Announcing: June Capsule Competition 2 (JCC2) - Rules and discussion thread

[ejvc]

After dipping my toe in the water to assess interest, I am happy to announce that I will once again be challenging all SG members to participate in the June Capsule Competition, which as its name implies, runs between the 1st and the 30th of June.  Planning may be done beforehand, and muslins, but no actual cutting/marking/sewing of fabric before June 1.

As last year, the goal is to create during the month of June a co-ordinated set of 4 garments and 1 accessory, ideally but not necessarily for a purpose (e.g., "beach wear"; "evening", "summer office wear", "surf championships").  One of the garments must be a top (shirt, jacket, camisole, vest, ie something worn on your top half) and one must be a "bottom" (skirt, shorts, trousers, skort).  All tops must co-ordinate with all bottoms and vice versa, and in general things that you could wear together should go together (ie if your entry is a jacket, two shirts, a skirt and a handbag, the jacket should go with the skirt and both the shirts, and you should be able to carry the handbag). You can of course have a dress, which fulfills the role of bottom and top, but if you do a dress, make sure you can wear it with something else in the capsule - a jacket or handbag or something -- otherwise what's the point? So if you do two dresses, they don't strictly have to go together (since you won't be wearing them together), but they should be tied into another item of the capsule -- much as if you had two shirts.  Accessories include all kind of non-garment items that you might wear or carry ordinarily: jewellery, handbags, scarves, shoes (come on! you can do it!), hats, gloves, you know what I'm talking about.

This year's twist: ONE of your items must be something languishing in your wardrobe for lack of anything to wear it with.  You bought a glen check pantsuit but the trousers wore out and you only have the jacket and nothing will go... An impulse buy of a spruce green wool purse (ahem) has never left the closet ... ah, those sequined shoes, sadly becalmed for lack of an opera coat and satin dress...  When you declare your decision to enter, or at least before the 1st of June, you need to post a picture of said Widow or Orphan for the rest of us and explain its sad history.

ALSO, you may include (in addition to your Orphan or Widow) ONE item (garment or accessory) which you have purchased or previously made. This Bonus Item could be the same as your Orphan or Widow (meaning you would have to make 4 items in June) or it could be different (meaning you would only have to make 3 items).

I will be providing a prize to the winner of $50 US in PayPal or bank transfer (if you live in the UK) or gift certificate (if I can buy it from the UK).  Anyone else who wishes to sweeten the pot for the other contestants may post to me and I will update the Honey Pot message; however it will be your responsibility to get the prize(s) to the winner(s).  Should you be considering donating all your stash or (you wouldn't, would you?) your Widow or Orphan, bear in mind that the winner/winners have the power to refuse your generous offers :-)

Pictures in progress can be shared on the discussion thread.  Final "entry" pictures and write up need to be posted to me at a later date, as will the rules for deciding winners.  My decision on rules is final.  Sponsors will not be able to vote, nor will you be able to vote for yourself this year.

Happy to clarify any other points that need it.

Happy sewing!

[ElaineMC]

Wow - interesting!!
I have tried very, very hard to eliminate all the orphans from my closet.  But, I really liked working on the JCC last year (June is when I can get a lot of sewing done - no classes!) so I'm trying to figure out what my starting point would be.

Some ideas:
1.  My brown shoes.  OK, I do wear these occasionally with 2 different outfits.  But, most of my wardrobe has a black base, so these don't get much use.  But, do I really want to expand a brown capsule??  No, I don't think so.
2. 

ah, those sequined shoes, sadly becalmed for lack of an opera coat and satin dress... 

   Yes, I really did have an impulse buy of sequined shoes down in Mexico a few years ago.  I'm worn them once.  They are grey/silver.  Very pretty.  Is the problem nothing to wear with them, or no place to wear them??
3.  Is there a piece of jewelry stuck in the bottom of my jewelry box that I can use?  Right now, that might be the most practical item to work around - that way I will wear what I make.  I would go look right now, but I'm supposed to grading final exams, and I might get "caught" by my sons.  (I always harass them about homework, and this is the one time of year I let them harass me.   Since I'm typing this, I guess letting them give me a hard time might be appropriate.)

Is using a piece of jewelry as my orphan within the spirit of the rules? 

