Fall Planning......Maybe?

9.03.2014

I'm having a horrible time with planning fall sewing this year.  Here's the problem, I'd like to look put together and feminine but it gets too damn cold here.  As the temperature drops, taking my body temperature with it, my outfits will revert back to "pile as many things on as possible to keep warm." Really hard to look feminine when your proportions are circular due to the 3 + sweaters swathing your body.  Winter footwear is also a challenge once the snow starts falling. I love a high heeled bootie as much as the next girl. but I'm not going to risk a broken bone prancing around on ice in such footwear. Oh cold weather, we have such a dysfunctional relationship. I love how you indulge my need to cover myself in hand knits, but why you gotta mess up my shoe mojo?

Due to all this, I've been spinning my wheels for the last month, mostly sewing summer items and hoping inspiration will strike me. Or lighting, cause that probably would convert me from being a lizard human to a real live mammal. Mmmm actual warm blood. Well I didn't get struck with inspiration so much as being presented with a sew-a-long format that stopped me from making everything terribly complicated.  What, totally paralyze myself by imagining all the possible negative outcomes? I never do that! *cough, lies, cough *  What sew-a-long am I talking about? Well it's Sarah's Fall Essentials Sew-a-long.
Despite it being the 4th annual, I confess it was something completely off my radar. Oh internet how is it that you manage to hide secrets from me when I'm on you for hours every day? Stop being coy!  But anyway, back to the sew-a-long.  My brain latched on the fact that there were seven clothing categories. Surely I could think of one of two things for each. Then I could get a few garments made up and see if they actually got worn once the indoor temp returns to 68 degrees. It's like a testing phase for my "make Winter Heather pretty" plans. I hear Winter Heather laughing at my nonsense as she pulls another quilt over her head.  Hush up you! Why don't you go play in your blanket fort and let me do some planning. I'll have Froggie make a pot of tea and we all can have a cookie break after I'm done.

Here are my planned garments by categories.

Fashionable Foundations
1. Black denim pencil skirt.
Anyone remember how I was gonna make one during the summer?  Yeah, hasn't happened yet. I blame those cotton sateen prints that distract me with their charms.  Must decide between Betsy and Burda 127 patterns.

2. Wool circle or pleated skirt. Pattern undetermined.
I'm not sure if a wool skirt will be warm enough for my cold cold reptile blood. However I have a shit ton of wool in the stash, almost of it gray. There's more than enough to sacrifice some on a garment that may or may not get worn much. Who knows, if I can find some of these magical fleece lined tights that my Canadian friends seem to be hoarding, a wool skirt might be nice and toasty. Hey Canadian friends, hook me up with some super warm tights. I know you need them too but Winter Heather is so cold.

Chic Chemises
1. Ysolda's Chickadee out of stashed yarn.
Knitting was the one area where I wasn't mentally blocked about my fall wardrobe.  I know that Winter Heather loves cardigans with color work on the yoke. Basically if you knit one in a color Winter Heather likes, then it will get worn on heavy rotation.  I'm making the body on this one red which will thrill her.

2. One or two long sleeve Nettie's
I'd like to make one with a scooped back for the transitional weather before listening to Winter Heather and making Nettie's with max neck coverage. Darn drafts making Winter Heather sick. Maybe I should put a turtle neck on one. Hmmmmm.....turtle neck.

3. Vogue 8747
I loved this blouse on both Katie and Elizabeth.  The fitted shape also seems like it would look equally good tucked into a skirt or left out over pants.  I'm planning on sewing up a white one in some stashed blouse weight to start.  If I like it then there are plenty other fabrics in the stash screaming to be made into blouses.

Fabulous Frocks
1. McCall's 6696
Yup I still want another of these despite my hand sewing PTSD. Besides this time I'll top-stitch everything and my fingers will be free. Freeeee!  I've got some nice "gray denim looking but has to have wool in it because I made stuff with it already and it washed funny" fabric in the stash. Wow even I can't believe that last sentence.

Underneath it all
Not committing myself to making any undergarments.  If I do change my mind then the hard drive has plenty of underwear PDF patterns lurking in it's downloads folder. Sigh, so hard not to buy patterns.

Tender toesies
1. Hand knit socks
I always have some socks on the DPN's, the current pair is 3/4 done.  Socks aren't a high priority since my sock drawer is still pretty full. Thank you yarn companies for that merino/nylon blend that wears like iron. So if I get a pair done during the sew-a-long, then great. If not, no big deal.

Those Cozy Nights
1. Laura Lounge pants (From Maria Denmark but I don't see the pattern on her site right now.)
Not a high priority need either, but it's not like anyone has to twist my arm to buy more Lillestoff. There can never be enough juvenile print lounge pants.

