Sewing in collections… I heard this idea three years ago and I was intrigued (oh my… do I really sew three years already and still am such a beginner?). I was introduced to this concept by the lovely blog of Emily Hallman. On and of over the last year I looked at her site but thought she had quitted writing and sewing only to discover today that she had to take time out because of her father falling ill. So happy she is back (and her father back to health). And I am so excited to not only tell you about her approach to sewing, no I even have followed her guidelines and I can proudly present results in the “collection” department.
So, what is it all about? The first encounter with Emily’s blog was because I loved the circle skirt dresses, she has made and by researching them I stumbled about her concept of collection sewing which she learned during her fashion design study. In complete contrast to me she plans before she cuts the fabric, and her planning is oriented on selling clothes – although her blog is about making her private wardrobe not about clothes to sell.
The first three questions she asks are “Who will wear the garment? Which kind of fabric to use? Is there a cohesive theme?” The first question seems easy if you are sewing for yourself, but its deceptive. I often notice that the concepts about which kind of garments I would like to wear, and which garments I actually wear are quite different. So, here could be a starting point to research, to introspect, to have more successful makes (aka: a lot of wear per garment).
left: bargain boxes; right: my new skirts in the make
The question about the fabric… yeah, there I had to laugh a bit. She has a whole blog post dedicate on how to choose the right fabric and how much of the good stuff you should by. Her conclusion: 4 yards (365 cm). I am still laughing, because so far, I always buy the least possible amount of fabric. Often my fabric is from the scrap box, and I try to puzzle something out of tiny amounts like a sweater from 1 m² of fabric. Yep, maybe I should change my mindset here. Sadly, its not only mindset but also money as fabric is expensive. My answer to this in the last months is that I tried to mix her and my ideas about fabric shopping: I took one of my „statement“ fabrics from the scrap box as the starting point and bought a bit more than usual of matching fabric which was affordable.
And this already touches the last question, the question about the style/color/fit idea behind the collection one is sewing. Mine is about cuddling and bold colors, about a chinched waist and wide shoulders. Sounds good but to be honest my collection-creating is still in the infancy stage because I created outfits which are staple for me, the half circle skirt, and sweatshirts with statements sleeves. But – yes there is a but – I planned the colors in advance. I planned several garments I can interchangeably wear without getting dizzy from the color combination (hmmm, I do not get dizzy, but I cannot guaranty that you won’t get ill from the colors :-D) and this is something I always wanted to do but never did.
So here it is my first collection which I call Rainy Spring
Emily Hallman has several dress forms so her presentation is much better than mine, but you – dear needleworkers – are so creative that I am sure you can envision what I am doing with my less polished photos.
the recreated skirt... I definitly will make another one with a bit more room at the waist
My collection consists of one finished sweater, several planned sewed and knitted sweaters and two circle skirts, one in black (I needed to replace my beloved 15-year-old H&M skirt) and one with green, purple and yellow flowers. The latter being the center piece of my collection around which the other garments are designed. The fabric is a perhaps meant to be a bag or a raincoat? I am not sure… It is kind of stiff, woven fabric with a tiny amount of stretch and a rubbery feeling. I found said fabric in the famous scrap box and was in love with the colors.
To accompany these bold colors I bought a purple fluffy fabric. I am a bit strange sometimes and this strangeness made me start the whole project with the fluffy sweater (you saw it last week) instead of starting with the center piece, the flower skirt. But I was so afraid to ruin the fabric that I needed the time to muster the courage to work with this irreplaceable wonderful bargain bin fabric. To overcome my fear, I started out with sewing the black skirt first. Tada it worked (photos are above). Fortified by this success I immediately sewed the flower skirt. Tada I succeeded… but… while trying it on and walking three steps I noticed the rubbery fabric bunched up around my thighs and in no way could I wear it without a underskirt. Clever me only basted the waistband, so I had no problem to insert an underskirt. And second tada 🎉
I know my actual collection is quite small, but I am working on some artworks for the next exhibitions so, sewing needs to wait till next week. Planned are a turtleneck sweater with puff sleeves made from the yellow velour fabric, a puff sleeve sweater with a wide neckline (or a gathered neckline if I find a pattern for this) made from the black knit, and another Fibremood Paola sweater from the green fluffy fabric. In my wardrobe I have a green cardigan (Jenna pattern), a bought yellow blouse and the lavender wrap cardigan I am knitting right now may harmonize too (not completely sure about the color).
