In my 2018 sewing project recap, I mentioned that I wanted to make 12 projects in 2019, or roughly one a month. Instead of every month scouring the fabric store looking for ideas, I figure this year it would be better to start off with a plan. A plan of projects that I would like to make to expand my skill set, as well as my round out my #HandmadeWardrobe. So I have made a short list of 5 fashion design projects that I would like to make (or at least attempt!) in 2019, so that I can start off strong, and jump right into it for January. Here are the projects:
1. A hand painted dress
I have a vision of something I must have seen in a store somewhere, and I can’t get the idea out of my head. The idea would be to pattern an entire dress and cut the fabric on bleached silk or cotton, and hand-paint the whole thing after it’s cut. I’m not sure what the design would be, as I am not an artist, but even some sort of vague watercolor shapes would be interesting!
2. Something pieced with lace
This could be a dress or top, but really I just want to explore the idea of using lace as it’s own pattern piece, cutting away along the designs, and piecing it with silk lightweight cotton. This could be really beautiful for a summer dress or a fancy, lingerie-style top, I haven’t decided. Either way, I am eager to play with a few techniques (I think I would have to research and practice this first) in order to create something unique and beautiful!
3. An architectural jacket made of boiled wool
This is pretty specific, and I think I know exactly what I want to make here. I am dying to make a jacket, but I have tried before and all of the linings, interfacings, and crazy collar details have ruined me. Boiled wool is fun in that due to it’s boiled or ‘shrunken’ state, it doesn’t unravel and thus, doesn’t need to be lined. I would still need to try out some new techniques in order to make a jacket, but I think that starting off with this fabric will be the path to jacket-making least resistance.
4. A modern, perfect-for-me, suit
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here and presume a ‘suit’ the way you are assuming. I am thinking something like a vest and pants, or top and skirt combination that feels wearable and professional, but perfect for me. I want to push myself…. but not too far. And I’m thinking leopard….?
5. Pants… with a Twist
I’m not sure what the ‘twist’ is yet, but once upon a time, I was good at making pants. I would loooooove to get back there, so I need to get more comfortable pattern-making and correcting the fit with a few pairs of pants first (see above, maybe?). I think something like a paper bag waist or an assymetrical fly would be cool, but I’m not sure what it is yet. The goal of everything this year is to be wearable, fit well, and fashion-forward. No boring blue pants here!
