Giveaway: Win a copy of 110 Creations: A Sewist’s Notebook

I often start with a picture or an idea from my kids for a game or a soft toy : last project was a memory game. I jumped into my fabrics and I pick one two three types! I want to use all my fabrics, it’s always difficult to choose! I try to write each step one a sheet because it helps me not to forget small details that can be important . And if I have a problem with a step, the best way for me to solve it is to have a good night sleep and every single time the solution pops out of my head in the morning!

For my last project I was inspired by some bloggers, they were all soo excited about sewing underwear that I just couldn’t resist :D I bought pattern and fabric all in one and it was reeeal fun! :) Also I would really like to have such a notebook ;)
Katharina

Although I have lots of planned projects, my latest completed one was using a 1951 Australian Home Journal Pattern that I had been wanting to use for a while, but when I was at the fabric shop buying some fabric for a completely different project, I found the sweetest drapey fabric with a print of Kitties and Hearts, for only $2 per meter, and I just had to make it up straight away!

My last project started with the pattern then fabric for costumes for a local theater production. Next up is tops for me that started with fabric then pattern.

My current project is a beautiful spring dress. Fabric is mint green and very light yellow organic cotton. I bought an online pattern for it.
Never won a giveaway in my life, but maybe this time I’ll be more lucky :)

My last project started from the fabric. I was between a top and a skirt but finally chose the top option. It turned out very nice and I wear it a lot!

I started with a fabulous length of fabric that I just had to buy with no particular project in mind!

I usually get inspired by a pattern first.

My last sewing project was a bag for my mum to take to her hospital appointments. The fabric was vibrant oilcloth and just shouted out to me. The bag dimensions were planned around fitting in a good stash of magazines and knitting. And the little pocket – to sneak in a few sweets :-)

Nice! My project: doll shoes. I was inspired by a picture of an adult shoe that I wanted to make into a doll’s shoe. I am still on the project and have tried 3 different materials so far. I am now on my 4th and I think this may be it! I have learned a lot through this trial and error. Maybe I should get a book! Thanks.

I try to plan my sewing out of what I need to fill the holes in my closet. I do sketch out the garments I want to make, and the I go fabric hunting. The usually invloves som stash diving and/or ordering of swatches.

The most recent thing that I sewed was a pair of navy Hudson pants. I thought that they’d be great to wear around the house without feeling sloppy (they are!) and I already had some sweatshirt fleece in my stash that I wanted to use. I’m now imagining pairs in other colors and fabric types.

For my last project, I started with the fabric. I bought a ton of it when it was on sale, without a plan of what exactly to make. Then I searched through my patterns to use, but ended up buying a new one for it. But usually I start with a pattern or garment idea, then find the fabric for it.

My last, actually current, sewing project is making a wrap- using a combination of found embroidery and fabrics, crochet and new sewn elements. I am not using a pottern- it is completely free form and an evolving creation. I would love to win a copy of the book 110 Creations!

I usually start sewing projects all over the place! It would be so nice to have an organized method. But the last sewing project I completed, I started with a pattern, matched some fabric, and made it!

My last project was inspired by lack of inspiration to finish the project before that! Retro bow tie blouse…stuck on the cuffs. Decided to throw together the summer 2014 Burda mag retro woven t-shirt in an ikat linen b/c it looked quick and easy…ignoring my unfinished sheath dress, my yet to be started gabardine suit, the wool thrift skirt I started disassembling, the a-line skirt I need to take in…clearly I need that sketchbook/planner!

I saw the pattern(s) first – cardigan and leggings from Seamwork mag. Found a black French terry knit at a local shop, and made them. Then saw a pretty wool plaid (with a silver strand going through the plaid) at Hancocks. I knew which mini skirt pattern I had on hand to make to put the outfit together. Love it.

For my last project, I had bought a pattern on sale and wanted to try it out, so I went to my stash and selected a pretty snakeskin patterned rayon. Voila! A lovely shirt to wear to work under my cardigan or jacket. I am afraid I don’t really plan – I just go by instinct. However, I do need a plan, as my fabric stash is ridiculously large (as is my pattern stash). Having something to keep me organized would be great. Thanks for the chance to win the book!

The last few projects I’ve worked on have been stash busting projects primarily. I find a pattern I want to make and then dig through the piles of fabric to see what I have enough of. I don’t generally plan things out in minute detail before I start working, although I do often do preliminary sketches.

