Tag Archives: patternmaking

2012

It’s almost inevitable to spend the end-of-the-year holidays reflecting on the year you’re leaving behind, and the one you’re approaching. 2011 has been all over the place for me; I completed my fashion design bachelor in May, I left Chicago behind to go on a three-month road-trip/camping-trip, and I moved back to Norway in August. I’ve been living without most of my belongings since leaving Chicago (they’re on their way, but goodness – several months overdue!), so settling in hasn’t been quite complete yet. With this year of adventure and nomadic living behind me, I am hoping for settling in 2012. I’m want to have all my belongings in one place again, and I’m looking forward to some measure of routine!

                           

And for a peak back at what I’ve made this past year – look at that! I think I have some colors I keep coming back to! ;) I’m quite surprised that I’ve knit more items than I’ve sewn this year, but I think the work on the collection skews that – I mean, does one tailored, fully lined coat equal one knit baby hat? I think perhaps not! But that collection has definitely ruled my sewing world this year.

What’s in store for 2012 then? I want to sew more for me. Sewing school-projects has been a ton of fun, especially going through the process of drafting and fitting patterns before sewing the actual garments. But they weren’t necessarily for me! There is a backlog of things I’ve been wanting to sew, and now is the time. For example, I have a Beignet skirt high on my list, and I’ll be doing Tasia’s sew-along for the Minoru jacket now in January.

There are most things still from my fall pallette challenge to sew, like jeans, pencilskirts, blouses, and dresses. I want to do a detailed series on tailoring jackets, and I have a handful of my own designs I’ll be making as well.

Most excitingly, I’ve been working behind the scenes on a line of sewing patterns! I’m still working hard on them, and will be starting small with just one pattern at a time. I’d love your help though, so if you’d like to be a pattern tester, follow this link to my pattern tester survey! Everybody is welcome, I’m hoping to have the first pattern ready for testing early spring.

I’m looking forward to this year, and I hope everybody else is too! Now, if only my fabrics, patterns, and tools could arrive so I could get started sewing again!

the perfect pants project

Pretty nice outfit, yeah? I love grey jeans. I think they are more versatile than both proper “blue jeans”, and black jeans. I’m pretty sure the secret is that grey fades so beautifully. They never look like they are worn out, or get tell-tale lighter ridges along the seams. I mean, they do, but it doesn’t scream “too worn”.

Anyways, these jeans are pretty perfect, in my eyes. They are flattering in color, and in cut, and they are very comfortable. So… what’s the problem? Let’s look closer:


And closer:

Yep, these are absolutely in the “cannot pretend any longer that they aren’t worn out” category. I guess it’s ok – they have lasted me four years, which isn’t bad for a pair of jeans from Zara. But! I’ve decided to let them live on through my “perfect pants project” (I even made a button for the sidebar!). I will use this pair of jeans to trace and tweak a pattern for the perfect pair of pants.

This will mean methodically taking the worn pair apart, recording the steps and methods of constructing them, tracing the pieces to make a pattern, and then making a pair of pants from scratch using the pattern and the sewing steps from the original pair. I’m in no hurry to complete this project as quickly as possible. In fact, knowing myself and my schedule, it will work out the best if I break it down into many steps, over many months.

Does anyone else have a favorite pair of pants that just aren’t appropriate to be seen in public with anymore? Anyone want to join me in trying to recreate the perfect pair of pants?