I ♥ Gingham

Mr. Social and I recently travelled to Portugal and I gotta say, Portugal is totally amazeballs! I loved absolutely everything about it! The people, the scenery, everything! It may just be my new favourite place in the world.

Seriously, how great is this view?

While there, I wore a few me-made garments and *gasp* I actually got some pics of them! (We all know how bad I am at that)

On our first day in Portugal, the weather was perfect, and much warmer than the fall chill we had left behind in Toronto, so it was the perfect opportunity to wear my gingham top.


Mr. Social and I...and my gingham top

I have a couple confessions to make.

I actually made this top (McCall's M5664) last year, but it originally had sleeves and I hated them! So, it sat in the closet unloved and lonely for a year until I decided to rip them off and make it sleeveless.

Also? I love gingham! I have tons of it in my stash. And no real plans for most of it. But I often pull it out and pet it :)

Vasco Da Gama approves of this top

This top is perfect for summer weather. It's light and airy, and one of the few times I think that quilting cotton was a good choice (I've had some hits and misses with quilting cotton for dresses, more on that later). And, about quilting cotton, am I the only one who can't resist it? The prints are so darn cute!

Anyway, this top has had it's last hurrah for the season, and is nestled in the closet for the winter.

Fashion on the Ration Stats!!

Coupons Used: 30 - Coupons Remaining: 36

Projects Completed:
Red Gingham Shirt - 0 coupons
Old Timey Tractor Dress - to be posted soon - 0 coupons
Molly Weasley Dress - to be posted as soon as I get some pics - fabric used from purchase listed below
Leopard Print Top - to be posted as soon as I get some pics - 0 coupons

Items Purchased:
Black and Grey Striped Sweater - 5 Coupons
6.5 metres of cotton fabric - 13 Coupons
Brown Boots - 7 Coupons
Sweater with funky spiky collar - 5 Coupons

Awesome Score:
Brand new Docs given to me by a friend - 0 Coupons

Embarking on yet another adventure/challenge

I can't count how many times I've been browsing clothes in shops and caught myself thinking (or saying aloud) "I can make that". And usually after trying things on and finding them ill fitting or of poor quality, that statement is followed by "I can do a better job too". Occasionally, I do just that. I go home, pull out some fabric, and voila! A few hours/days and lots of scotch and swearing later I have a new garment. Sometimes even a whole outfit. So, this got me thinking, I'm already doing a Fashion on the Ration challenge, why not step it up and go on a RTW fast as well?

I will be joining Linda of Goodbye Valentino and many others in swearing off buying RTW clothing in favour of making our own. We wll be refraining from buying all outerwear, dresses, tops, pants, shorts, sweaters, coats, exercise clothes, jeans, and well, you get the idea. If you' like to join us, click here for info :)

My First Sew-Along!

We interrupt the regularly scheduled WIP Wednesday post with some exciting for me, but maybe less so for you, news:

I'm going to be participating in my first ever sew-along!

Okay, okay, you are probably asking yourself why I'm excited about this. After all, I've participated in lots of knit-alongs before, why would a sew-along be exciting? Well, as evidenced in my posts, I have yet to post something I've sewn for me...what's up with that?? Well, as I have yet to procure myself a tripod, I must rely on other people to get pics for me. This means I have to doll myself up and find someone to help me take pics on the same time. Sometimes this happens, but when I'm all prettied up it usually means we go somewhere, like a patio, and well....lose track of time. But since I'll be doing a sew-along, I'll have to get pics to share! Perhaps I should get Mr. Social to get behind the camera instead of me always taking ridiculous pics of him all the time.

Case in point...

Anyhoo, on to the sew-along! I will be joining Lauren of LLadybird and many others in making a pair of Thurlow trousers by Sewaholic.

I've been meaning to try out a Sewaholic pattern sooner rather than later, so this is the perfect excuse!

In my attempt to stick to the Fashion on the Ration challenge I have set for myself, I'm aiming to use fabric from my stash for this. I haven't selected it just yet, as i don't even have the pattern yet! I'll be ordering the pattern on Friday and I'm hoping it arrives while we're away on holiday so I can get started on fabric selection when I get back, and maybe even have time to whip up a muslin before the October 29 start date.

Seriously, any excuse to sew lately is a good one for me!

Happy Hump Day, y'all!

Fashion on the Ration: What to make?

So, while I still haven't had an opportunity to get pics of the dress and top I've made (bad Andi!), I did get all antsy and hit up a fabric sale. I know I've been trying to stick to stash only, but 50%-75% off was too tempting to resist.

So, what did I get you ask? Well, I exercised some self control and only picked up two pieces of fabric.

The first was a total impulse buy. I have no immediate plans for it, but do have an idea of what I'd like to make with it (probably a blouse of some sort). I got it for $3/m!!!! (Originally $10/m)

It would be super cute with some sort of red accent...

And the second is this cotton fabric, which I couldn't decide if it was granny or cute. It certainly was an excellent deal though. $3/m, originally $17/m!

I want to make a dress out of this, but am unsure of which dress to make. I have a couple patterns on hand that this might work for:

What do you think? McCalls M6554 or M6600? Or do you have an alternate suggestion?

While this gets figured out, I'll keep working on a dress that I've already started (teaser to be posted tomorrow)

Fashion on the Ration Stats!!

Coupons Used: 18 - Coupons Remaining: 48

Projects Completed:
Old Timey Tractor Dress - to be posted as soon as I get some pics - 0 coupons
Red Gingham Shirt - to be posted as soon as I get some pics - 0 coupons

Items Purchased:
Black and Grey Striped Sweater - 5 Coupons
6.5 metres of cotton fabric - 13 Coupons

Awesome Score:
Brand new Docs given to me by a friend - 0 Coupons

Challenge Accepted: Fashion on the Ration

I don't know if I've been watching too much Project Runway (I recently started to re-watch it all from the beginning), or reading too many sewing blogs, but I've been itching to start some serious sewing again, which is a good thing, as my wardrobe is in need of a major overhaul.

There are a number of great challenges out there, the Wardrobe Re-Fashion challenge, the year of not buying new clothes, and the one I find the most inspiring, the Fashion on the Ration challenge. Because this last one inspires me most, I will be shamelessly copying Cargo Cult Craft and embarking on my own Fashion on the Ration adventure.

For the next year, I will use the 66 clothing “coupons” allowed to buy new fabric and clothing as needed. I will be using fabric from my stash as much as possible, and will upcycle clothing where I can. My mantra will be "Make Do and Mend".

Ideally, I'd like to create a completely wearable wardrobe, which means I need to make sure everything in it fits me properly, and is appropriate for my figure. I also want to make sure it reflects my own personal sense of style and who I am. It should include pieces I can wear for work, for fun days/nights out, and things that straddle both worlds.

To keep myself accountable, I will regularly post updates on my progress, and document my successes, failures, and any obstacles I encounter. I may lose my mind somewhere along the way, but that will just provide more entertainment for you, the reader.

So, here I go, my journey begins now, March 27, 2012 and will carry on through March 26, 2013, or until I have a nervous breakdown, whichever happens first...

Ready? Set? Sew!

Coupons Used: 0 - Coupons Remaining: 66

Projects Completed:
Nothing Yet

Items Purchsed:
Nothing Yet