Warmer Weather Wardrobe

As you may have gathered by now, I'm kind of a slow sewer. It seems like, regardless of the project I'm working on, whether it's a simple blouse or a lined dress (with, evil, spawn of Satan sleeves), it takes me about a month to complete.

Trying to keep this in mind, I've put together a modest little plan for adding some warmer weather items to my wardrobe, working from what I've already got in my sewing room (let's just hope I can get them sewn up before the warmer season ends!). 

My spring/summer sewing ambitions are as follows:

I'm definitely in need of some cute casual blouses that aren't t-shirts. I'm currently (slowly!) working on Simplicity 3266 in this green and white cotton given to me by my boyfriend's mom, from her (amazing!) craft & fabric room.

Springy green + white dotted blouse fabric (Thanks, LuAnne!)

This is more of a test of this pattern...a wearable muslin, you might say? I know that another polka dotted anything is not really filling much of a gap, style/print-wise, in my wardrobe. Once I've got this pattern all figured out, I plan to make up many more in other fabrics!

As I mentioned last month, I'm also itching to finally make a Sencha blouse. I've been drooling over this pattern for what seems like forever and am determined to make one this spring/summer. I got this cute - yes, also polka dotted, - rayon shirting, so now all I need is MORE SEWING TIME!

Fabric.com - rayon shirting

One of my favorite (and most feared) parts of this pattern is the cute button-down back. I've got a disproportionate amount of red buttons in my stash, so I could use up some of those, or I could try my hand at the fabric-covered buttons I wimped out on for my Joan dress. I'm undecided at this point.

Lastly, for tops, I'm hoping I'll get to try the cute blouse that is part of the 1960's reproduction(?) pattern, Simplicity 2154. I have no idea what fabric I'd use for this. I might try this pretty rayon challis (not polka dotted!) I've had languishing in my stash for a while. I bought it with something twirly in mind, but haven't been able to decide on anything yet. I definitely like the soft drapeyness it's got goin' on and the colors would blend well in my wardrobe.

Green, blue, white, black abstract print rayon challis.

I'd been really drawn to pinks/reds/purples when I first began to think about sewing for the warmer months, but I'm trying to work from what I've already got. Greens and blues are more in my comfort zone, for some reason, so that's what I'm trying to work with...even though I want to be sewing with these babies I happened to notice (but didn't buy) over at Fabric Mart:

FLORAL!!!

pretty soft pink

As for non-blouse sewing plans, I'm pretty determined to make a dark blue, if not actual denim (which I'd have to go purchase), Ginger skirt. I've already tested this pattern out (resulting in an UN-wearable muslin, due to the horrendously ugly fabric I used), and I feel fairly comfortable with it. I've seen SO many cute denim versions out there in sewing blogland (Exhibit A), that I'm about to go insane with jealousy. I NEED ONE.

I've also had a pencil skirt on my to-sew list forever. Whether I use an existing pattern from my stash and try to get the fit just right, or try to come up with my own pattern using my measurements, I want to make this happen! In all honesty, though, it's not going to make or break my spring/summer sewing plans if I don't get it done since a pencil skirt is essentially season-less.

As for the exciting part, DRESSES, I've got a few weddings this spring and summer, so I'm hoping to come up with something, so I can be all  "OMG, congratulations on getting married! - p.s. I MADE this dress, people!!!!!!!!!!" ...I'll keep you posted. :)

Wish me luck!