I am contemplating to sew a blouse in the blue/black fabric to have a more edgy mix and perhaps I am knitting another cardi or sweater with the bright pink yarn. I only have one ball of it, but I am tempted to buy more. The last item I have planned is a black skirt with irregular gathers for which I will use the skirt part of my last artwork/dress. But here I am only in a thought process.
I hope I manage to discipline myself so that I make more matching garments in near future and less strange single pieces :-DDD
What do you think of my Rainy Spring collection? Good idea or fad? Are you already planning your makes in collections, or would this suck the fun out of your sewing/knitting/crochet? I am really curious to read about your experience.
Thank you @crosheille for initiating and @marblely and @kattycrochet for hosting the #needleworkmonday and the community builder team @lauramica and @romeskie I am so glad to be part of. If you want to see more beautiful projects with yarn, fabric, and most of all needles, follow @needleworkmonday. Or even better grab your needles and keyboard and join the #needleworkmonday community.
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I love it!
I love the colours, they really are Spring. I have tulips, daffodils and hyacinths sitting here in those colours (and also slightly reminiscent of the blue and black fabric, sometimes the hyacinths have that intense blue or almost black appearance). I am always struck in the Spring by the colours of the cut flowers I have in the house and the contrast of the blooms with the foliage.
I like how you are putting your collection together, too. The purple top looks lovely with the skirt, really lifts it :). I like the other selections, too, they look very well together and the different combinations of sweaters, cardigans and sweatshirts.
Rainy Spring could be right: it is raining here 😂
Yesyesyes... I also was reminded of hyacinths (and crocuses - ours are blue and yellow). But you are right tulips are also in this color range. I think I forgot them, because ours are not yet blooming (the garden is always a bit behind, not sure why its colder there).
ANd thank you for your collection support :-D I hope I will really sew all the things I planned because one plan already fell: the pink yarn is discontinued and I may have started something in beige/off-white yarn (was not planned). In my mind it will also fit with the skirt, but I am not sure it will hold in reality. Its the hexagon crochet cardigan I wanted to start for longer now and @blezyn version is soooo lovely, I think I need it right now :-DDDD
I think you have been heading for the collection idea for a little while? But sometimes the implementation or realisation comes a long time after the idea - it does for me 😍.
The cut tulips I have in the house are commercially grown and are ahead of the garden tulips (literally left out in the cold), in nature, they wouldn't appear at the same time as the daffodils 😂.
We've talked about capsule wardrobes, I think you did a post long ago, and I discover within capsules, there are modules, like little sub-capsules. Modules seem to correspond with "collection".
Yes the collection or sub-capsule is a recurrent topic. We will see if I managed to avoid distractions (in form of lovely fabric and yarn colors :-DDD) THe other problem could be purple-weariness. THe flower dress and the fluffy sweater are in heavy rotation right now and I can feel my wish for different colors creeping up 😱
wow my dear! You brought up a very interesting topic: wardrobe planning! this is a very wise and practical approach to things from which I am delighted but .... well, you understand me! 😂🙈 I really like all the skirts that you sewed. your purple skirt looks great with the outfit you chose and it suits you very well 😀
I wanted to plan my wardrobe for longer but like you I never managed or was distracted by all the lovely colors :-DDD We will see, if I manage to stick to my plan (I may already have started something unplanned in crochet 🙈)
ANd thank you so much for the complements <3
Very nice! And what an interesting idea. I always plan my wardrobe a little, and I'm currently knitting a summer top, but I never thought of doing a collection.
Me neither... no idea why I never thought about the collection, it seems quite helpful (so far... I will report if it really worked out :-DDD)
How do you decide which design you are knitting and which color to chose. Do you have your wardrobe in mind or are you drawn to the colors themselves?
I only got back into knitting last year. I would say that it started when I was seduced by a beautiful wool and then I chose the design with an idea in mind of what my wardrobe could use, what the sweater would go with. For the second sweater, I wanted something comfy for home but one where the knitted stitches would show -- they were hidden in the fuzziness of the first sweater. Sweater #3 started with a beautiful linen yarn and I wanted something summery with short sleeves. In every case, I was using custom fit patterns I had recently discovered that could be modified in many ways and knit to really fit your body the way you want. And I like that idea because it's a waste of time & money to buy or make things that you don't love and wear.
