Six-piece autumn collection sew-along

[Rosemary]

I finally got around to taking pictures.
My wardrobe is more transitional, with fairly light fabrics. I intended it to fill in some of the gaps in my wardrobe and to have some pieces that would travel well in a suitcase.
The bathing suit, Divine Drape, fabric from Lucy's, my first internet purchase.


etc: substituted image url for page address url 

[marciae]

great swim suit!!  I like the fabric.

[Susan in Saint John]

I have nearly finished a very nice cream wool jersey top.  I'm a bit stumped on the hem as it keeps tunnelling with my twin needle and I don't like the way the sleeves have turned out so far, but I have a plan to fix them. Elizabeth

Have you tried woolly nylon (a serger thread) hand wound on your bobbin?  Is your twin needle too wide?  i.e., would a narrower one work better?  Have you reduced your top thread tension?  Sometimes I use steam-a-seam 2 to hold the hem in place while I double needle stitch it.  Good luck!

[Susan in Saint John]

Here's my completed jacket. It still needs a button but I think I am going to cover one with leftover fabric as none of the other options I tried really sang.

A covered button could be embellished with some sort of decorative stitching.  Sometimes you find button forms that have a metal ring around them.  Or, you could consider this button a shopping opportunity!

[RuthieK]

jacket and skirt both finally finished, though only hanger shots

http://ruthieksews1.blogspot.com/2009/11/stuff-finished.html

[Rosemary]

2nd piece of my travel wardrobe, Jalie cross over, details on my blog.    I don't know where the photo is hiding. I'll go back to the sandbox.

[Rosemary]

Here is the third piece Kwik sew, basic T.

[JenSA]

Rosemary - Nice tops, but I especially love the bathing suit, a very special addition to your wardrobe.

[RuthieK]

Rosemary, I love your swimsuit. Wow fancy making your own swimsuit I am really impressed!

The tops are really nice too. I love that Jalie crossover top pattern, but I cut the band in one piece and have it go around the back neck as well and that does keep the neckline laying snugger (I ease it as I sew and that helps it lie flat to the body).

[ejvc]

Ruthie, just see on your blog how fabulous the navy skirt looks with the lime top and teal jacket!  wow!  You are going to be a stunner in that combo!

Rosemary, what's happening is that you're giving the link to your Flickr page instead of to the photo.  You need to go to "all sizes" and then right-click or control-click (for Mac) to find "properties" where you can get the address of the photo, which ends in .jpg -- hope that helps.  The swimsuit looks fabulous!  I'm with Ruthie - wow.

Elizabeth

PS Ruthie no you haven't seen the shirt here or on my blog, as I haven't photographed it.  Thanks for the suggestions on the hem, everyone, I am inspired to tackle it again.

PPS Winter sew-along (6-PWC??? Winter 6-PAC?)  starts in a couple of weeks, running Dec-Jan-Feb.  But I'm NOT FINISHED yet.

[Rosemary]

The Kwik Sew top in lace.my photo

[Rosemary]

Thanks for the kind comments on my new clothes. I think that I have made at least 5 bathing suits for me over the past couple of decades.
The Jalie top,Jalie

I did write about it on my blog.

[marciae]

Rosemary - great tops - I love our choice of fabrics.  I like print fabrics - - just not on me!!

[boppingbeth]

Ok, I'm totally joining this late, but I am game.

I need some pants, and I need to sew my stash.
Base colours: Black, deep grey,
Accents of deep grey plum, and rose, and white. 
This may morph into a full swap style thing (will see).

So far:
Black stretch embroidered denim pants (done!)
Deep grey plum pants. (done)
Deep grey plum jacket--princess line, center tie with lapels, self drafted (kind of 70's vintage, but morphed onto my current tnt pattern) to match the pants.  This will give me a pants suit. 

I already own a dusty plum pleated neck tshirt that will go with the plum pants, and the black pants.

Tops:
Shirt: neat, almost vintage blue/cream/white/yellow French flowers print shirt.
Dusty rose knit simplicity knot shirt, with 3/4 sleeves.
White shell (lined; the fabric has sequins and other assorted fun stuff).
White 'knit sweater' (unlined) from same fabric as shell.

[RuthieK]

Cool, we are finishing the Autumn one next Monday, but you are very welcome.

Here's my latest contribution, Navy Herringbone pleat front pants from New Look 6757

[Lisanne]

Whew !  general expressions of disbelief all around  -  I have actually finished my 'one item per season' tunic, and before the deadline    It isn't ideal  -  no regrets but that means I'm not rushing to take excited photos.  Hope to get it into my blog in the next few days.

Meanwhile congratulations and best wishes to all of you who are making the full three or six items !

[Janis]

Those pants are really nice Ruthie.  I love those stitched down pleats.  They are very similar to the gray Burdas I made.

The only thing I have left to do on my white blouse is sewing on the buttons.  Then I'll be finished with the 6 pac.  I don't know if I will be participating fully in the winter sew along.  I'll probably sew three pieces for it, but that's it.  I already have the fabric, so I'm good to go.

Congrats to all you finishers, no matter how many pieces in you collection

[ejvc]

Ruthie, you must be nearly done!  Very exciting!

