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My three Summer of Basics Garments

And it's a wrap. I finished my three Summer of Basics Garments on August 19 and I just love each and every piece. As a reminder, I made these three: Ogden Cami by True Bias, Basics Pocket Skirt by Cali Faye Collection and Davis Sweater by Pam Allen.

This project really pushed me to finish those pieces in time. I bought all of those patterns a very long time ago, I even had most of the material on hand but life happens and often it seems that other projects (especially paper projects) are more important than my handmade wardrobe. I tend to work on knitting projects all the time (I can easily knit while watching television) but when it comes to sewing projects I simply don't give myself enough time. Although I truly enjoy sewing. So I'm super happy that I spent some time in front of my sewing machine in the past few weeks. Here are my three finished basics:

OGDEN CAMI by True Bias

Fabric: Modal
Size made: 6
Modifications: none

I love True Bias patterns because they are written for a C cup. That means I don't have to make any adjustments and it fits perfectly. I don't own any v-neck camisoles (well, actually no camisoles with thin straps at all) so this was a no brainder that I had to make it. It looks great on its own but is also perfect for layering. The instructions were super good and this camisole turned out fantastic. I might lengthen my next one (yep, I'm planning to make many more of this pattern) by a few inches. I just like to have my tops a little bit longer.

DAVIS SWEATER by Pam Allen (for Quince&Co)

Yarn: Quince & Co Kestrel (Linen)
Size made: 44 3/4 (second size)
Modifications: none

I have to say, I was a bit surpried that I love this sweater so much. It's cropped (which is new to me) but SO perfect for layering. It works with almost everything underneath. In this photo I combined it with the Ogden Cami, here on Instagram I shared it paired with my Willow Tank. This sweater took me longer that it should have but I'm a bit lazy when it comes to new techniques (most of the time it's just a stich that's new to me) that I first have to look into before I can continue. I planned to lenghten it but then decided to go with the original cropped version because I wanted to have a sweater I could easily layer over other garments. And I also learned, that this yarn grows the longer you wear it.

BASICS POCKET SKIRT by Cali Faye Collection

Fabric: Linen
Size made: M
Modifications: For the hem I first folded it in 1cm and then another 4cm instead of neatening the base of the skirt and then folding it for 5cm. I also made just one top stitch at the hem instead of two.

Before this project I owned exactly zero everyday skirts. I have about three fancy skirts but nothing that I can wear on a daily basis or for work. Last summer I already complained about that when it was too hot for jeans (my usual work uniform) and this summer it was the same. So I finally made myself a basic skirt and I am in love with it! At first it was a bit tricky to pick the right size (in some parts my measurements said I had to make an M in some other parts an L). I decied to go with the size M based on the finished measurements and it fits great (it could be a tad bid slimmer, but it's very comfortable). The instructions were okay, but I had some difficulties with them when it was time to add the elastic. I'm pretty sure they aren't written correctly. Nevertheless I'm very happy with the finished skirt and it'll be on heavy rotation.

Overall I'm not only super happy about how well these pieces work together but also super proud of myself that I made three basics that I can add to my handmade wardrobe can be combined with other pieces from my wardrobe. And now it's time to plan my fall pieces to make...

Read more: The start of this project / An update

Summer of Basics: An update

We are already almost two months into the Summer of Basics Make-Along. I haven't yet finished any of the three projects but I am still on track. There are other project I'm working on in between (my Sea Shawl, my Range Shawl and a quilt for a friend) but these three are still at the top of my list. I love that this project inspires me to push through all the steps to finish in time. Sometimes, when I don't have everything on hand (I still need to buy that zipper for my skirt) I tend to put the project aside for a few months. But not this time. I need to buy the zipper in the next few weeks to finish it until the end of August.

Alright, let's take a look at that master to-do list I shared in June. All the crossed out tasks are already done.

OGDEN CAMI

• print pattern and instructions
• assembling the pattern
• decide which size to make and cut out pattern
• buy thread in the right color
• wash fabric
• iron fabric
• cut fabric
• sew garment
• take photos

 

BASICS POCKET SKIRT

• print pattern and instructions
• assembling the pattern
• decide which size to make and cut out pattern
• buy zipper and thread in the right color
• wash fabric
• iron fabric
• cut fabric
• sew garment
• take photos

 

DAVIS SWEATER

• print pattern
• decide which size to make
• wind skeins into balls
• make swatch
• knitting, knitting, knitting
• take photos

I have a little bit over a month to finish all the steps above and it should be manageable.  

Summer of Basics Make-Along

I heard about the Summer of Basics Make-Along for the first time back in March on the Fringe Association blog. I didn't make plans back then but now after Me Made May and that I learned, that I don't have enough basics, I decided to join. This Make-Along is about making three handmade clothes during three months (June, July, August 2017). And you can win fun prizes (although that's not the reason why I joined).

Last week when I jotted down some ideas about what to make, I made the decision to use just my stash. In the past months I collected fabric and yarn that's waiting to be made into something wearable. In January 2016 I wrote about a project called Stash_Less. For the Summer of Basics Make-Along I want to pick up that project again. So I am a bit limited to what I am able to make (I'd love to make a Fen Dress or the new Lodo Dress, but I don't have enough fabric for those projects in my stash).

