awe of people who can sew to couture level quickly.  Are you planning on using the couture colours?

Elizabeth

I don't think I can sew to couture level. As I said, I'll take inspiration from them rather and try to make an idea of them. The title on the storyboard says "Couture inspired spring". I wish I had the talent for making couture garement. But no, as I said in my precedent post, I'm not competent enough.

Couture colours ? I wasn't aware there was particular colours to couture. I'll print the story board and let it inspire me at the fabric store to find colours I like.

Karrol, I didn't know about SWAP being only used for Julie's event. My mistake, sorry. Well, quite an entry to this contest I'm making.

Zoubida

PS: Kiltsnquilts, this fabric is splendid !

[Carole]

I am inspired by those like you, Zoubida, who have found their patterns; and those like you, Kiltsnquilts, who have found their fabric already!  I only have my title, "Summer Sundae" and the colors, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.  And that's always subject to change....

[Karendee]

Kiltsnquilts,
Your fabric and idea for a Chanelesque jacket are wonderful. The green will go nicely.

Zoubida,
I'm really impressed with all the work you've done so far on the capsule. I thought all three couture garments were TDF; I especially loved the jacket with the embellishments. Would you mind posting the site for that jacket? I would love to have a picture of that jacket in my files for a later date. Again, congratulations for your vision and for joining your first contest; this JCC is my first contest, also. But as you know, we are all in this for the joy of stitching, friendships, and completion of a better wardrobe.

KarenD

[Robin]

Zoubida, I don't want to offend you, but you need to stop calling this a SWAP. It's not, dear. A SWAP (Sewing With a Plan) is an 11 piece wardrobe brought to us in concept and as a contest by Julie Timmel. This is a caspule of 4 pieces. Elizabeth is calling this June Capsule Contest.  I just don't want to see Julie's contest getting short shrift by us making a wrong reference.

 

I use the term SWAP all the time and I first learned about sewing with a plan way before I ever heard of Stichers Guild or the Timmel SWAP.
To my mind, SWAP is just an acronym, like a TNT or RTW.

[sewrose]

I'm in for the capsule contest (or sew-along for me) - maybe I'll even finish it. I will try although, like everyone else, there is a lot on my plate. The contests do give my sewing focus. Now I have to decide on the garments from my very long summer sewing list. Thanks for co-ordinating this!!
Rose

[Lisanne]

Elizabeth, many thanks for organising this, which is ideal for me.  And thanks also for the large commitment of time and resources that is needed.  And thanks to Ann for adding more delicious incentives.

Hurrah  -  I never ever wear black, look terrible in it.  Now, if the twist was no white I would be in trouble. . .

I can spend May as planned, getting my PMB pants sloper to fit.  I’m a slow sewer, and don’t do well under pressure, but even if I only make one item in June, and so am eligible to vote, I shall be delighted !  I'm quick at making grand plans, and doing the planning gives me a lot of pleasure, but the sewing is slower altogether.

Greetings to all, it's good to know this community will continue in action.
Lisanne

[Linda Dean]

Thanks Elizabeth for organizing the contest and thanks to Anne for adding prizes.  I promised myself that I would have new outfits to wear to the ASG Conference in July.  So this is perfect.  I was working on my plan last night and haven't made all the decisions.  I have been so busy at work that I haven't been to SG in over a week.  So it was nice to see the new contest.
Linda

[lesliek]

I've just also sent a PM to say "count me in".  My Timmel SWAP just didn't work out--putting 11 items together was so much more difficult than I'd imagined.  But 4 sounds pretty do-able.  I hope I'll learn to post pictures, too.

Thanks for organizing this!  and prizes, too!

[NancyK]

Zoubeda, Your plan looks great.  I can't wait to see how it turns out. 

[Marji]

Zoubida, I love your style.
My Style.com lookbook is filled with similar runway looks. Now if I could only carry that off in my everyday life - it'd be grand (wouldn't it though?)

My fabrics for this capsule:


Silk linen in fuschia for jacket
silk jacquard dupioni for dress? Skirt and top?
silk chiffon burnout for dress? Skirt and bias top?

you can see that I've only gotten so far in my planning!
And yes, my friends, it's all STASH fabric. The oldest piece here is from 2001, the most recent purchase was the chiffon from Dec 2006 when Winstons was having their Store Closing sale.

[Melinda_B]

Marji, that fabric is stunning!!!!

