Workroom Notes No.1: The Week I Caught Up With Myself
I’m starting a new ‘behind the scenes’ series sharing what I do in my ‘work studio’ each week. I really wanted to call it ‘behind the seams’ but apparently Esme Young used that for a book title, and I wouldn’t want to get into trouble with Esme!
I’ll be covering the development process that happens when creating a new item, whether that’s a pattern or a physical item as well as anything else on my worktable that needs doing. From creating new designs on paper, patterning them out, sewing and tweaking, I’ll be sharing the rough notes on everything, including my initial plans, any issues that come up and how I troubleshoot them.
This week is the first full week of work since I got back from a few weeks in the UK, and I have a list of projects longer than my Dad’s arms – which are exceptionally long! A lot of time will be spent on patterning, and sampling patterns, but there will be basic mending too.
I feel inspired to crack on now that the creative juices are flowing after some weeks away.
Disclaimer: This will be written up at the beginning of each week as a workroom ‘To Do’ list and then added to on the weekend with progress updates and photos.
Week No.1’s Goals
To keep me on track I think it makes sense to create goals for the week over the weekend, so that what I add to my workroom to do list each week is on track.
The Main Goal
I have a vast collection of sewing patterns in my archive filing cabinet, and the plan this year is to get them digitised and available. It’s a steady way to earn an income, so it makes sense to get started.
The main goal for this weekend is to go through the filing cabinet and pull out three patterns that would be suitable to start with.
The conditions for selection are:
- Beginner friendly – I would like to bring more sewing beginners into my world, and beginner friendly patterns can help with this.
- Not generic – this is harder because easy usually equals generic.
- Easy to digitise – this is non-negotiable, as I have so much to do at the moment that anything complex is a non-starter until after the wedding.
The Three Smaller Goals
Creative Dressmaking Theme: I need to decide on a theme for May inside my Creative Dressmaking membership. I’m leaning towards a fabric manipulation theme, as it’s a creative one that members will enjoy.
Bridesmaid Dresses: I need to print and trace individual sizes of the pattern so that my construction timeline stays on track.
The Pile: I have limited space in the workroom, and part of it is taken up by a bag full of things that need fixing. I will tackle five this week.
Cypress Bag Pattern
I would love to finalise this sewing pattern which has been on my mind for a while. I drafted the second iteration of this pattern in Illustrator while traveling on the Eurostar to the UK and found out some suitable remnants I’d been given when back home.
I’m going to sample it up in the green canvas like fabric for the main front and back, and then use the crinkle curtain fabric for the gusset and straps.
I’m not sure about lining it at this point, but if I can get this first revised sample made, I’ll be able to work on the next step over the coming weeks.
Friday Update: I sewed up the main and strap, then decided I didn’t like the strap and cut it in half. I managed to cut two facings from the main fabric, but I’m still thinking through the strap situation. Maybe we revisit this next week!
Small Pouch Pattern
Another pattern from the archives of my sustainable fashion brand, this is a simple pouch pattern which will be available as a free pattern very soon.
There’s nothing super unique about it – which is why it will be freely available – but it is a great project for sewing beginners to start with.
My plan is to digitise the old pattern, sew up an unlined version and then make a miniature lined coin purse version as well.
Materials that I’ll be using are curtain fabric for the unlined version and leather remnant with cotton lining for the smaller version.
Friday Update: I sewed up the unlined cotton version and it went ok. It’s a lovely size, and I think people will enjoy the speediness of this project. I didn’t yet sew the smaller coin purse version as my leather sewing machine needs pulling out. Will get that done next week.
Willow Wallet for Pa
During my trip to the UK I planned to sew the Willow Wallet for my Pa on my Mum’s sewing machine, but despite being prepared with a leather needle and strong thread, her old machine could not handle the leather.
This week I’m hoping to get a new piece of leather cut out – the first piece got damaged from my Mum’s machine – and will attempt to get it sewn over the weekend.
Friday Update: I got the new piece of leather cut, and sewed the fabric pieces. I still need to get the leather pieces sewn and that will be next week now.
Bridesmaid Dress Pattern
I would like to get the pattern I plan to use printed out and stuck together by the weekend. I wasn’t feeling stressed about this because I’m aware of the different stages involved but my future MIL is not as relaxed as me about the (lack) of completed dresses so I need to get moving on this…
Friday Update: I did print out the pattern and I stuck it all together – win!
Five General Tidy Up Tasks
As well as specific projects, this week also saw me tidy up some of the ‘to do’ pile. I’m aiming for five tasks each week…
Belt Loops: I had a pair of white trousers which were given to me as a hand-me-down but as they’re too big at the waist, I really need to wear a belt with them. I made some belt loops from leftover cotton canvas and stitched them in place. Win!
Hemming Towels: Sometimes we end up with odd towels that don’t fit any room, so I removed them from the ‘to do pile’ by cutting and hemming them into smaller hand towels for the bathroom.
Ninni Shorts Pockets: I loved the Ninni shorts I made, but the pockets had me all in a tither last summer as they were just too flappy. This week I went in and topstitched them in place, so now they’re secure. I also stitched part way up the side seam so that things wont fall out so easily.
Pyjama Waistband: I made some PJs for D a couple years ago and he’s been holding the trousers up when walking around as the elastic went. This week I unpicked the waistline, removed the old elastic and put fresh super strong elastic in. He’s now complaining that they’re too tight. Sigh.
Tailored Jacket: This is an alteration I promised a friend. I had to get into the inside of the jacket, split the side seams on the main jacket and the lining and then sew them back up to form a split. It still needs pressing, but one down, one more jacket to go.
Week In Review
It’s Friday, and time to review what worked and what didn’t, based upon my goals at the beginning of the week.
I found three patterns out:
- Small pouch pattern
- Sundress pattern
- Cheeky shorts pattern
The first I started working on earlier in the week, and will carry through to next week. The sundress pattern has been scheduled in for next week and the cheeky shorts will get done before the end of May.
All three are beginner friendly and easy to digitise.
I set the theme for my Creative dressmaking members, and have recorded an inspiration video of the fabric manipulation technique I used for my GFW collection when I studied fashion design. I think it will be a winner! I have not yet edited or uploaded it, but will get that done over the weekend.
I have found out some fabric from my stash for a toile of the pattern I’m using for my bridesmaids dresses. It’s a bright pink crepe chiffon and not the perfect fabric, but it’s better than calico.
And as noted above, I also tackled five tasks from The Pile. Phew!
I hope you enjoy this new series sharing what is happening behind the scenes. I thought it would be a fun and realistic look at what goes on. I thought about capturing it all in a vlog style video but in all honesty, I write better and faster than I can record and edit video content, so this is the route I’m taking for now. Please do let me know what you’ve been working on this week in the comments!
See you on Monday for Workroom Notes No.2 entry!
Hi Eve, my head is spinning just reading about what you did in one week. I wish I had your energy. I’m still out in the garden, dealing with Dahlia’s, filler flowers, corn, squash, and you name it. Also digging up some shade beds that I want to revise. So my sewing room looks like a hoarders mess- fabric and notions sitting on my cutting table in a big pile. dt
Hey Denise! Yes, it was a lot to get done in a week, and I also wrote a new blog post that first week, but as that isn’t technically ‘workroom’ related, I left that off! Being in the garden sounds quite fabulous though! If we had such a garden I’m sure I’d be out there as much as possible, I envy you! I’m not sure if you saw the email that went out, but we have a members call next Thursday – your morning time! – in case you want some sewing chat!