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Welcome to the Spring Palette Challenge


{photo of the lovely Carlie in Eclair by the talented Lisa Warninger}

Welcome to the Spring Palette Challenge, a 10 week challenge for creating a mini seasonal wardrobe based around your favorite color palette for Sring 2011!

The idea is very simple. You choose an inspiring palette for Spring, then you sew a tiny wardrobe based on that palette. You choose the color palette, the number of colors, and the pieces you sew. The palette can be based around fabrics you already have (so you can use what you have), or you can do something new. The challenge will be 10 weeks long (now through the end of March). Here’s how we’ll structure it:

  • Week One: Define your challenge. Gather inspiration, make inspiration boards, review fabric choices, pick your palette, and decide how many garments you’d like to sew from the palette.
  • Week Two: Plan your projects. Choose your patterns, sketch out your ideas, and make a plan.
  • Weeks Three through Ten: Sew! Make your mini Spring wardrobe, and share your progress with everyone else.

Doesn’t that sound like fun?

Related Posts:

  1. Phase One: Design Your Challenge
  2. Sarai’s Spring Palette
  3. Guest Palettes
  4. Phase Two: Plan Your Projects
  5. Week three: Time to sew!
  6. Week Four: The yellow Violet blouse
  7. Week Five: The eyelet dress
    8. Week Nine: The daisy dress
  8. Week Ten: Final wrap up!

Sarai Mitnick

Founder

Sarai started Colette back in 2009. She believes the primary role of a business should be to help people. She loves good books, sewing with wool, her charming cats, working in her garden, and eating salsa.

Comments

Kristin

January 20, 2011 #

This sounds like a lot of fun! I’m still sewing winter clothes, but I think I might have to join anyway.

Kirsten

January 20, 2011 #

I LOVE this idea, and it will be a great motivation to get some spring sewing done in time to wear. I’m definitely doing it!

Emily Flippin Maruna

January 20, 2011 #

This sounds like so much fun! I’ve really been wanting to sew a few things for myself, some of your patterns included, and this will be a great way for me to commit to doing it. Thanks! I’ll make sure to grab a button too!

Rachel

January 20, 2011 #

I love this idea! The idea of using the palette for several projects is brilliant. I have a couple ideas I’ve been wanting to start on; perfect excuse!

Michelle

January 20, 2011 #

Awesome! I’m def in. :)

anja louise

January 20, 2011 #

This is a great project Sarai! Forums are a really cool addition too.

Dalígula

January 20, 2011 #

Perfect! I was looking for a challenge. I’m in!

Erica

January 20, 2011 #

What a wonderful idea!! I have been wanting to start sewing my own clothes but felt overwhelmed…needed some structure.!

Marina

January 20, 2011 #

I would love to join – very good timing for starting on spreng wardrobe

ohsweetie

January 20, 2011 #

YAY! i can’t wait for my palette and i’ll be using those colours… i already have ideas! wooooo.

Ali

January 20, 2011 #

Inspiring! I don’t know if I’ll join in (not much time and I’ve put myself on a fabric buying hiatus) but I’ll certainly be following along. :)

Amanda

January 20, 2011 #

Yay! I look forward to this challenge and I love the idea of the forum. I get a lot of inspiration online since no one around me sews. I’m going to try and be creative by using what I have in my stash. Great idea, Sarai!

Karen

January 20, 2011 #

I’m excited! It’s hard to think about Spring when you are surrounded by snow and ice, but it’s like a light at the end of the tunnel. A chance to make my Beignet. I’m in.

Bea W

January 21, 2011 #

I’m up for that. Sounds fun and I definately need some more Spring pieces that will also carry over into Summer. Yay!!

Tilly

January 21, 2011 #

Mmm… pretty colours… I have trouble finding fabrics in my dream colours, but I might create a palette using colours of fabrics I already own. The forum is a great idea – looking forward to joining!

Kerry

January 21, 2011 #

What a lovely idea. I will have to start thinking about colours as I’m not really into some of the pastel spring colours but I’m up for some florals so I’m sure I could make it work!

Carlotta

January 21, 2011 #

I had begun gathering ideas and palette for spring and considering a massive invasion of pink for the first time, so this is not far from sheer serendipity! althought it is a bit short for a slow-paced seamstress like me, so maybe I’ll keep things to a minimum…
But I’m definitely in!

Ashley

January 21, 2011 #

Sounds like fun, I’m in! Spring doesn’t seem so far away now. :)

Rebecca Doster

January 21, 2011 #

What a great (and extremely motivating) idea!! Thank you! I am definitely in! I have started a blog about style and sewing but have not published it yet. This will be a great thing to start with and will light a fire under me to start publishing! Sometimes you just need a good kick in the pants! Like Amanda (see comment above), no one around me sews and I turn to online sewers for inspiration, motivation and tips. Thanks for all the work you put into what you do!