[Zoubida]

Karendee, all three outfits are from Valentino collections (I thought the coat was from Elie Saab collection but I was mistaking). Here is the links to Style.com where I found the pictures. I will add credit to my storyboard, I forgot to do that yesterday.

Valentino Spring 2008 Couture Collection The embellished jacket and dress are on page 2.

Valentino Fall 2007 Couture Collection The coat is on page 1, along with the second outfit.

If you don't know Style.com, you're in for a very nice moment navigating through all the RTW and Couture collections.

Thank you for your nice words about my plans Ladies. I can't wait myself to see what participating to a contest will do to my sewing results. I hope I'll finish, that's my goal for now, organizing my time and work so I can finish (which explains the haste of coming up with a plan). I'm relieved we can cut and fit in advance otherwise I don't think I would be able to do it.

Zoubida

[Zoubida]

Marji, these fabrics are just outstanding. They look lush and hot! Orange is my all time favorite colour.  I have a pumpkin orange coat I made in 1996 and I'm still wearing it every automn.

I'm a Style.com fervent visitor too.  and like you, I collect pictures to dream on. I'll probably use fabrics which will make the outfits I chose for inspiration more "office-friendly" though.  Over dressing is as bad as under dressing at the office.

Zoubida

[LauraTS]

Love your fabrics Marji! I'm sure you'll come up with something stunning.

After some stash browsing, I came up with some choc. brown linen with a teal pinstripe, and some teal shirting and knit jersey. I think they might make a good capsule - pants or capris out of the linen, a top out of the shirting, and a dress out of the jersey, I'm thinking...

[peachykeeeeen]

Marji - those fabrics are absolutely STUNNING!!! I love fuschia and orange (they were my wedding colors!!!!) but I've never been able to pull off wearing it from head to toe - I am absolutely envious of those who can.

I'm rethinking using my tan jacket for my capsule. I love it and I got a lot of compliments when I wore it today, but I'm thinking I want to make something a little bit more fun and interesting for my capsule than jeans, a tan jacket and white shirts (that's about as boring as black!!!) and I think I want to challenge myself a little more and try to make everything during the time period.

So, back to the drawing board. I have some ideas percolating and we'll see what happens. I need to go back through my stash and see if I can find something that inspires me.

[MargoH]

I  would like to enter, since I need to make a few items for my June holiday. I prettty well have my patterns and fabrics sorted out--an extension of my SWAP colours.--Elizabeth i sent you a private message--hope you received it..?. Thanks for sponsoring another exciting contest--it is very generous of you to put up the prize money, but I'm sure most of us are entering for the sheer fun of the challenge..Are we going to post our story boards for this contest?--M

[kiltsnquilts]

Zoubida and Marji - yum, yum, yum!  Delicious fabrics and ideas!!

Zoubida, don't be embarassed, I am also new to SG and Julie's SWAP, but i had read about it in the Australian Stitches Magazine and Lynne Cook called her article Sewing With A Plan - which is where the abbreviation comes from    Even though we are taking part in the June Capsule Contest, we are all still SWAP sewing as we have definited plans before we start - IMO.

I have been re-reading some previous posts on the fabric board about what to do with my silk - Marji I think you had some info on the board.  this weekend I plan to steam my silk tweed before I do anything with it.  I had tried to hand wash a small sample before I read any info and it shrunk! I wasn't too surprised but also wasn't sure how to pre-treat it.  It does have a bit of a chemical smell but I will hope for a dry windy day and peg it outside in the hope that the smell will disappear. Should I have the yardage professionally dry cleaned and steamed before I use it? 

I'm relieved we can cut and fit in advance otherwise I don't think I would be able to do it.

Can I just clarify that this would just be muslins and not the real thing?  Zoubida, I am not sure if you have misunderstood but would hate for you to start too soon and not be eligible to enter    Like others, I am glad of the motivation rather than the prizes but thanks to Anne and Elizabeth for their generosity 

[Zoubida]

kiltsnquilts, thank you. I was under the impression, like you and Robin, that the acronym SWAP is used to describe exactly the words it represents and knew (through Julie's site) it was coined by the australian magazine which brought to light the whole idea and concept. Just yesterday I read a blog entry titled "Summer SWAP Progress" and was puzzled. I know Julie didn't organize a summer SWAP. The sewist used the acronym to refer to her plans for a summer wardrobe she plans to sew. As simple as as that. Oh well... I didn't want to offend Julie, that's for sure. I'll be more attentive now to the use of this acronym.

