I promised yesterday to post about my next sewing obsession, sewing my own swimsuits. I recently had to take Emma shopping for a one piece swimsuit for “swim gym”. It is mid-January in Illinois, I thought we’d be Sh*t Outta Luck as they say. So I started turning the idea of making her a simple tank over in my mind. I did some research on Pattern Review and decided I could do this. I figured that if I did find her a suit that fit it would cost $100 for a size 0 suit that took all of a half yard of fabric to make and she’d never wear it again outside of PE. But she got lucky, we found one that worked on the clearance rack in the back of Dick’s Sporting Goods for $20. But now my mind wouldn’t rest. I ordered some cheap lycra spandex fabric online, ordered a Kwik Sew book from Amazon and continued my research. I spend a lot of money on suits since we put in our pool, usually from Lands End because they have cute suits that fit and flatter a middle age figure. I also used to take Aqua-fit classes at the gym and I liked a different type of suit for those. I’d been thinking I needed to get back to the gym for those again this winter and a new suit or two may just be the motivation I needed to jump back in.

So let me show you what I’ve added to may stash recently:

First of all I ordered this book. It has basic patterns in the back in a large range of sizes. The styling and fabric choices in the photos is dated to say the least, but the information is good and some of the patterns have a lot of potential. The only style really missing that I would like is a racer back tank. I don’t like halter top suits because of my neck issues and spaghetti straps always seem to slip off my shoulders. But I think if I need to I can use these patterns as a starting point and modify them to suit my needs.

This lovely Wonder Woman number is one of my favorites. Not that I’d ever make it but it is good for a laugh or two. In all honesty I do like the bra top style and may use it to modify one of the one-piece tanks to a more flattering style for myself.

The book gives really good instruction for making the bra top and I know that Emma prefers bikinis so I may use it for a suit for her too. She’s more of a Batman kind of girl than Wonder Woman though.

These are some of the fabrics that I purchased. The first set is a black with pink and purple dots and a solid black. I think these will be used for something for Emma. But there is enough black there for at least bottoms or a contrast for another suit. The second photo is a multi-stripe and solid navy. I ordered the stripe online and ordered the royal blue in the last photo to go with it. But the online photos didn’t depict the colors well and in person they don’t match at all. Plus the royal blue is very shiny, maybe I’ll put it aside until I find red stripes and make that Wonder Woman suit after all. The navy in the second picture is from Joann’s. I originally bought it with the idea of making a modified version of the Alison Suit from Burda Style. But when the blues didn’t match in the online purchased fabrics I changed my mind. I’m also on the lookout for a copy of Kwik Sew 2500. If I find it I will make it in purple to replace my favorite Lands End suit.

When will I get to all of this? I have no idea. But I did buy a yard of lycra lining fabric, swimwear elastic and a few types of bra cups at Joann’s last week too so I have everything I need when the mood strikes me. But for today I need to get back into my sewing room and work on yesterday’s list of priorities. I got quite a bit done on the Theater Aprons yesterday afternoon and evening, an hour or two more and they should be done. Then it is on to the Missoni fabric top for Saturday. If that goes together as fast as it should I might be able to start embroidering the dogs’ names on the denim for their beds.

I have been stashing fabric and projects like the end of the world were coming or something. Seriously.

I decided it might be best if I document them all here and make a list to prioritize what needs to get done first and what I want to get done next. I need to throw a couple in there that if I don’t do them now while the idea is fresh in my mind, I will put aside and they probably will never get done.

Project 1: This little project must be put at the top of my list because it is for the theater. My friend is directing a show now and needs two old fashioned aprons for two characters. And even though I auditioned for the part and didn’t get cast, I’m still willing to make some costumes pieces for him. That’s how much I love him and this theater. I should be able to knock these out relatively quickly once I get the pattern traced and the fabric cut.

Project 2: This is one of the “need to do before I lose my motivation” projects. I got the idea that the dogs needed some kind of mats for their crates this winter. But I knew that if I put anything with padding or stuffing in there they’d just tear it up. Plus I wanted something easy care and washable. I got the idea to get a heavy denim and machine embroider their names on it and then “quilt” it together with a fleece and bind or serge the edges to finish everything off. I wanted to do it before our trip last weekend but didn’t get time. I’m hoping that if they have warm, cozy blankies in their crates they’ll get off my bed, but who am I kidding?

Project 3: This top kind of needs to be made by Saturday so I can wear it to work. We are having an Event at the store and I am giving a Power Point presentation on Trends in Garment Sewing. Of course I am trying to promote the apparel fabrics that we sell, etc. so I want to make a top out of this fabric we carry and wear it with my jeans. I know this pattern can be sewn up really quick and I already have it traced off so I should be able to whip it up some night this week. This fabric is also perfect for making Infinity Scarves, which I did out of the black/grey/silver color of this fabric.

