March round up and April’s sewing plans

You know what, I honestly think I might finally have cracked sewing productivity, and over the past couple of months have managed to make one easy (knit) garment a week. It comes down to planning, folks. Simple as that. Last month I took the time to plan out some things I wanted to make in the month ahead, and I achieved most of them! Here’s last month’s post, in case you’re wondering.

I’ve also done a bit of housekeeping on the blog and have finally added a few static pages. You can see them in the blog sidebar. There’s a contact page, a few pages with each year’s blogged makes linked with handy pictures, and another ego-trip page all about me. That last one features a pic of a teenage me modelling the first item of clothing I ever made, back in the 90s. Oh dear. Fashion disaster!

March makes:

I’ve already blogged a couple of my March makes, although most of my March blogging was playing catch up on the first couple of months of the year.

Yay!

L-R: Craftsy tee, Daisy’s dress

And the next two projects are completed but not yet blogged:

L-R: Seamwork Aurora top, Sew Over It Heather dress

I did also work on the velvet top refashion, but it didn’t work out well. There might be a post in that at some point, if I can finish it off so Daisy can wear it.

Money spent: £15.56

£10.78 for some ponte for making a Heather Dress

$6.00 Seamwork subscription (approx £4.78)

Pretty thrifty month. Yay for using up stash fabrics!

April sewing plans:

I really want a plain, short sleeved, v-neck grey tee, so I’m planning to use the Craftsy Sewing with Knits tee pattern (which I made earlier this month in pink) and make a swayback adjustment to perfect the fit. I might use some teal interlock to check I’ve got it right before cutting into my expensive grey merino jersey.

I’m also in the need for some new knickers, so I thought I’d have a try at making some. First I’m going to try out the Seamwork Geneva pattern, and if I find time I’ll also be having a go at the Lace V undies from So Sew Easy as this is a style I find really comfy.

One thing I’ve been wanting for a while now is a big, slouchy cardie to sling on over pretty much anything. I thought I might make the Grainline Driftless, but then I saw Jalie’s Drop Pocket Cardigan and I think I’m in love. It’s exactly the kind of shape I was after, and the interesting pocket construction makes it look like a fun sew.

More basics for summer: I’m after a staple vest top. Aurora wasn’t it, so next up I’m trying the Alabama Chanin corset top. A more complex sew, but the seam lines make it look really special.

I want to make a couple of things for the kids, too. I’m planning to start Gabriel’s potty training this month, so some more undies would be great. I’ll be trying the Made by Jack’s Mum Speedy Pants, probably both styles.

Daisy is in desperate need of more school uniform, so I want to make her a simple black skirt and if I find time, a modified Cleo pinafore dress (also in black). However, I think it might be getting a bit late in the year for a pinny dress, so I’ll probably leave this till the autumn.

One final thing I’d like to at least get started on is a maxi dress for me. Not sure yet if I want knit or woven, or if I’ll be buying a pattern or drafting my own. More thought required, but I’m keen to get going ASAP as this is a style I love but don’t currently own.

In addition to the above I’ll be planning ahead for other more involved summer makes and getting patterns and fabric together for a shirt dress and a Grainline Moss skirt. It will definitely be a more expensive month than March was, although I do have a couple of vouchers to spend at Ditto Fabrics and John Lewis so I expect I’ll make good use of those.

I’m also going to be working through more of the exercises in The Curated Closet and hoping to get a better handle on my style, so that I can make garments that really express it, that fit my lifestyle and that give me joy to wear.

What are you planning to make this month?