-EMC

[Carla]

And some clarification for me, too, please: does the orphan have to go with each other item made?  That's not the way I'm reading this, but still... a tad confused, I suppose.  I am seriously considering the June CC.  I suspect it will take some kind of commitment of this sort to get me back to sewing for myself and I have a beautiful "orphan" nearly finished! 

[Morzel]

[...] create during the month of June a co-ordinated set of 4 garments and 1 accessory [...]. All tops must co-ordinate with all bottoms and vice versa, and in general things that you could wear together should go together [...].

This year's twist: ONE of your items must be something languishing in your wardrobe for lack of anything to wear it with. [...]

Carla: the way I read it, 5 things must be there in the end. One of those 5 must be something I own already. And this item (as all the others) must coordinate with whatever it is worn with. So a top must go with a bottom, but NOT with another top. Should you have a jacket in your ensemble, the top should also go with the jacket.

Of course, this is just the way I understood the rules...

[ejvc]

Hi, jewellery is OK as an orphan.  Elaine, I envy you for having no orphans in your closet!   Re brown shoes -- you could do a brown/black print maybe (animal print like leopard maybe?)

Carla, your orphan should go with the other elements of your capsule insofar as you would wear them together.

[zora]

That orphan garment is a real problem for me. I don't think I own any orphan clothes. 
Looks like I won't be able to participate in this capsule

[Marji]

oh Elizabeth, I'm going to do this! 
And, I'm going to use the same plan with the same fabrics as I put in place last year, only this year I'm going to make it.
Since I only had three garments, I'm adding a pair of linen pants to the mix, since EOS just put up some cross-dye woven linens and she's got one in orange/pink.
For my orphan, I have a hot-pink BCBG handbag that I bought two years ago, yet have never even unwrapped it from the flannel bag it came with.

It's going to be my "Mother of the Groom, the second time" Capsule. My youngest son got married last fall, my eldest is getting married this fall. I've got a shower to go to in July - I'll wear one of the dresses with a jacket to that. Then I'm hosting the rehearsal dinner, and I'll wear the other dress with the jacket then. And, I'll wear the pants/jacket combo while up helping with all the last minute details the week of the wedding.

I'm going to add to the prize pool too - I'll PM you. I think I'll add a book from my rather extensive sewing library, or I'll give you a choice of a few other things. I'm rapidly dismantling and this is as good a place as any to find a good home for some of my sewing stuff.

[ejvc]

OK, for those who can *honestly* say they don't have any orphans in their closet (of course we rely on the honour system), please take one little-worn item from your closet, and use it to branch off into a new direction.  That is, if your wardrobe is a perfectly co-ordinated system of black, white, grey and red, use the capsule to add a few colours that (for example) might be appropriate for a beachwear capsule, using a scarf as your orphan.  Or if you have mainly officewear, create an exercise capsule using your rarely-worn tennis shoes (trainers) as the base item.  Remember, this capsule can be for a defined purpose (say evening, beach, or gym) so it doesn't necessarily need to be a mix-and-match proposal with the rest of your wardrobe. I hope that helps those who want to participate.  Little-worn jewellery is also an appropriate jumping-off point.

Elizabeth

[zora]

OK, for those who can *honestly* say they don't have any orphans in their closet (of course we rely on the honour system), please take one little-worn item from your closet, and use it to branch off into a new direction.  

Thanks 
I do have some little worn items. I'm a jeans and t-shirt girl with a soft spot for bright colours and I'm in desperate need of some officewear. I'll take brown as a basic colour. I have enough dark brown fabric for pants and a matching jacket. I even have an idea what patterns I want to use.
Back to my closet now to look for something little worn 

[RuthieK]

I was sorta planning on expanding the SWAP with the JCC until I read the rules. I can't see a whole SWAP which mixes in with 1/2 my wardrobe sneaking in as an orphan.
However it did give me a good thought which is that I have a very pretty beaded cardigan in a dark burgundy wine colour.
It has survived multiple wardrobe culls because it is lovely, but I don't have a great deal to wear with it.
It would be a great branching out point for a capsule.
Sadly my capsule concept is likely to be 'going to the office/working from home' as I seem to spend a large chunk of my life on this!

