Workroom Notes No.3: Five Goals, An Online Course, One Week.

I feel like last week was a very heavy week of work. Not only was I working on drafting and modifying sewing patterns, but I spent a lot of time sewing and writing up construction notes.

I would like this week to be a little less intense, as I also have a new online course starting in one week, and have created my Workroom To Do List with this in mind!

Week No.3 Goals

I know it looks like I set a lot of goals, but these are to help guide me through what ‘needs’ to be done versus what I would ‘love’ to have done. Consider this my barometer of whether a project should be worked on or not.

Goal No.1: I want to have one of the patterns I’ve been working on available in my online shop before next Monday. I’t may be the pouch pattern or the Starling Summer Dress pattern, I’m not sure which, but one of them will be complete!

Goal No.2: Create the first two weeks of lessons for my new online course Design & Make Your First Me Made Garment.

Goal No.3: Add in the weaving with fabric resources for this month’s project in Creative Dressmaking.

Goal No.4: Continue developing my sewing patterns.

Goal No.5: Progress with wedding / bridesmaid projects.

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.

A Brain Dump of All The Week 3 Things

It feels easier for me to brain dump the ideas I’m having for the week ahead, with the Week No.3 goals in mind. Anything that is’t on point

The Floppy Hat Pattern

Rather cheeky of me, but I started digitising this pattern last week very late one night. I had the idea during Circles month in my membership but it took the weather warming up to get me to get the pattern into Illustrator and then printed out again.

I really want to make the scalloped version ASAP because it would be such a gorgeous summer hat!

Friday Update: I did not get this project sewn up yet. I did talk about on my most recent Creative Dressmaking member call on Thursday, and I’m secretly planning to sew this up over the weekend. I actually have been day dreaming about this when trying to get to sleep, so it needs to be done!

Pattern Making Video Tutorials

This is something that has been on my list for a while, and as I’m running out of ‘quiet time’ – the period of the academic year where I am surrounded by silence – I need to get some recorded this week.

I’m thinking I’ll do some sleeve drafting tutorials, and perhaps two neckline variations too. Pattern making tutorials always do well on my blog and my YouTube channel, and should hopefully lead people into my Creative Dressmaking membership too.

Friday Update: I got one video recorded and edited but not yet uploaded to YouTube. Will schedule it for next Friday!

Starling Summer Dress Pattern

I adore how the Starling Summer Dress turned out in the coral coloured cotton double gauze. I think the addition of the embroidery – despite being just a basic stitch on my sewing machine – really adds a sweet touch.

This week I need to write up the construction notes, edit the photos I took during the process and review the video footage I captured as well.

I’m hoping to get the video edited and up on my YouTube by the end of the week, but at the very least I want to have the pattern fully finished.

Friday update: I did not succeed in getting the video edited and uploaded or the photos edited. The construction notes are fully written though, so perhaps next week!

May’s Creative Dressmaking Project

The theme for May is fabric weaving, and I have some thoughts on what to do. I may not have the time for an in-depth project, but I can absolutely work on something smaller, which will in turn get the creative juices flowing for members.

Bridemaid Dresses

I know this isn’t technically ‘work’ but as I am constructing all the dresses, I need to add this to my workroom to do list.

The plan is to get a second toile sewn up this week. Probably my youngest niece’s dress, as it feels ‘easier’ as a smaller dress! Though the measurements were taken by her dad, so I’m a bit sketchy on whether it’s going to be accurate.

The other option is to toile up my Maid of Honours dress, and then take enough fabric for my Niece’s dress back with me in June and sew it then.. decisions!

Friday Update: This is weekend work. Argh!

My Wedding Dress

I did get some fabrics ordered to my Dad’s last week, which I am excited about. There’s a long cut of fabric for my evening skirt and some lining for my corseted bodice.

I need to finalise the pattern for my main skirt, and the evening skirt as well. If you’re not up to date on the plan, I’m creating a corset as one part of a two-piece gown and am documenting it all in my DIY Wedding posts!

Friday Update: I am at a fabric fair on Sunday and fully intend to take a good hard look at the fabric options available here.

New Online Course

I’ve been planning out a new online course centred around questions that come up over in my IG DMs and in emails, and it’s going to be fabulous.

You can learn more about the course right here – the Pre Order price of £67 disappears on Monday!

This week I’ve got to finish writing all the emails, edit some photos for the sales page and create the first two week’s of lessons.

Friday Update: Email have been sent every day (woohoo) and the lessons for week one and week two have been created. I will finish editing week one lessons over the weekend so that they’re ready by 9am for my students to get started!

Right’o. I have plenty to keep me busy this week in The Workroom, so better get started!

If you enjoyed this, check out the earlier posts in my Workroom Notes series!