I drafted my first pattern for underwear for my daughter. No sketching just a clear idea in my head. They came out great! Now I want to move onto clothes for her!!!!

I always go on pinterest for inspiration for any new projects I want to start.

My last sewing project was a Christmas gift. Since the gift recipient has a new house, the project was inspired by the house’s decor and color scheme.

In general though, it would be great to have this notebook to plan future projects. Usually I get overwhelmed by all the things I want to make but I don’t often sit down and make a detailed and well thought out plan!

I go fabric shopping with all my pattern info loaded into my phone. When I come across a beautiful fabric I try to match it to a patter before I buy it… I think my pattern stash is getting too big for this system now though :)

My last project was years in the making. I’ve always wanted a retro-futuristic vinyl skirt, and I finally just drafted the pattern and sewed it up! It’s been bubbling around in my head, I’m excited to have it in my hands – finally!

My last sewing project came together really nicely. I had a pattern I wanted to make, but not the fabric. Then, I found I had extra fabric from a previous project that I wanted to use and that would be perfect for the pattern I wanted to try. I’m wearing my new cardigan as I type this. Perfect match!

My last project was a faux leather coat. I had been watching too much La Femme Nikita and that TV shows always makes me want to sew new clothes.

I use a notebook to note what I what to sew plus a possible pattern. Then I write down the entire process so I can return to it if I ever sew a similar garment again.

my last project is a bag, I knew which pattern I wanted for a very long time, bought all the haberdashery but had no magical feeling with any fabric that I came along, for months. Suddely, a vintage looking orange yellow looking fabric smiled to me, and I hope to finish the project next weeks!

My last project was my Halloween costume. So I started off with an inspiration image and then found a pattern and fabric that would work for the occasion. We were on a cruise for Halloween so I wanted something easy to pack and easy to wear.

I found some lovely daisy john kaldor fabric a while ago and then picked up a vintage pattern which I thought would be easy to hack into a maternity dress. It worked out well and I have worn it none stop since!!

My last project was a Tshirt so I had the pattern first then went fabric hunting. That said
if I am out fabric shopping I often buy material I like and think about what I will use it for
later. That way when I feel inspired I can go through my patterns and decide what to make
with it.

My inspiration comes from either a fabric I love or a new pattern I see. Usually the finished piece comes to my imagination instantly from either of those starting points!

my last project, a violet blouse, came to be when I happen upon a lovely white cotton fabric with little black flocked polka dots on it! I already had the pattern on my shash and the fabric just screamed “adorable button down blouse”!

The last sewing project I did was a month ago: a dress for my 28 year old daughter to wear to a beach wedding in Cancun. She wears a size 16 and knows what style she looks good in, but couldn’t find it in the stores in Wisconsin in December. We went to the local fabric store together and looked at patterns, deciding on a wrap knit dress with flutter sleeves. We found some stretchy, lightweight jersey in a colorful, texture-y chevron pattern, and I sewed the dress over a couple of weekends, with her coming home for fittings.

usually how I “plan” is I read through sewing blogs or go to the department stores (or lately, go to REI) and see something I love and then find a pattern similar, or ways to make similar features. Then look for similar fabric or more awesome fabric!

as always, i fell in love with the fabrics, and in this case many animal prints on knit fabrics for legging pants for my baby.

The majority of the time my projects start with choosing a fabric I want to work with. The last thing I sewed was a sweater out of a fabric I fell in love with. It was thick and warm so it wouldn’t have worked making much else out of it.

I usually don’t plan so much, but I would like to start to be more organized

My last sewing project came as the result of wanting to learn a specific skill. I wanted to learn how to sew knits, mostly t-shirts, henleys, etc. But since it’s tough to find a sewing class that teaches how to make men’s garments specifically (or that offers men’s patterns as one of the options when learning techniques), I finally found a class that would let me bring in a pattern for men’s boxer-briefs as my project. (The women in the class had MANY more project/pattern options, by the way.)

Et voilà: I now have a lovely pair of men’s boxer-briefs that fit perfectly. Totally unnecessary, from a Wardrobe Architect perspective (as I have dozens of pairs of undies), but I’m hoping that the skills will translate to an upcoming project: sewing a henley.