With the cardigan I would want at least one bright coral top with a fairly high neckline that would show at the scoop neck of the cardi when it is buttoned, some wide leg pants, and then the other pieces yet to be decided.
I did a terrible berry tones SWAP as my first every attempt at a capsule, but it does mean some co-ordinating fabrics are in the stash :-)
(see Terrible Berry Collection - attached)

[LauraTS]

Sounds like a very cool idea. I have a RTW shirtwaist dress that I rarely wear, and I was pondering turning it into a separate skirt and top. Would that work for my orphan item, or would that eventually count as two pieces?

[kbenco]

I need some help with my singletons. 
I have been purging the wardrobe post SWAP, so this is an excellent challenge for me. I have some Widows that have been lurking about for a while taking up valuable space.
I am inclined to think I should dispose of this jacket as it seems horribly unflattering in shape and length, and probably dated in style? I do like the fabric. I bought this to wear with a black skirt to my MIL's 60th birthday. It has been unworn for a considerable time, but I do not seem able to get rid of it.Possibly this is due to sticker shock at the time of purchase - a lingering after effect? Do you think I could fix it? (I will be throwing out these trousers after work today. They are truly awful - and I have never worn them with the jacket, so already know they do not co-ordinate)



My other Widow, or perhaps this is an Orphan.


I bought this whilst shopping with my sister. It is hard to see in the photo but it is a grey lace wrap top with taupe lace trim. I wore it initially with some of my sister's clothes, to a party, and I really love it, but my sister likes to keep her own clothes for some reason, and she lives around 2500km away from me. I did have a linen skirt to wear with it,but it was not a perfect match, and has since passed away to the rag bag. Does this look like a possibility? What could I wear with it?
Karen

[MaryPat]

Karen,I love the fabric on your jacket. I had a RTW jacket that fit like that (long, long ago when I was slimmer so no photos). It pulled at the button because my backside needed more room. I ended up putting a button hole in the other side and joining two buttons at the shank with elasic thread. I had more ease with a bit of give. I also shortened mine and made the sleeves 3/4 length as well. I have arms of simian proportions so that one might not be necessary for you. It was cute amd much more wearable after that.
As for your top- what clothes of your sister's did you wear with it? Could that be a guideline for now or would it be dated?

Also- I am in for JCC again this year.

[sdBev]

..I am inclined to think I should dispose of this jacket as it seems horribly unflattering in shape and length, and probably dated in style? I do like the fabric. ...

Karen

Did you consider recutting it into a vest?  I too love the patterning, but the front would not be a good look on me.

[Lisanne]

karen  -  would taking the shoulder pads out help with the fit of the jacket ?

[ejvc]

Karen, I think you should dispose of the jacket.  The top, on the other hand, is gorgeous and sounds like it has great potential to go with a lot of things.  Can't you wear it with your new Marlene's or with your jeans?

[Karendee]

Karen,

I would remake the jacket (shorten hem and sleeves) etc and wear the blouse with dressier slacks, skirts, and your new jeans with high heels at long earrings out to dinner or an event. You would be so snazzy.

A lady on PR. just won the remaking contest with a similar jacket. She completely recut a trendy jacket out of her fabric by using a pattern that had small pattern pieces. This was not the exact contest name , but it meant reuse/remake etc. Her final project was amazing.
Karen

[kbenco]

Thanks! I am tempted to cut up the jacket immediately, but will hold out until June1. It can sit on my UFO pile instead of in my wardrobe.
I originally wore the wrap lace top over a spaghetti strap, low cut dress of my sister's - not my usual style, but felt quite OK with the top. I am thinking of making a more restrained dress to wear underneath. I guess I could wear it with my Marlene pants, but they are for work, and I tend to keep work clothes separate from going out clothes - there is an earnest sort of professional aura about work clothes that is restrictive in social outings (I know, strange mind!). Thank you for the ideas.
Karen
ETA off to pattern review (thanks Karendee) to look at jackets with tiny pattern pieces.

[Liana]

Karen,  I immediately thought vest from your jacket, with a shortened hemline.  Love the fabric.  Also, just a heads-up, but in my experience, Marfy jackets have the smallest pieces.  I'm consistently amazed at how little fabric they say you need, and even after my FBA alterations, they really don't take much. 

I love your lace top, too, and am also wondering what your sister had that looked so good with it?  Can't you copy whatever it was? 

