Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Hitting the Pattern Sale

Joann had McCall patterns for 99 cents (rare--the sale is usually $1.99) and Vogues for $3.99 over the holiday weekend, so I undertook the epic journey by bus out to Seven Corners to stock up. My focus this year is on mindfulness when it comes to new fabric, which has cut my buying drastically (I am, however, hoping to lure Cidell into a visit to Fabric Mart's brick-and-mortar store eventually, at which point all bets are off.)

I am definitely happy with my restraint; looking at my over-full fabric shelves makes me feel a little panicky and the downward trend in their groaning overload must continue. However, I have never felt any such compunction when it comes to patterns, even though I have way WAY too many of those as well. Patterns are smaller, store more neatly, and are much easier to part with (I have a whole stack for Freecycle already pulled out). I don't feel weighed down by patterns as I do by fabric.

Knits 7-11 I love knits and I love knit patterns, so of course there were several of those in my basket. The Palmer/Pletsch basic tee on the upper right has a French dart. A friend with a large (to put it mildly) bust has asked me to help her come up with a basic tee pattern that she can make several of and I thought this might be a good place to start. I don't like that it's "semi-fitted" and neither will she (she is otherwise slim and if her clothes aren't fitted she looks much larger than she is due to her bust), but the marked lines on the pattern will help me with fitting.

If I ever find an animal print that I can stand (I have had several hints from the boyfriend that he would like to see me in animal print), the Vogue dress on the lower right will be the perfect pattern. I considered the ones that Fabric Mart just had on sale--I actually liked some of them--but I do not trust rayon knit and won't buy any that I can't feel first.

And the drapey, cowl-y top in the lower left is just fun.

Jackets 7-11 I neither make nor wear jackets, but why should that stop me from buying jacket patterns? I do plan to make a suit at some point this year. My 12 year old interview suit is not cutting it anymore. It was sold as a suit, not separates, so the skirt was a wee bit tight to begin with (the ol' pear shape situation). It is now unbuttonable, and it's not comfortable to have it zipped all the way. This is fine if I don't take the jacket off, but come on.

And yet, that still doesn't explain me buying these patterns, because the replacement suit will be the conservative, plain, and uninteresting, unlike these jackets.

Dresses 7-11 And of course, dresses. I really like the shape of the bodice on the vintage Vogue. I am very into the cut-on sleeve lately. This looks (of course, drawings can be very deceptive!) like it will have a nice shape over the shoulder.

The DKNY does not appeal to me much in the fancy satin fabric as shown, mostly because I do not need any more dress up dresses. However, when looking through the catalog I realized that it could be made in an everyday fabric for a flattering, sophisticated, but not fussy look. Must contemplate my stash.

I was drawn to the V neckline with collar on the Palmer/Pletsch shirtdress, though again the semi-fitted part of it gives me pause. I would want to tighten that up a bit. As it's a princess seam, it would be a cinch (do you see what I did there? har har).

I've been looking at the McCall with the drapey skirt for a while. It looks somewhat similar to my Drape Drape birthday dress, though actually looking at the pattern and instructions I saw that the drape skirt is actually an overlay, not the full skirt. I don't know that I have any plans for it, but I figured at 99 cents, it was less dangerous to my well-being than a candy bar.

Silk Jersey I got obsessed with M6363, in the upper left corner, from the moment I saw it on Debbie Cook's blog, even though she determined that the pattern drafting was a bust. So it may be a blessing in disguise that this is only a plus size pattern and I'm going to have to use it as a model to draft my own. I bought it so that I could see how the front is drafted. It seems obvious that it's a slash and spread, but I don't know where exactly it is slashed and how much to spread.

I bought this silk jersey in 2007 from Mood Fabrics, along with an eyelet that I am sewing as we speak (well, not literally, but it is my current project). It is time to sew this Too Good to Use! I have been looking for the perfect pattern for over four years and it is time to decide. If I can get M6363 to work for me, it is exactly what I have been looking for. Doesn't break up the print too much, but has tummy disguise and some style.



Who knows when I will get to any of these projects, but there's nothing wrong with a little fantasy sewing, right? What are you fantasizing about?

18 comments:

Uta said...

Great patterns! Good luck with finding an animal print knit fabric (there must be some out there, right?). This isn't my fantasy, but I'm sure the husband would appreciate some animal print in my life as well!

Mary said...