I have just finished sewing today a repair project – last June I made my first Sorbetto top, but after a few washes my handmade bias binding started to come away around the sleeves and then the neck line. This was due to the fact that as a total beginner, I made the bias too narrow (I realise now) and it didn’t ‘grasp’ hold of the fabric!

After looking at it for four months back on my sewing table, I decided to tackle it, but instead of unpicking I just trimmed off the bias. This worked well on the sleeves and front neck, but on the back neck I clipped the fabric randomly (lying underneath!) and so then had a big gash also to deal with!

I re-shaped the back neck taking it lower to cut away the clipped bit, I then made wider bias and re stitched.

I now have a lovely new Sorbetto with a deep scooped back, very unexpected as it would have been something that I would not have looked at in pattern form!

So, my mistakes made good !!

The Film Dress!
For a fund raising event I made a cocktail dress out of 35mm film (Denzel Washington and Harrison Ford movies – not bad!). I hand stitched the film through the sprockets onto a black knit foundation to create 3 pieces: a bustier top, a ribbon curl skirt and a cummerbund with an over-sized film bow on the back. It was a huge hit with the patrons and we raised a lot of money for a great cause. (And it was so fun to make!)

My last project was inspired by a piece in my fabric stash, which turned out to be close to the 2015 Pantone color of the year, Marsala, and it just felt like it wanted to be a button down blouse. I drafted a pattern from a RTW blouse that fits me well. It ended up being a good sewing experience because I had done up a muslin first. I really need to add some more pieces to my 2015 wardrobe though.

My last project was my first attempt at a top that actually fit me. I picked the Sorbetto because it had lots and lots and lots of tutorials for different adjustments, etc… I made eight (8!) muslins before it fit. The final version I made out of an IKEA fabric covered in red fish because I was exhausted and tired and thought “FISH FABRIC!!!”. Halfway through I thought it was going to be horrible because, well, fish fabric from IKEA. But I finished it anyway. It’s my favorite because it’s mine and I made it and it’s covered in fish.

Now that I have a couple of patterns under my belt (har) I am looking forward to being able to actually pick fabrics I like for projects, instead of random scrap fabric. I’ve been too afraid to ruin nice stuff until now.

I have been taking lots of Craftsy classes lately so have been inspired by the lessons I am watching. Currently planning projects that correlate to what I am learning.

My husband really wanted comfortable aloha shirts. He knew exactly how he liked his shirts, and they don’t sell them anymore like that…; I bought a vintage pattern for xxxl sizes online. A friend bought the fabric on Maui. He sent pictures from the store for us to choose the fabric. This friend taught me how to make and fit the aloha shirt. (so grateful!) We made one (striking) aloha shirt together, and one i made by myself (beginner sewist).

For my last project I was definitely inspired by some fabric I threw in my online basket on a whim – purple sweater knitish with black printed horses. Then it was just a matter of finding the ideal pattern which ended up being Megan Nielsen’s Briar with black contrast bands. Although I tend to go back & forth on what inspires me first, sometimes it’s the fabric, sometimes it’s the pattern.

I have a sketchbook titled “Problem Solving” where I draw a figure and what I need. From there, I look at the silhouette to determine a pattern, write in measurements, and possible fabric choices.

I bought the pattern first and then got some fabric online and just went for it! it actually turned out great. Right now I am planning my wedding dress and I am getting swatches first and trying to find the perfect pattern.

I am just finishing up some fabric grocery bags. Our Australian state outlawed plastic bags years ago and we need some new bags. I bought a pretty heavier cotton on sale and recycled some sheets for the lining. I love upcycling fabric and ditching landfill so am pretty chuffed with the 8 bags that I have made.

Somehow I can never stick to my plans, I buy fabric when I love it and even if I have an idea, it could still turn into something else… My blouse became a skirt, my knit-dress a tee. It all starts with fabric though, there are projects I’d love to make, but I lack the right fabrics…

I took a copy of the b&w picture of the coat i was going to make, and some colored pencils, and proceeded to try out different color combos. I had already purchased the fabric, so was just choosing how to use what I had on hand. The pattern was actually a jacket pattern to be made with fleece. It wasn’t lined, or finished in the usually way, so I was also considering how I would do that. I did most of that in my head. The Jacket/coat is nearly done now, just need to put in the fasteners and shore up my lining.