Sewing With A Plan Contest

This contest originated with a post by Tonia at Sewing World She reminded us all of an article (Sewing with a Plan) written by Julie Culshaw from Timmel Fabrics for Austrailian Stitches magazine (no website).

Julie Culshaw got involved in the discussion and developed the contest. The rules were originally published at Sewing World (click on rules and scroll down the page).

SWAP Contest Rules

Deadline:March 31st, 2004

What to Do:

Make 11 garments, from your stash or from new purchases. Here is what they are:

2 pairs of pants;
2 skirts, one in a solid colour, one in a print or check;
2 simple tops, one solid, one in the above print;
4 tops, in colours which coordinate with the solids;
1 simple cardigan jacket in a solid colour.

Someone asked if you can change things: yes, if skirts are not your style, simply replace them with pants. Or vice versa, but keep the right number of bottoms and tops to give you maximum versatility.

How do you pick the colours:

choose 2 basic colours,
add a third complementary colour,
make sure the print has the two basic colours in it.

The challenge here is the print - many people have expressed the opinion that they don't wear prints - remember prints are also plaids, stripes, polka-dots, paisley, not just classic florals. This might be where the real creativity comes in with the print, since so many find this part difficult. Don't forget that batiks and tapestries would classify as prints. Tie-dyed, marbleized fabrics, hand-painted, there is a world of possibilities here with the print. I challenge you to get creative with this one, if your first reaction is negative.

As for style of skirts, pants, tops, that is entirely your decision. Although the Stitches article recommends certain lengths of skirts, we are going to forego this. This is entirely your decision. Long, wrap, short, pleated, palazzo pants, capri, it's entirely up to you.

What is important is that every article has to work with every other one - that is why the 11-piece wardrobe is so good. It makes for 48 combinations, as someone calculated. If one of the garments only coordinates with one other, then you have restricted the versatility. Don't worry, after making the first 11, you can add whatever you want to spice it up.

The problem most of us have is discipline - we just don't follow through and quit halfway through something like this. So let's go for the 11 pieces and see how we like it.

When you are done, get someone to take a photo of all 11 garments. Just send one or two photos that includes them all (don't send 11 please!) and be sure to resize them so they aren't huge. Sometimes my inbox is entirely clogged with photos that are too large, and I have to call my server and have them delete the message. It simply doesn't get through. So scale down. Email your photos (or snail mail too) to me at mail@timmelfabrics.com Mailing address is 2635 Dublin Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada B3L 3J6. Photos must be here by one week after March 31, then everyone is invited to vote for the capsule they like the best. This will be a people's choice award. Winner will receive a $100 gift certificate for fabric from Timmel Fabrics (or patterns).

Jennifer

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Neefer

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This page was last modified Thursday, 08-Jan-2004 13:01:23 PST

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