Good morning, I am on a pattern fast and seeing your post made my palms sweat a little. I did pick up some "vintage" patterns from unfinishedbusiness as she has literally hundreds to get rid of. But that is my only fall off the wagon. Oh, I had to get a few Sewing Workshop patterns too because they deserve a second chance from me. And the Vogues and Buttericks I got a few weeks ago don't count either because I needed those. Really, I need a 12 step program. :-)

Samina said...

I'm getting a bit drooly at the McCalls 6363 & the DKNY patterns, but I'm a fool for wrap dresses. My skill set is at the beginner level, so I'll stay away from the patter if it's got drafting problems.

Kathy said...

I have the exact same feeling about patterns vs fabric. Too much fabric makes me feel overwhelmed and unproductive. Patterns — who knows when they might come in handy. I am trying to sew fast, wearable separates right now but I still dream of making a leather jacket someday.

Clio said...

What is it with men and animal print? LOL And most look so cheap anyway. Good luck!

I hoard patterns too - great choices! I've been trying to decide on that DKNY dress, myself. I'm fantasizing about working on my next three lined up projects - border print pants (which could end in disaster), a jumpsuit (soo controversial!) and a dress for a dear friend's wedding (hugely challenging with bra cups, piping and all kinds of other nonsense). These days it seems like I'm not sewing unless I'm flirting with disaster, which is fun.

Karin said...

How will you ever sew so many dresses? I'll love watching see you try! So pretty. If I was in the US, I'd be gorging on 99 cent patterns too!

Katharine said...

Wow--pattern confessional this time! Oooh, I love patterns. Like Karin I would not have had the restraint you showed had I been in the US for that sale. I'm in awe that you can part with them easily, I'm the other way, if enabled by cheap patterns I'd buy stacks but am very, very picky about fabric. *Sigh* thanks for the fun by proxy :)

MushyWear said...

What a great deal on the patterns, and you have some interesting ones to make up. I love to have lots of patterns to choose from. The only drawback for me is trying to decide which one to make next!

Meg said...

Do you ever look at DVF for ideas? I think of her fashions when I see silk jersey.

Little Hunting Creek said...

I feel the same way - too much fabric makes me feel guilty, but a gal can never have enough patterns! I love that Palmer/Pletsch dress and it's on my worktable, waiting for a fabric inspiration

Amber Elayne said...

So jealous..... AUstralia's idea of a pattern sale is $6 for New Look and about $10 for everything else...

I'm loving the DKNY and V8705 and the M6321 looks adorable! Have fun!

AllisonC said...

Nice haul! I hit the shops yesterday for fabric so right now I am fantasising about getting it out of bags and into my wardrobe where I can feel less guilty about it!

Mrs. Micawber said...

I love that McCall's shirtdress and the drapey cowl-y top.

I hope the pattern drafting works out well. I tried a pattern with "tummy disguise" rather similar to this, but unfortunately it kind of molded right around the bulge and highlighted it instead of skimming it. (I think I used the wrong kind of knit - a very soft squishy cotton baby rib. Should have picked up something with backbone and Lycra.)

I have fabric guilt too (the Threads article on textile waste several issues back did nothing to alleviate it). Good luck depleting the stash! A worthy endeavour.

Paola said...

I've paid $13.00 Aus for a McCalls pattern on a 40% off sale. You really, really have to like a pattern before you can justify buying it here. Makes Burdastyle good value in comparison (at least until their aesthetic turned to sacks).

KathleenS said...

V1221 reminds me of your Burda 11-2007-109 dress, which I am a great admirer of. I also feel very weighed down by my fabric stash but not my patterns.

Marie-Christine said...

I suffer from the same schizoid delusion that too much fabric is oppressive, while too many patterns are just quirky. I think your analysis about how pattersn can be squirelled away easier in a visually non-offensive manner is right on the money.

I have seen some improvements lately. Since I've had a good personal block, and have kind of painfully ended up fixing up most everything to conform to it, my pitiful patternmaking skills have improved a bit. I still buy the occasional pattern for a specific feature, and buy many Burda magazines on the basis that they're most efficient. But since I know I kind of have to redraft, I now often just draft stuff right off. Maybe eventually I'll manage to winnow down the accumulation :-).

Kitty Couture said...

Completely agree with the lack of guilt when it comes to patterns! Although, that is not too much of an issue now that I live in no-fabric land - either of them is good to get now.
I got the same DKNY this very week, through sewingpatterns' 3.99 sale. It's been on my wishlist for months and I think it will look good on us petites!
Off to check all of your other pattern acquisitions at more length - I always love your choices so that is great inspiration for me.

Vanessa said...

Those are all great choices! That Vogue dress is no my list of items to sew as well. Erica B did a fabulous version of that one!