Since school started my days have been a blur of non-sewing activity. The youngest is playing both JV and Varsity football and my college alma mater is also in full swing which has not left me much time to post or sew! After a couple of weeks away from my machines I’m starting to have withdrawals so even though I won’t have a chance to sew much until the weekend, I have spent the last several lunch hours plotting my fall sewing.
First up is the Fall for Cotton challenge being hosted by Rochelle and Tasha. Both ladies are geniuses at taking quilting cottons or novelty fabrics and turning them into wardrobes of art! While I aspire to someday reach that pinnacle, this month I am more interested in using the fabric I bought initially for the Sew Weekly Reunion before the By Hand London Anna pattern swept me off my feet. The pattern was one I received during the Patterns and Notions Swap from Amanda and fits my style perfectly. The pattern Amanda sent me also included a knitted jacket that I have almost completed. I have about 20 rows and then this jacket will be off the needles!
Green/Black Cotton 2013
Mail Order 9387 Size 22.5
Though I have already completed my first Anna, the gals at By Hand London are hosting a sewalong so I plan to stitch up another during the next few weeks. The pattern is pretty straightforward but I can always use a few tips on the finer art of finishing so I plan to take advantage of the tutorials being offered. This time I may use a more structured fabric similar to Lauren’s seersucker version using some blue geometric Ralph Lauren fabric I picked up in Harrisonburg, VA during our trip to Gettysburg this spring.
Blue Geometric 2013
Last but certainly not least is Sarah’s Fall Essentials Sew Along 2013. I plan to utilize the corduroy and suiting material in my stash to add some basics to my wardrobe.
Blue Corduroy 2013
Rose Suiting 2013
There are several new patterns coming out in the next two weeks and many are definitely going to be on my must sew list for the fall. My current pattern wish list includes:
- Cake Patterns Cocoa Knit Shrug
- Cake Patterns Red Velvet Dress
- Cake Patterns Carmine Knit Jacket
- Christine Haynes Emery Dress
- Lolita Patterns Sugar Plum Dress
- Megan Nielson Kelly Skirt
Are you taking part in any of this month’s challenges and if so what patterns are you planning to use?
My Modern Vintage 
Our pattern wish list is pretty much identical, but I had not seen the Sugar Plum Dress. It’s on the list now!
Lolita Patterns is a new company and the Sugar Plum is their second pattern. What I really like about their approach is the fact that Lolita is addressing the plus size pattern head on. Instead of having to buy a pattern outside my size range then grading up with guesswork, Lolita Patterns is planning ahead by having two nested sizes. After all the uproar last week over at Colette regarding plus size pattern making, it is super refreshing to have a new Indie company that is specifically addressing my needs as a plus size sewist. In fact, their latest post explains even more about their reasoning. I for one am definitely going to give Lolita a shot.
http://www.lolitapatterns.com/lolita-patterns-sizing-follow-up/
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