I picked these three patterns to make for this make-along:

• Ogden Cami by True Bias in a dark petrol colored modal (it looks like black in the photo)
• Basics Pocket Skirt by Cali Faye Collection in gray/brownish linen
• Davis Sweater by Pam Allen in kestrel (linen yarn) by quince&co

This project doesn't mean, that I won't make more than three things in the upcomings months, but these are the ones I have to finish until the end of August.

To make this project a little bit more manageable I break it down to smaller steps:
(I crossed out the tasks that are already done)

OGDEN CAMI

• print pattern and instructions
• assembling the pattern
• decide which size to make and cut out pattern
• buy thread in the right color
• wash fabric
• iron fabric
• cut fabric
• sew garment
• take photos

 

BASICS POCKET SKIRT

• print pattern and instructions
• assembling the pattern
• decide which size to make and cut out pattern
• buy zipper and thread in the right color
• wash fabric
• iron fabric
• cut fabric
• sew garment
• take photos

 

DAVIS SWEATER

• print pattern
• decide which size to make
• wind skeins into balls
• make swatch
• knitting, knitting, knitting
• take photos

Me Made May 2017

This year I participated in Me Made May for the first time. The idea is to wear something you made everyday in May. Because I don't have enough clothes to wear something I made for 31 days in a row, I decided to work on something to wear on those days, I don't wear me made clothes.

In the image above you can see, what I wore in May and on which days I was making something. In the end I wore something me made on 20 days of 31. I'd say that's pretty rad. I expected it to be much harder and that I would end up with less days where I wore me made clothes.

I learned, that I don't have enough basics like simple shirts or tees. In the knitted cardigans section I already have a small collection, but when it comes to simple shirts my options are limited. And I also don't have enough clothes for the warmer weather. Those are the reasons that I decided to jump on the "Summer of Basics" Make-Along (more about that on Wednesday).

In May I made two new items. The Togue Pond by Pam Allen (that I started in April) and the Willow Tank by Grainlinestudio. Both turned out really amazing and I'm sure I'll wear them all summer long.

These are the clothes I wore during Me Made May:

• Woven Hudson Pants by True Bias (day 2 / day 25)
• Adventure Tank by Fancy Tiger Crafts (day 3 / day 10)
• Adventure Tank by Fancy Tiger Crafts that I lenghten by 4" (day 16 / day 24 / day 31)
• Range Shawl by Andrea Mowry (day 4 / day 8 / day 14)
• Bellows Cardigan by Michele Wang (day 5 / day 6)
• Gray Cardigan I made in 2014 during my knitting class (day 9 / day 20 / day 21)
• Lucinda Sweater by Carrie Bostick Hoge (day 12)
• Rosemont Cardigan by Hannah Fettig (day 17)
• Ludlow Shawl by Julie Hoover (day 19)
• Togue Pond by Pam Allen (day 26)
• Willow Tank by Grainlinestudio (day 29)

My FibreShare experience

I heard about FibreShare sometime last year on Instagram. When I was scrolling through the hashtags #fibreshare and #fibresharepackage I got really exciting in participating one day. Back in March I finally signed up and I am so happy I did.

So what is FibreShare you might ask. FibreShare is all about swapping fiber. You sign up for just $7 and then you will receive two partners. One whom you will sending some fiber, and one who will send you some fiber. There are different categories to sign up for - I signed up for the knitting category.

You also have to fill out a form where you answer some specific questions. Your partner (the one who has to send you something) will get your answers to get to know you a little bit better and also for information about what you like.

The person (Anita) I had to send some fiber was very open with her answers which meant it was a little bit trickier to put together a package for her. I also double checked with her if I got her colors right.

My package for her included more than just yarn. I wanted to create a fun package with lots of other things to find (although this is not mandatory. The only requirement is, that you send 200g of fiber). I bought some yarn, used some from my stash, bought my fave chocolate (I'm from Switzerland, so that was a must), included some tea and some photos I took. As a special treat I got some weaving tools from SonoraHandmade. Anita mentioned, that she likes to weave.

Here's a list of everything I included:

• a few photos I took sometime which match the colors Anita likes
• a quote card from a past storykit by Ali Edwards
• a card with the colors Anita likes
• red and light blue yarn from my stash
• light pink yarn from gregoria fibers (love that she offers custom orders)
• nature wool from lanarara (I wanted to include something made in Switzerland)
• three mini skeins from Patte De Velours (hand dyed in Switzerland)
• chocolate and tea
• my favorite hat pattern by erica knits
• weaving tools by SonoraHandmande

Anita told me, that she really liked my package. And I'm so happy about that. In the end I just really love to give.

 

And of course I also received a package. The wonderful Amalia sent me some really, really great things.

THE FIBER

• Cotton yarn from Wool and the Gang
• two hand dyed skeins from her own shop
• Rowan wool
• MadelineTosh wool
• Shelter from BrooklynTweed (It's the first time I was able to touch it)
• and a mini skein by nox yarn

She included her own yarn that I can experience to work with speckled yarn. Super love this, because so far I only worked with solids (I shared a few photos about that here on Instagram).

THE EXTRAS

• embroidery kit (super excited about that!)
• wool soap (I mentioned, that I want to try wool soap, love that she included these two in my package)
• some tea and chocolate
• handmade bag, made by @rosebudandpenny (everything was packed in that bag)

 

So, if you were thinking about signing up (I don't know when the next round happens) or never heard of this, I can highly recommend this swap. It's well organized and you will definitely get to know new people. But the best part is to collect things to create a package for your partner.