About silk, I wash my 100% RTW silk garements by hand in cold water and lay flat to drip dry. I do that even when the label says "professionnal cleaning only". I never had a problem with shrinking. But there are so many different sliks out there, may be yours don't stand water at all. Did you hand wash with cold water ? If yes, I would definetly have the yardage professionnally cleaned. I don't think I would take the risk to steam it since silk is more delicate than wool. One thing is certain, don't wear it directly on your skin with the chemicals still on. That stuff is nasty.

About muslins, see I didn't know that too. I thought we were allowed to fit (paper pattern fit with pins) but not to the extend of making a test-drive with a muslin. So many thanks for this piece of information kiltsnquilts. It certainly will help with the fitted dresses I plan to make and for which I don't have a TNT.

Zoubida

[kiltsnquilts]

About silk, I wash my 100% RTW silk garements by hand in cold water and lay flat to drip dry. I do that even when the label says "professionnal cleaning only". I never had a problem with shrinking. But there are so many different sliks out there, may be yours don't stand water at all. Did you hand wash with cold water ? If yes, I would definetly have the yardage professionnally cleaned. I don't think I would take the risk to steam it since silk is more delicate than wool. One thing is certain, don't wear it directly on your skin with the chemicals still on. That stuff is nasty.

I did wash my small sample in cool water, it does look quite different from the original piece so I am concerned about pre-treating it.  I didn't realise that steam could damage it.  I plan to line it anyway so it won't be against my skin, maybe I will get it dry cleaned to get rid of any chemicals - when I bought it the sales woman said that sometimes fabrics coming into NZ are sprayed - not sure what with or why 

Making muslins is a great way to perfect fit of a garment before the 'real thing'!  I plan to make a muslin (hopefully a wearable one  ) of my Chanel jacket and also my pants.  Better get a move on 

[Melinda_B]

I took it to mean that we could make muslins to check fit etc, I sure hope so as I am intending to start fitting a trouser pattern this weekend and I plan to make at least one pair in the next week or so (NOT part of the JCC!) as I need them for work, and then use the adjusted, well-fiiting pattern for the JCC.  I really don't see the point of not being able to fit beforehand, as it would give a huge advantage to those who have TNT patterns.  I don't have any TNT although I will have by June! 

In fact, wasn't it in the original rules that one garment could be made beforehand???

[Susinok]

I joined the June Capsule, too. Right now I am supposed to be working on the Mini Wardrobe for the May sew-along on PR. I hope to get the May one done since it'll be summer fabrics and colors. I need to come up with something for June. I need some more skirts and dresses for summer, so I will start out by looking at the skirt fabrics in my stash.

Though I also have some celery twill that needs to become pants. I'm hopeless. I am in desparate need for tops and I think and sew bottoms. Sigh. Hopeless...

Tops are not difficult for me to sew. That doesn't seem to be the problem. I think it's the fabrics. I love georgette and charmeuse fabrics but I hate to sew that slick, slickery material, plus I'm very inexperienced with knits. The only tops I've made recently were out of quilting cottons, which are fine but very limited in a way. Plus I'm not that fond of wearing cotton shirts. I prefer silk blouses, etc., for work.

I'm hopeless. Maybe I'll do one bottom and three tops to MAKE myself do tops! There's an idea!

[BeeBee]

I think that other than the one item that can be sewn before June, that you can't cut into your fabric prior to June 1.  You can prep fabric and patterns.  Use your pattern to make other items, including muslins.  Just not cut your fashion or lining fabric.

[ejvc]

I think that other than the one item that can be sewn before June, that you can't cut into your fabric prior to June 1.  You can prep fabric and patterns.  Use your pattern to make other items, including muslins.  Just not cut your fashion or lining fabric.

Yep, that's how I see it. 

Susinok - re georgette and charmeuse, the thing you have to do, in my experience, is hand-baste.  It's no good pinning and assuming things will go well. Silk tops are lovely, I agree.  You should have some.

[Lee K]

This is so nice, to have the structure and time limit of a contest to do what I should to be doing, anyway. I've PM'd Elizabeth to join; now to do some planning. Thanks to Elizabeth for the idea and offer of a prize, and to Ann for her prize offer.

I have three or four possible groupings chosen from the stash, and I really need summer clothes. Navy/lime or taupe/aqua or dark olive/? or  grey-blue/ pale yellow? I could make a capsule of trial versions this month, and the real thing next.