[Janis]

Karen,

There is some gorgeous ivory 4 ply silk at fashion fabrics club that would look lovely with the lace top done up in a Marlene-type pant.  Just a thought.  Here it is:

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/search/search.aspx?source=searchbox&keywords=4+ply+silk

Oh yeah, it's pricey.  They have a bunch of colors, too.

[Sewingagain]

This sounds like the kick start I need to get my travel capsule done in time for a June trip (late).  I'm still waiting for patterns to arrive and I don't have all my fabric yet.  I have two baby quilts and another charity quilt to finish this month so I can be ready to start sewing at the beginning of the month.  At least I've started on the planning and I'm thinking the HP sunshine top will be one piece for sure.  I hope you ladies are happy.  Now I won't get any sleep tonight - I'll be rewriting and changing my packing list AGAIN.  Thanks for the inspiration.    

[ejvc]

Karen, maybe you need an evening capsule with the lace top as your orphan.  Ivory silk trousers, a lovely lacy knitted shawl as your accessory, an evening jacket and a dress.  Sure, you should be able to knock those out in an hour or two.  .

Elizabeth

[kbenco]

That sounds like a delightful wardrobe for my fantasy life  . I will think about it this evening whilst I mend my son's trousers and fold the washing.  Although as I have just spent an hour looking at fashionfabrics club (Thanks for the link Janis, I enjoyed it!) I may not get very far.
Karen

[JennyAnne]

Karen,
I'm jumping on the wagon to say the lace top is really pretty - start with that!

I really loved doing the SWAP, so I'm thinking I want to join up, but I'm also thinking maybe I'm crazy.  My baby's due in three weeks, so he could come out at any time.  Sewing is my sanity-saving time, though, so I figure I'll need it even more when the second kid comes along anyway.  We'll see.  I think it's unlikely that I'll finish, but I'm going to go inspect my closet for a suitable orphan or forgotten item that will coordinate with fabric already in my stash.  I'm thinking maybe a scarf or belt - I have a tendency to buy those with no outfit in mind.  I have to admit I have so many clothes that I probably don't have any true orphans, but I definitely have forgotten things that could be given new life.

[JenSA]

After not finishing SWAP due to a move, I'm really tempted to do the JCC. It'll be motivation to get my sewing stuff organized and my room set up, but I know I'll have to finish the rest of the house first.

My hubbie's new job requires attendance at many formal functions and I desperately need things to wear....there's only so many ways to accessorize one thing. So I was thinking of making a capsule for the Christmas dinner season. Better to start now and actually have a choice of things to wear. As far as orphans, I have a beautiful antique 3-strand pearl necklace given to me by my MIL. I've never worn it, as it's too smart for church or dates, but I really love it and want something to show it off beautifully. I also have my wedding shoes, ivory beaded strappy heels, which I love and have never worn again, because I just don't have anything to go with them.

So those are the options. I will work my butt off to get my house finished and my sewing organized and hopefully I can join.

[RuthieK]

Jen, I have a 3-strand pearl necklace in my case inherited from my late grandmother. I have never worn it becuase I don't know what to wear it with.
I would love to see what you do with your Christmas dinner season outfits

[JennyAnne]

JenSA,
That's so fun that you'll get to go out a lot and dress up.  I know a lot of ladies (me included) would love that.

I think I've made up my plan - and all from my stash.  We'll see how much gets executed.

Here's my unworn item, the accessory, a pair of shoes I bought back in college.  I wear these occasionally - like once a year - but I think they're cute enough to warrant more time out and about.


Next, here's a piece from my closet, a recently completed purple knit wrap top.


I want to sew a skirt from this printed cotton with a flounce at the hem, so I want to merge these two patterns - use the skirt from the dress pattern (view C) but use the waist shaping on the skirt pattern.


For another bottom option with the purple top, I plan to make some simple capris out of this tropical wool.  I made this pattern once before, and the fit was great, but I decided I didn't like the material I had used at all.  I haven't checked if I have enough material for these pants, though, so this item might change.


Finally, I've been wanting to make this top in a dress form for a while.  This will be the hardest to fit well and will require quite a bit of planning to make it a dress, so I'm not sure this will be complete in June.  The fabric is yellow linen with an interesting texture.

