I have finished my show quilts.  I still have to sew the labels on “Sky Horse” and my Chaucer quilt, which I have named “Canterbury Silk”, but I am ready to start an upgrade to my wardrobe.  Like I said in my last post:

One of the things that has occurred to me is that my wardrobe is looking a little on the dowdy side.  I managed to get to my retirement with a handful of slacks suits that have seen their better days and some blouses.  I made a few summer clothes last year, but I have to do something about my wardrobe.  It’s a very good thing I know how to sew and have a wonderful stash of fabrics fit for clothing, because my clothing funds are slim since I am going to Houston.

Sew I am starting my sewing plan for my wardrobe upgrade.  I found a good basic sloper in my massive pattern collection (not the one pictured here), an out of print pattern in the approximate right size. (Definition: A custom-fitted basic pattern from which patterns for many different styles can be created).  I’ll make one in muslin with wide seams and long stitches, and work it until I get it into a perfect fit, mark the sloper and take it carefully apart and fuse it to a woven interfacing.  Once you have one of these treasures, you can use it to design your own fashions or flat-fit patterns with.  It’s been many years since I have done one for myself. High time!

I have patterns for everything…not all the styles available but absolutely every type of thing…hats, bags, gloves, vests, coats, dresses, slacks, tops, tailored suits, intimates, swimsuits, special occasion, costumes, and retro garments.  Some of them are a little dated, or not even approaching the right size, but often have good lines to use with my sloper and my own ideas in an update.   I’ve usually dressed to my own drumbeat, and especially when it was not for my old workplace, which required mostly black, tan, or gray tailored suits with simple blouses.  But now I’m free, free, free…I am retired and playing in the artist world. Though in truth, I am wondering how well I will be able to break away from that fashion environment as I upgrade my wardrobe.  I do know I look  best in blacks, teals, and wines, and I have a nice stash of fashion fabrics that I must draw from (this is a tiny expenditure upgrade).  We’ll see what happens. 😎

Sew come along with me on this journey in my blog posts.  I’ll try to post the journey with pics and interesting pointers.

Sew happy everyone!  Teach someone to sew or quilt…yourself, your loved ones, your fur babies, your coach.  🙂