Lee

[ElaineMC]

I could make a capsule of trial versions this month, and the real thing next.
Lee

And use black for the trial versions!

-EMC

[Robin]

I am going to use these fabrics:


I will sew the navy pants sooner, and save the other 3 for June.

Marji, your fabrics are making me hyper-ventilate!  So utterly gorgeous!
I'll be sewing casual clothes suitable for work.

Kiltsnquilts I love your jacket fabric, too!

I am really pleased to roll right into another organized sew-along.  It is such a pleasure to do this as part of a group!!
Can't wait to go back a read all the posts more carefully.
And I am SO happy to see many new posters joining in.
A hearty welcome to you all!!!
 

[Karendee]

Zoubida,

Thanks for the links for the beautiful clothing. Ii want to print out the white jacket and keep it for reference. Concerning the terminology to SWAP, I think no one needs to censor their terminology so closely , since the point is encouragement, not discouragement. I'm sure the statement didn't even register with Julie as a negative one; it certainly wasn't negative to me. Enough said--welcome!

And welcome to all of you that are participating in JCC. Robin and Marji have beautiful fabrics displayed; Zoubida has wonderful couture clothing as inspiration. Kilts has some luscious silk tweed that she's trying to pretreat, and I'm waiting on brown linen from Michaels (40% off.) We'll have a wonderful month helping each other through the making of a better wardrobe.

KarenD

[Karrol]

To Zoubida and all:
My apologies -I believe that my comment to you, Zoubida, was misunderstood. My comment was only to differentiate this contest from the "SWAP" contest, just as the "wardrobe" contest on PR needed to be called something else when the "SWAP" contest here was Julie's baby. There was a big hullabaloo over that one, if you remember, and I was just attempting to make sure we don't step on any toes again. We meaning all of us as a group, not just you, Z.

I don't think it matters what we call our sewing at home or in conversation, and I am absolutely a huge fan of planning a wardrobe, sewing with a plan and working in capsules, as you'll have seen in some of my posts on other topics of this nature. Just when we're in a contest setting on this or another bulletin board, I think we should be clear. SWAP is Julie Timmel's contest, sewing with a plan is conversation. I wasn't trying to be mean or negative or condescending in any way, and I said so quite specifically, Z, when I wrote the post.  So can we just let it go and get on with the capsule planning? 


eta: apologies specifically to Zoubida. Peace. 

[Karendee]

Karrol,

Thank you for the clarification on your post. Many of us were not members when the other situation was discussed, so we lack the history  concerning wardrobe planning.  Yes, we are all excited a bout the planning of our capsules; I love to read all the plans and fabrics that are being considered. I'm sure that those of us that are new to planning and producing a workable group of clothing will benefit from those of you who are old hands at these contests.

Thanks again,
KarenD

[kiltsnquilts]

I second what KarenD wrote - at the end of the day it doesn't really matter what we call it as long as we all benefit from the wisdom and experience of others who have entered/completed previous contests/sew-alongs etc. 

I have a morning off today and have to decide between housework and sewing - hard decision huh?    I plan a quick  trip to Spotlight and Fabric Barn to see if I can find a satin/silk lining for my Chanel type jacket.  Along with the green silk homespun I have a beautiful fine purple/aubergine silk I bought to make a blouse and a loose weave two tone denim that looks like linen - I think the woven colours are navy and red and the finished result is a dark purple/aubergine colour.  That would be 4 items - pants from the denim, skirt from the green silk (although I have 4.5 metres so enough to make another item), jacket from the silk tweed and shirt from the purple silk.  I may see if I can get more of the purple silk for lining but not sure if it is 'slippery' enough - it is quite sueded so possibly not suitable.

Not sure what my accessory will be but I have just bought a lovely necklace that consists of two strands of natural pearls in green/bronze colours and goes perfectly with my tweed - not your traditional Coco Chanel pearls but my own twist    That could be my bought item and I may start the jacket earlier which would be my item made before June.

Amazing how this contest has focused my mind 

[vtmartha]

I second what KarenD wrote - at the end of the day it doesn't really matter what we call it as long as we all benefit from the wisdom and experience of others who have entered/completed previous contests/sew-alongs etc. 

And I second what Karol said  .  Trust me, you don't want to go there - it's like blowing your nose into a tissue vs a Kleenex.

[Zoubida]

Peace. 

LOL ! Perfect emoticon Karrol.