[kbenco]

Jenny that sounds like a fabulous plan. Re the Today's Fit pattern - have you made one before? I ask because I did not realize how different the Today's fit sloper is from the usual Vogue pattern before making a blouse, and found that for me, the smallest size was not only overall too big, but had a forward shoulder, low bust, extra room at the waist and maybe some other alterations already built in, all of which I had to reverse before doing my usual alterations. You look velry svelte in your SWAP photos (whilst pregnant! where is the green with envy emoticon?) so I have a feeling you would be making even more alterations. It is such a cute pattern though - maybe it would be worth it.

[kitnrose]

I think I'm in and I'm planning on making this part of my fall capsule - thanks to encouragement from the wardrobe thread and the recent SWAP I'm trying to do 4-6 piece capsules for each season.  So we'll see.

I've got a couple super-cute brown shoes in my closet that just don't get worn as ALL my neutrals are black.  However I'm clearly an autumn so I should get more brown in there and all my complementing colors go well with brown so might as well spice it up a bit.  So my orphans are shoes.

I need a skirt, at the least, and a button up top so I've gotten that far on planning ... We'll see where this winds up. 

And Jenny, I LOVE that purple wrap top!

[Janis]

I just made Sandra Betzina's wrap top and found that the smallest size still had shoulders that were too wide.  Even though I do have very narrow shoulders, I was amazed!  I love the top and her instructions are great.  I'll just need to take in at the shoulders in the future.  But I do agree with Kbenco that the sizing is very different.

[ElaineMC]

Karen, maybe you need an evening capsule with the lace top as your orphan.  Ivory silk trousers, a lovely lacy knitted shawl as your accessory, an evening jacket and a dress.  Sure, you should be able to knock those out in an hour or two.  .

Elizabeth

Maybe we could share the wardrobe & my sequined shoes??   

I found the orphan I want to use:  A lavender & white floral scarf.  I love scarfs, and was surprised I've never worn it. But, after thinking about it, the lavender doesn't really go with my jewel tone purples. 

I have a plan for a jacket, pants, and two white blouses.  All will get lots of wear, and all fabric coming from my stash.  I'll try to get some pictures in the next few days (before we leave on vacation, and I'm offline for a week).

-EMC

[JennyAnne]

Kbenco and Janis,
Thanks for the info on Sandra Betzina patterns.  I've never sewn one before - just thought this one was cool and unique.  Since I'm making it a dress anyway, I'll compare more measurements to a simple sheath pattern I'll need anyway.  That should hopefully help with the shoulders and all-over largeness.  The bust might still be a little wonky to fit, though, with all those decorative seams.  Probably need to make a muslin (yuck!).  I know I could do that before June, but it wouldn't help too much since I'm still carrying this baby around for a few more weeks.  I guess it would help with bust placement (although we know even that shifts quite a bit after delivery)...

Kitnrose, thanks!  There's some info on the morphed pattern I used to make the top on my blog, as well as a photo of me trying to wear it:  http://knitting-jenny.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-ive-been-working-on.html  I'm hoping to work more brown into my fall wardrobe, too, so I'm anxious to see all your colors! 

[Karendee]

I'm still in the thought process stage for JCC2, but I do plan to participate. My orphans are falling out of the closet; I'll make a decision on which one to rescue. Thanks for planning this, Elizabeth.

Karen

[Janis]

I'm still a little confused about the orphans.  I do have some orphans, but none that I want to add anything to.  I guess they are orphans because I don't really like them   Can I still participate in the JCC2?

[Beebeedee]

Well, I'm bereft. I thought I had my orphan all picked out, a pretty embroidered fitted purple shirt that was just a little tight for me (but I've lost weight so was hoping it'd fit now) and I can't find it!! I've obviously either lent it out, given it away or passed it to charity. Oh well. Back to the drawing board.

I've reorganised my wardrobe over the last few days and have found a couple of nice, barely worn tops that I'm considering working with. I've also realised that my skirts are never worn now that I work for myself, and most of those that I do have are way too short for me now that I'm getting on a bit (41). I therefore think that one of my new items will have to be a skirt, jsut to give me the option. I'll also make some trousers and a light jacket. My capsule will most likely be along the lines of "smart casual" - I've no need for anything else really.

I have a massive stash of Burdas from years ago, and am planning on using only patterns from these for my garments. I might allow myself to purchase a little new fabric but I intend this project to cost as little as possible so most fabric must come from my stash (fortunately I've got some nice stuff in there).

This is getting exciting!