Other Projects and/or Stash Fabrics: I added a bunch of miscellaneous cuts of fabrics that may or may not get sewn into something anytime soon. How’s that for non-committal? Here they are in no particular order.

This is more navy than it appears in the photo. Just a misc. jersey knit I grabbed on sale. Will probably become one of my TNT knit top patterns before the winter ends.

This sale knit is still in my stash from late summer. I now need to decide which of the DVF inspired wrap dress patterns I’m going to use to make it. Both get mixed reviews on Pattern Review. I had hoped to make it to wear in Florida but didn’t get it done so now it goes back onto the shelf for a while until I get time for it. This will pretty much be a hopefully wearable muslin unless I get really lucky with fit. It was super cheap fabric so no harm, no foul either way. Any readers have experience with either of these patterns and want to weigh in with an opinion?

More super cheap single knit from Fabric.com. No plans for this, just wanted to see what the fabric was like since it was so cheap. Will probably make a quick draped neck sleeveless top out of it for summer at some later time. I’m sure the fabric won’t hold up to much wear so I’m not investing much time with it. The color is a really pretty apple green anyway.

These are both polyester ITY knits. The print on top is cool but what doesn’t show up in photos is that it has a “sparkle” to it. I don’t have any set plans for it. I’m sure once warmer weather gets here the colors will inspire me to make something fun out of it. I bought 2.5 yards of it so I have enough to make a dress, maybe another DVF inspired wrap if I am successful with either of the above mentioned patterns. It would also work well in KS 3658.

The deep burgundy ITY is very nice and I’m sure it will become either a dress or top. The two fabrics do coordinate so I’m thinking I may make simple tops and elastic waist A-line skirts that I can mix and match as separates or wear together for a dress look.

The last pile of stash and new projects deserves a post all its own. I have another sewing Mt. Everest to climb and that is Swimsuits. I’ve been stashing patterns, books and fabrics of the lycra variety lately. Stay tuned for that! But right now I’d better get actually sewing, or at least tracing and cutting or I’ll never get through all these projects!

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I have a lot of projects in my cue. Since I’ve been back to apparel sewing again in a big way I’ve started accruing quite a pile of patterns and fabric and ideas for what I want to make next.

Back in April I finally got a chance to spend a day with my sister for a belated birthday lunch and fabric shopping in the city. The day was cold and rainy, much like today, but we managed to hit both Vogue Fabrics and Fishmans Fabrics. It was like fabric heaven. I planned ahead and took a bag with all the patterns that I wanted to find fabric for and notes on ideas for other things.

I came home with this selection of goodness. I started with the wool paisley. I loved the colors and shading. It has a hint of aubergine and chartreuse green mixed with grey and taupe. I was inspired to use it for a lined Chanel style jacket. Then I looked for coordinating fabrics. I found the eggplant purple wool challis (for a blouse) and the taupey/grey wool twill for slacks. Then on the remnant table I found the green cotton/lycra knit for another top. You can see the patterns I have in mind below. This is going to be my “slow sewing” project for the summer.

I am going to go the extra step and make muslins for the jacket and blouse. I’ve made the pants pattern before so I know where to tweak the pattern for a better fit. I’m planning bound buttonholes for the jacket and lining the slacks. The plan is that come fall I will have a well fitted, designer looking coordinated outfit to wear to church (when we find one we like!) and work.

Of course that was back in April, since then I’ve done more damage to the state of my stash. Last weekend I took Sarah to Michigan for a college visit at GVSU. Before we left a quick Google search for “fabric stores Grand Rapids Michigan” revealed, Fields Fabrics. We stopped at their 44th St. location on Saturday and I made a minor haul. Their prices were very good and the selection at this location was okay. They seemed to have a lot of (nice) polar fleeces and signs that indicated they had a “truckload sale” on fleece. Next time I will check out one of their other locations and see if they have more apparel fabrics. Sarah did find a really high quality Malden Mills Fleece for a blanket that puts other lesser quality (Joann’s) fleece to shame.

I purchased some matte jersey for another go at McCalls’ Perfect Knit Dress. This time I got enough to make the wrap style. They also had quite a selection of stretch wovens at very inexpensive prices. I purchased the taupe cotton for another go at the McCalls pants and the blue and white print for yet another New Look wrap dress for summer.

The other dress or shirt pattern that I want to take a go at is Butterick 5451. I saw it reviewed on Pattern Review.com and liked the look. (I’m obviously on a quest for the perfect wrap top pattern!) I just haven’t decided on what fabric to use for it yet. I think I will just use a quilting cotton from my inventory. Here are the leading auditioners:

I really like the dark chocolate brown dots. I’m thinking one of the Amy Butler fabrics for the blouse or tunic length and the big polka dots for the dress length. What do my fellow MessMakers think?

I guess I had better hit Publish and make my way upstairs. I still have to pre-wash some of these and I have a birthday party to attend Friday night and want to do a quick embroidery project for a gift for that. While that is stitching out I think I will make some final decisions and maybe start cutting something.