Yeesssss yarn is so seductive 😍 But good you were so attentive to consider your wardrobe before starting the projects. ANd custom fit patterns (or patterns which are tried and fit) are really a blessing. I am not a big fan of unravelling and as you said knitting or crochet takes a lot of time and making something that does not fit or looks strange is annoying (but still happens to me from time to time).
On the sweater I'm knitting now, I finished the back then just as I finished the band on the front, my needle broke! My favourite pair that had belonged to my grandmother. So I substituted other needles that are the same size in theory but not in practice. With drama like this, I will never look at knitting as boring!
I find the flower skirt more than beautiful, it is a great idea and an ambitious project that will surely look great, much success with that collection
THank youuuu <3 I am still working on the project. I had not much time to sew this week, but hope to finish another sweater till Monday.
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Thank you so much for the your support <3
Now that you mentioned it, I noticed that my crochet projects these days has always come in set. In my case, I actually made 6 purses in total, one after another. Each with different designs and styles. I did not realize that I was already making a collection. The inspiration just comes flooding in while I'm in the process of completing one bag after another.
I hope I could make an outfit collection too. I think I'm in that direction already. I just recently purchased a mannequin. Haven't used it though. Haha.
Yesyesyes, I remember your bags and I know I loved them. I guess you are in generell a bit better in choosing colors which fit together 😍 And I love to hear you want to start making more garments. Will you stick to crochet or do you plan to sew? And what kind of mannequin did you buy… I am very curious what your up to 🙏
How nice that someone like Emily inspired you to make your Rainy Spring collection. I really like your cover, it's perfect for me. I congratulate you for taking the time to make this collection and wish you luck with your future projects.
Thank you for the support <3 I was really amazed of Emily's blog, she is such a good seamstress and designer... a lot to learn for me. And with the Rainy Spring collection. I hope I can make the yellow top this week but right now I am glued to my desk with a lot to work... sewing has to wait for spare time.
Hope you are well <3
That is such a good idea. I am a bargain bin shopper too when I buy fabric, just because of cost - but even more so, I am a reuse-old-clothes-for-their-fabric person. A good idea to get some leeway when you don't quite have enough of one or the other...
I would have never known that the flower fabric was raincoat-like material. You can safely sit on a bench when it's raining now!! :D
I just a second ago wrote to @cryptocariad that I need to beam the fabric shop to her (or her into the shop) or that we should meet in Utrecht or Maastricht as they have even more of this unloved fabrics which have mistakes in weaving or color). Now we need a Beamer for three - but which works once should do it thrice (could be a spell :-DDD)
Yes, please, @neumannsalva ! Beam me up to the fabric shop ! 😁
Beam me up, Scottie!
This is so lovely! You are doing a great job with your wardrobe. My favourite would be the purple sweater, just by the look of it, it feels so comfortable, I wouldn't mind wearing it everywhere.
I can't wait to see this, I'm always intrigued by the puff sleeves on sweaters.
I wonder if I would be any good at making a collection, yours seem to be going pretty well.
THank youuuuu. I also love the purple sweater and as its so cold again here, I am wearing it constantly. This make really paid out. And I am absolutely sure that you could make a collection, you have such a good eye for color. I see crochet cardigans and matching blouses in the near future :-) (I remember that you can also sew as you made this amazing light blue top which was a mix of crochet and sewing)
This is awesome, I wear my Hexagon sweater often too, It is really comfy.
I could try making a collection but I don't exactly know what will be in it😂
Yes, I do. I just enjoy crocheting more. But I am thinking of getting a new sewing machine for myself for whenever I need it. Since, I no longer have easy access to that of my mom.
A sewing machine is a blessing, makes sewing so much faster and easier. And sharing one is a good idea (I did this with the overlocker before I bought one from the scholarship). I hope you find a nice and affordable machine when you want to buy one.
I also love crocheting or knitting much more than sewing, but the latter is so fast and versatile for garment making... its my greed for new clothes that leads me 😆 😆 😆
Hahahahaha, yes! Sewing is faster and in my opinion, less stressful and you can make many beautiful designs in a short period as compared to crochet or knitting. I plan to get my sewing machine towards the end of the year, I think that is when I will be able to afford one. What do you think, can I make a collection with crochet items only?