Here is a picture of the shirt I made which I thought didn't go with my 6PAC trousers.  However, I was mistaken, and now feel quite chuffed.  However, they certainly are not part of the colour scheme.  I am not very good at following the good plans I come up with.  Here they are together:



It's a vintage pattern from 1953, which I made using David Page Coffin's ridiculous and unworkable instructions (read more on my blog).  Here's a picture of the pattern, I made view A from a lovely cotton shirting that I picked up at Classic Fabrics on Goldhawk Road:



I'm still working on that other cream-coloured top - haven't had the courage to face the hem again. And my doll clothes are claiming priority. 

[KathrynT]

Ah, this is the shirt with the ridiculous instructions!  I think it looks great on you and those muted colours look good with your hair. 

[sdBev]

Elizabeth

What an interesting detail.  Now I've got to run over and read your blog.

[RuthieK]

Love the shirt Elizabeth.

I am still sewing for Autumn and have almost finished these wide leg pinstripe pants (just need hemming) and the Simplicity Cardi-wrap which is a very popular look right now over on PR.

[JenSA]

Great progress Ruthie, is that you done for the 6PAC?? Your teal/navy collection will look really professional.

I've seen more of the wrap cardi's in stores this season, although the patterns have been around longer.  I'm tempted to try one out. Let us know how you like yours??

[ejvc]

Ruthie, I can't wait to see this collection together, on you, and with some of the lime stuff from the lime collection you did earlier.

Elizabeth

[Susan in Saint John]

I'm impressed that Ruthie wasn't going to do this and now she's done it all in November!

I don't think that I'll finish even 1 of the 4 pieces that I cut out.  The LH Hepburn pants need to be shortened in the front crotch which is easily enough done.  I also have to decide on the length -- will I wear them with flats or heels?  I think that the fabric I chose was too thick/heavy for the pattern.  It's got enough drape.  I've also concluded that I really don't like side seam pockets.  I'm much happier with the slanted ones.  On that basis, I modified the other pair of pants that I have cut out to have the slanted pockets.

Now I'm sewing Christmas presents which will have to be mailed.  Once I'm finished with that perhaps I can get back to sewing for myself.  My autumn plan will work through winter and into spring, so I'm going to continue with it.

[boppingbeth]

I've sewn three pairs of 'Hollywood waist pull on pants'--a dark blue grey, a deep plum and a black embroidered stretch denim.  I've also sewn a teal  'runa' type shawl in a knit that coordinates.  The best part so far is that everything goes with what I already own, kind of like the PR version of Continuous combinations, which I started last year.  I'm wearing the grey pants with a sleeveless blouse I made last year, and the shawl.

[Sewshopper]

Ruthie, your collection is great.  I got 5 pieces done and have worn all of them.  I am just cutting out 3 more, a tee, L.H. Cruise pants in a gray soft wool and a silk noil TSW Mixit blouse.   The blouse is getting embroidery as it is going to double for my Embroidery Club homework for next week.  I plan to keep on keeping on as I so enjoy the 'process.'

Congratulations to all no matter how many pieces you got done as each one counts.
Karleene 

[RuthieK]

These are all the 'Inspired By the sea' pieces. I finished the cords and the navy top with flowers tonight. And yes these were all sewn in November, but I have to say I have not done a lot of cleaning.

[Janis]

Ruthie, your collection is beautiful.  Congratulations...it all came together perfectly

[Towanda]

Ruthie, your collection turned out great. I love the colors.

[ejvc]

Ruthie you are really very productive!  10 pieces! one month!  I feel slightly faint.  Which are your favourites?

I shall post my puny 3 pieces all together soon.

Elizabeth

[RuthieK]

Well, the 4 pieces on the right were only sewn this weekend so not connected with them yet really.
Today I am wearing the teal cords and the teal and white print wrapover top (may even do a photo later) the cords are comfy though the front pleats are not a good look and may have to be morphed into darts somewhere.

Comparing to original list
The collection for Autumn should include:

Skirt or trousers (neutral)
3 blouses/tops (1 to match, 2 to complement)
1 Layering top/cardigan (to match skirt/trousers)
Jacket (co-ordinating neutral)

Skirt or trousers (neutral)
So I have navy denim skirt, navy/white herringbone trs, navy pinstripe trousers and teal green cords. I suppose the navy herringbone ones are the most versatile.

3 blouses/tops.
I did 4 knit tops, navy with turquoise flowers at the neck (all navy is too dark round the face for me), teal/white print. teal velvet and teal knot front

1 Layering top/cardigan (to match skirt/trousers)
this is the navy cardi wrap cosy thingy

Jacket (co-ordinating neutral)
this is the teal wool jacket

I also made a teal knit dress, altered a teal print top from SWAP 2007 to fit now, and recut a teal RTW cardigan which was a bit boxy and hemmed two pairs of co-ordinating RTW pants. So it really is a whole co-ordinating wardrobe which I am very pleased about.

[LauraS.]

Ruthie, I'm thinking you didn't even sleep during November!  Love your collection.  Nice colors!

LauraS

[ejvc]

I think it is quite lovely, really.  How is the wrap-cozy to wear?

I am going to start the winter collection thread today.

Elizabeth

[RuthieK]

I know everyone likes to see stuff being worn.

[ejvc]

Ooh, the top with the flower trim is fabulous!  And the knot top makes you look absolutely gorgeous!  The trousers with the flower top are great-looking too.