Baby it's cold outside
1. Ottobre coat
If this looks familiar it's because that's the coat pattern I made for my sister.  It's almost winter again so it's time to make my version. Though if I crank this out before 2015 I'll be ahead of schedule and receive some sort of bonus from my frog overlord. Cookies? A girl can always hope. I have no less than 5 different wool coatings in the stash cave. Don't judge me!!!  Right now the yummy, yummy red wool has been dug out for this project, but I reserve the right to change my mind.

2. Hand knit berets
I need to get off my duff and knit a red and a blank beret to coordinate with my coats. Considering a beret takes a few days at the most, I can only chalk up my inertia to being easily distracted by shiny things. Or maybe froggie is has been smacking me with the "forgetful stick."  A frog has to get his kicks somehow.

So those are my Fall Sew-a-long plans for now.  Do you think I'll stick to the list or veer wildly off like I usually do? Darn bossy lists, who do they think they are? What's that list? You made Froggie the manger of all Fall sewing? Uh oh, he's gotten the efficiency cattle prod out. No Froggie, No! *Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzztttt*

42 comments:

  1. I"ll keep my eyes peeled for warm tights! But be warned - they are ususally pure poly that smells slightly of cheap dollar store plastic. Mmm.... plastic off-gassing! Breathe in the fumes! (But warm.... must be warm!)

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  2. I love to make a detailed sewing plan for each season with charts, graphs, and lists of supplies. Then I sew whatever the fuck I want and the plan languishes in my desk.

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  3. Tights are my everything. I have a sort of reverse SAD every summer when I can no longer wear them... My favourites are from Marks & Spencers in the UK who are currently doing free shipping to the US! They have fleece lined ones which are the bomb when it's frigid outside: http://www.marksandspencer.com/100-denier-heatgen-opaque-tights-1-pair-pack/p/p22188523

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  4. "gray denim looking but has to have wool in it because I made stuff with it already and it washed funny" is now my absolute favourite description of fabric ever. I almost wish we in the southern hemisphere were heading into winter so I could justify sewing up some amazing winter confections, but nope. I'm looking forward to voile dresses - I have an M6696 in voile just waiting for me.

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  5. I'm joining this too for the first time this year. I'm not sure how I missed the last 3. Not very good with lists either. We shall see.

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  6. If you find them, let me know-- pure poly means that my wool-phobic skin can actually touch them!

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  7. I love FESA! And completely commiserate with you on the weather. I'm just hoping winter doesn't show up by the end of October like it did last year, because they never let me go back to an inside register until November and there weren't enough layers of garden-center friendly clothing and room for hot tea in my thermos to keep me warm then. I think I'm going to add Espresso leggings to my list, just so I have another layer I can throw on under my jeans to go with my 5 layers up top.

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  8. My Penney's had fleece lined tights last year, and if they stock them here in sunny VA you should be able to find them up there, too! Or I saw fleece lined leggings on GroopDealz today, although those would be really hot when you're inside, it seems like.

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  9. Are you sure we aren't long lost sisters!?? I drive my hubby crazy with my cold bloodedness.... Tights...icky itchy tights...I don't want to talk about it...
    I need to participate in this sewing plan...we'll see what happens in the sewing studio and go from there. Your plans look awesome and I can't wait to see the finished projects!

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  10. Froggie IS yoda! He's controlling your mind, making a sewing plan... Come back to the impulsive side for visits, OK?

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  11. Ooh I'm going to have to check this sew along out. I'm still feeling a bit lost and crazed by all the things that need to be sewn and I'm the same in the winter....

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  12. I got some amazing fleece lined leggings last year. It's like wearing sweatpants under your dress, but it looks like tights. So awesome! I look for them again this year - they should be coming out soon. Your plan sounds great! I am more of a spur of the moment kind of girl :)

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  13. I'm so glad that Spring has hit down here and Summer is something to look forward to, although I've totally enjoyed sewing up some jackets. That is an impressive sewing list, but I'm sure you will get distracted with the pretty new patterns that I'm sure are coming our way ... hehehe

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  14. "My plastic legs are so warm now!!!" LOL. Thanks for looking for me.

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  15. Tammy, I legit laughed out loud after reading this. Mostly cause that's what I do too. :)

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  16. Thank you Jenny for the tights hook up! I know what you mean about being sad about having to put your tights away. I think my legs look much nicer in them than bare.

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  17. That's great! You make me laugh all the time.

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  18. LOL Amanda. That run on sentence was too amusing to change to "proper" English.


    Voile dresses are super fun to make too. I'm sure you'll be happy with that project once you get started.

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  19. Hooray Shanni! I guess even if we don't sew off the lists, we still get the satisfied feeling of having made one. My brain feels a little better having something to reject. ;)

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  20. Oh god Becky, I also hope we don't have a repeat of last winter. Didn't it go from summer warm to cold as balls in about a week? Please let us have some transitional weather.
    But anyway I like your plan to making some espresso leggings. They're fast to make and you can always do with a good layering option.

