2021 Sewing Plans: May Check-In

links to are to inspiration pics, finished projects, and patterns used

Below is everything I’m supposed to have made by now, with the things I’ve actually made crossed off :

• Bedgown/Adrienne - pattern TBD
• Shift - self-drafted
• All Well Cardigan
• Seamwork Kenzie Skirt: altered to work like an 18th C. petticoat
• Seamwork Willis Shirt
• Long-Sleeve Band Collar Shirt - pattern TBD
• Seamwork Nolan Pants
• Thimble and Plume Wulsthaube to go under my current headwraps
• Bum Pad - self-drafted
• 1780s or 1790s stays - pattern TBD
• Easter/Pentecost Special Occasion Outfit

3 out of 11. Wow.

I have to remember that I *knew* I would have some setbacks, which is why I don’t have plans for the last half of the year. I knew I would need this time to catch up.

What have I actually made so far?

• 1 Jacket, but I didn’t use the All Well Cardigan
• 1 Petticoat, but I didn’t use the Seamwork pattern, though I did follow along somewhat with the Burnley & Trowbridge tutorial (see a theme emerging?)
• 2 Gathered Midi Skirts, following Rosery Apparel’s tutorial (these are my pride and joy)
• 1 Seamwork Akita Top
• 1 House dress where I tested making a super simplified version of the Watteau pleats I need to practice to execute my historical costuming dream project: a mustard yellow casaquin / adrienne / contouche and matching quilted petticoat
• 2 stuffed bunnies for baptism and 1st birthday gifts (sadly no pics for these)

I did end up making the Special Occasion Outfit hence the unplanned Akita Top and the second Gathered Midi Skirt! I used a beautiful peachy linen that I will also be using to make a robe that will suffice for the Bedgown on my list. Speaking of which…

What have I learned about my creative process so far?

1. I will - without fail - get sidetracked by unplanned projects and change my mind about the project itself in the middle making it slowing my progress to a crawl
2. I need to include the time and energy it takes to make mockups in my mental and handwritten planning for any project that is large or that I want to come out perfectly
3. Having an unmovable event assigned to a project is the most reliable way to keep myself on track
4. I really need to get in the habit of clearing my sewing table after each project; half of my slow down comes from getting to the point of not being able to work and just letting stuff sit on my sewing table for weeks.

What am I working on now?

So I have reapproached the Bedgown project AND the Seamwork Nolan Pants. More on that in Part 2!