I have decided to try the Stitcher’s Guild SWAP (Sewing with a Plan) Contest again. I successfully completed all the pieces by the deadline for SWAP 2010, but for the last two years, I have come up short time wise. Still, I consistently find I have enough NSOs and fabric in my stash that I can develop a SWAP plan without doing a lot of purchasing.
So, this year the contest is to create two different mini collections with a crossover piece that works with both of them. I’m going to do one contemporary collection and one vintage inspired collection with a coat that will crossover between the two of them.
Collection 1: Contemporary Professional
2 bottoms, 3 tops
1.Vogue 1051 – dress pants in brown. Because there are fewer items to sew this year, I will do all of the details this time around. All buttons and welt pockets. I have a habit of leaving the back ones off, but not this time.
2. Vogue 1059 OOP – dress pants in black. I bought this pattern during the last BMV out of print patterns sale. I will do View A because I prefer the zipper in the front.
3. McCalls 6122 – white button down shirt. This is an NSO I’ve had fabric for for a couple of years now. It was part of my SWAP 2012 plan but I ran out of time and made a different shirt instead. This shirt can be worn with either pair of pants
4. A lacy knit top using Simplicity 4023 as a base. I’ve used this simple knit top pattern as a template for several knit shirts. I have some white lace that I plan to use this time. It will work with either pair of pants
5. Butterick 4556 OOP – knit shirt in grey. I’m planning to do view A with the decorative tie at the neck.
Collection 2: Vintage inspired2 tops, 1 bottom, 1 dress
1. Colette Patterns, Jasmine blouse – I plan to make this blouse out of some red and pink fabric that I designed on Spoonflower so it is an experiment in all respects. It has a tie at the neck so it will connect it a bit with Butterick top from the first collection.
2.White cotton blouse inspired by this Vintage Pattern on Pinterest
3. Burda 8155 – My new favourite pencil skirt pattern. I’ll make this one in black so it can be worn with both tops.
4. I’ve decided to do a Little Black Dress for my dress for this collection. I have never really had one before so I decided that a vintage inspired one would be a good choice. It will be inspired by this vintage pattern. I plan to work with Simplicity 3673 and then create the cowl back.
Bridging Piece:
We need to create a bridging piece for this SWAP. I plan to do a Spring coat. I bought fabric awhile ago to make a knee length coat. The fabric is floral printed so the coat will supplement my trench coat but not replace it. I plan to design it myself rather than use a pattern. It will have a high neck, flare at the waist and have slit pockets in the front.
Work Plan.
In order to stay on top of this SWAP, I need to give myself some deadlines along the way so I can tell if I’m falling behind. April tends to be busy at work so I need to get as much done as possible before then. Here are my targets:
December:
By the end of December I would like to have completed the two knit tops from Collection 1 and the Burda pencil skirt from Collection 2
January:
January is pants month. I need to get the two pairs of pants done in this month and I would like to get the Jasmine blouse done as well.
February:
This month I sew the coat. Since I still have to develop it, I expect this will take all month.
March:
In March I need to get through the button down white shirt, and the vintage inspired cotton blouse
April:
This leaves April for the Little Black Dress and anything else I am behind on.
Let’s see how I do this year.
Nomadic Stitches 