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  21. Ooo Penny's had some. I can check my local one once it gets a little later in the year. Thanks Meagan!

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  22. I think we might be long lost sisters. Does this mean I can borrow your jewelry? ;)


    Yes please come join the sew-a-long. Since it's nice and general you can pretty much plan what you want. Or plan what you want and sew something else. :)

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  23. HAAA HAAA! Oh no Froggie, what are you doing to my brain. Wait, wait, can you make not want to eat cookies so much. Then you get more Froggie. Eh, eh?


    And don't worry about the impulsive side. I already put about 5 Burda patterns in my cart that are not really on the sewing plan. :)

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  24. Yes, yes! We need lists for our brains and then we don't go more crazy. Just stay slightly crazy in a way that charming. :)

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  25. Oh my lord that does sound awesome! I'd be wearing them all the time cause it's so cool inside my house. We have a million drafty windows, hazards of an old house I guess.


    I like spur of the moment. I'm sure something will lead me astray. :)

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  26. Yeah!! Warm weather is just more fun to dress for. I do enjoy all your jackets as well though.


    You're right that I'll probably get distracted. In fact I kind of hope someone does distract me with something new and fabulous. :)

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  27. You might want to keep an eye out for Uniqlo's HeatTech tights. They are obscenely warm, but I'm not seeing them on their site right now. (They're nylon and spandex.)

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  28. Thanks for the reminder of the Fall Sewalong. Last year I only discovered it after the fact, and then I forgot about it. Now I have a plan, that I may well ignore.
    A hat is one thing I have not yet knit, but I have quite a few in my favorites. I always get behind the seasons, and then think to myself "It's spring, why would I knit a hat?"

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  29. Great plans! I can't wait to see them all :) I've made myself a list of things I'd like to sew before spring, but I've already forgotten most of them, and, well, I can't be bothered to hem a skirt at the moment, so we'll see how it goes!

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  30. Woo Hoo, now you have plenty of time to participate if you want too. Or just ignore that list. I can get behind that. :)

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  31. Hee hee Laura, I'm avoiding making buttonholes on a skirt at the moment so I get it. You could make a Spring sewing list for funsies and then watch movies instead.

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  32. I need to sit down and make some fall plans! I have ideas, but no official plans. I also need a list manager like Froggie!

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  33. List time! It does feel good to get everything written down. I should have Froggie prod you a bit to get your list in order. Maybe Froggie needs a Skype account to manage other people's lists. :)

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  34. Thank you Sarah, especially for the fleecy tight link. I'm pursuing all the colors right now. :)


    I would like winter a lot better if it wasn't so cold all the time. :)

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  35. I find it so hard to motivate to sew fall clothing when it's still hot as shit outside (and in my apartment argh!). I've found that I never, I mean NEVER, wear dresses in cool weather, so I'm planning layerable separates and outerwear for my A/W sewing.

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  36. Thanks so much for all the links! I've checked out both sites and they look great.

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  37. Me too! I can not get started on that coat with it being 80 degrees inside the house.


    Separates are the best thing to be sewing for Fall/Winter. So much easier to layer...until you can't put your arms down.

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  38. Great new look! (Sorry- you have probably had it for a while but I have been otherwise occupied and neglected my blog reading) ... Love the Ottobre Coat- I love coats- and have stuff to make 3- The Robson... The Spearmint... The Minoru... It is kind of silly since this last winter not one of my off the rack coats came out. Sighhh... but I really love coats! So I am going to make them anyway and hope for some chilly weather! Tights are good too! You know I would LOVE to wear a nice cozy outfit with tights. But even on Christmas day here it is in the upper 70's and sunny and bright! So I was thinking I would make the Holly jumpsuit for my Christmas outfit! LOL...I am rambling! Well, love your plan! I have McCalls 6696...Love it!

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  39. Ah you see I am totally and utterly the opposite here. I think my legs - while they never reach any other colour other than the pale grey-blue that comes with my Irish genes - look better bare than in tights. I'm gonna be bare legged til there's frost on the ground!

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  40. I just changed the blog template at the first of the month so you're not behind at all Laurie.


    I think making coats for fun can't be bad. You figure it's got to get a little cold every once and a while. Do it!

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  41. It's a twist in my little head all this opposite-climate. You people up there are always sewing autumn/winter when I am trying the lightest shortest clothes for insane hot weather.
    anyways, YES YOU CAN Heather! go on and do it! :)

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  42. You just made me remember that I do have some silk thermal underwear packed away from my working/train commuting days. I'll do a bit of surfing for merino underwear too. Thanks Wendy. :)

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