Mia

January 21, 2011 #

I adore this idea. Unfortunately, I’m getting dangerously close to taking on too much, so I’ll only watching this challenge. I’m also quite excited about the forum!

The Straight Grain

January 21, 2011 #

What a great idea! I’m going to have to look through my fabrics (and maybe I’ll finally get around to sewing the Macaron dress pattern!)

Catherine

January 21, 2011 #

This is a fantastic idea. I’m going to apply it to the next decade I’m sewing, and keep playing with it for the entire monolithic project! ;) The forums are a great idea too – thank you!

I was wondering, how do we get those lovely square swatches of colour? I’d love to just photograph my fabric but the colours almost never turn out accurately, and I’d love my palette to be tidy like yours.

Sarah

January 21, 2011 #

Great idea! I’m in!

Daisy

January 21, 2011 #

Oh how fun! I have already started brainstorming and I think I have my palette picked. It is quite a bit darker than those you have sampled, but I think that is what will make this so fun, seeing everyone’s different color palettes!

Donna

January 21, 2011 #

I’m in! Already thinking about it. Unfortunately, I can’t get my blog to accept the URL for any of the buttons. But, I am still in!

sadie fox

January 21, 2011 #

I am in! I think I have my palette picked out. My grand finale will be a vintage Vogue prom dress I am already committed to make for one of my favorite teens. Fun Fun Fun!!!

Beth

January 21, 2011 #

I think this might be just what I need to start sewing for ME! I’m an absolute newbie at sewing my own clothes – which will require lots of specialized fitting- but I have a dress form and I’m ready. This is just the challenge that I need to get me going. I’d appreciate any guidance along the way. Thanks for all of the inspiration and sewing instruction that you’ve already shared. Happy sewing everyone!

maelis

January 22, 2011 #

I’m so eager to join!
I even already made my own palette!
Now I’m waiting for the forum and project to start!

xxx

melissa

January 22, 2011 #

I do not have a blog (maybe sometime in the near future!) but I want to join in the fun! You will see me ” at the forum” ! My hubby in Japan for a week starting today, and I am taking a staycation from work, so this will be a great week to get started!! Funtimes!

Joke

January 22, 2011 #

What a cool idea!
I think I might join in on imagining my wardrobe and maybe looking for fabrics, unfortunately I won’t have a machine until the summer…

Lynne Williams

January 22, 2011 #

I am certainly interested in thinking about Spring. I will follow along and have added the button to my blog, but know I will not make the 10 week deadline due to work deadlines. Our spring though does not begin until June….so this will give me some always welcome structure.

Thanks for the challenge

angie.a

January 22, 2011 #

OH, I’m such a good planner! haha. ;) I love challenges like this, and spring is my favorite season to sew for! Great project, I’ll join.

laura

January 23, 2011 #

FUN TIMES!
i’m in. (:

FITZ

January 23, 2011 #

yup. finally found a sew along that works for me. huzzah!

Amber

January 25, 2011 #

I love this idea and as I have my sewing head on at the moment the timing is perfect. Off to pick my colour and sort out some ideas as we speak. Have a wonderful week. ax

Sølvi

January 26, 2011 #

A little late to the game, but I´m definitely in! :-)

Madame Parfait

January 26, 2011 #

I’m really looking forward to this, sounds like fun!

Sheryl

January 29, 2011 #

I love this idea.. I’m ready to sew for the Spring.. Count me in……

Atomic Mum

February 2, 2011 #

I just followed this from an other page and love the idea, however I’m heading into winter downunder so I will look on.

Tasha

February 10, 2011 #

I didn’t sign up for this as I’m not yet in the place in my sewing where I can really commit to something like this, I still need a little more confidence. I hope to be there by the end of Spring. So this is just a little plea for a Summer palette challenge. ;)

Sarai

February 10, 2011 #

We’ll see! I was thinking about at least doing one for the Fall, just to give people a little breathing room between seasons!

Tasha

February 10, 2011 #

Ha, true, I didn’t think about people needing a breather. :D Fall or winter would be lovely too. At any rate, it’s certainly giving me some great ideas to mull over this year, thanks for the inspiration!

Samantha

February 26, 2011 #

I love this idea. Unfortunately, spring is rarely a good time for me to take on something like this as I’m always knee deep in Easter dresses and hats. Every year I find something new I “need” to add to our ensembles.

But I have the fabric stash, patterns, etc for a summer one. Honestly, I probably have the same for a fall challenge as well. And the mini could use some too.

Decisions, decisions.

vimax funciona

January 25, 2012 #

I really like your writing style, good info, appreciate it for posting : D.

vimax Vimax vimax

James Vigrx

July 25, 2012 #

Well i love the nice colours. Makes me happy such colours !