Self Stiched September- Barcelona Skirt (again)

I am wearing my Self Stitched item today even though you can't see it - you'll just have to trust me.  It's the Barcelona Skirt with a white top and black sweater.  Here is a previusly posted picture of it for those of you who are really curious as to what it looks like. 

I seemed to have forgotten my camera cord at home which is why I don't have a current picture.  I must find that becuase even though I didn't finish anything for me... I did finish a cute little pair of pants using the Sandbox Pants pattern by Oliver + S.  I was pleasantly surprised at how easy they were - I like these patterns. 

If I can find my cord tonight - I promise to post pictures tomorrow.  

Self Stitched September - Scarf & Skirt

Today I am actually wearing two items that I've made.  The first is a Amy Butler's Barcelona Skirt in fabric by e-studio  This is one of my favorite skirts and I keep intending to make it again in a larger print fabric.  I think it will look more like it's suppose to, as right now the pattern in the fabric is so small the layers of the skirt tend to get lost.  But despite all that it was super easy to sew together and very versitle as I tend to wear a lot of black, white, greys and browns.  
The second item is my scarf.  I made this scarf a few years ago during the bias cut scarf craze when it seemed everyone was coming up with their own version of this scarf.  If I remember correctly it's rayon fabric, layered 6 deep on the bias, sewn, cut, washed and then dried to fray.  I love wearing scarves and this is one of my favorite during the fall months. 

Self Stitched September - Tunic

Here is my outfit for today!  I have been eyeballing this tunic for a long time (Kwik Sew 3463), but for one reason or another I just haven't sat down to make it.  I should have - because it literally took me less then 2 hours to make!  I even altered the pattern to make it a little longer (it's now a little too long and I had to fold up the hem for this picture) and topped stitched the neckline.  It's a nice basic piece.  I added a belt to add a little 'something' to it, though I will be working on a scarf to add some more 'umff' to it.

There is one 'whoopsie' in it - when laying out the sleeves I did not take into account the nap of the fabric - which is now laying the wrong way.  If you 'like' Sewtropolis on Facebook you'll know that I am offering 25% off your entire purchase if you come into the store and tell me what the "whoopsie" is... and 10% off just for playing along.  Aren't you glad you took the time to read the blog? 

Self Stitched September - Leggings and Uptown Coat

Today I am wearing a pair of tights that I had made quite a while ago and mainly to wear under my ski pants in the winter.  I thought I would put them on today given the cold damp weather we're having and I learned my lesson from a couple of weeks ago. The pattern is Kwik Sew 3636 and the fabric is a grey double knit jersey.  Don't you love my silver shoes? 

 My real pride and joy is this Uptown Coat by Favorite Things made with fabric from designers Maxwell & Pillow.  I found this pattern at Market and after seeing the sample I thought it would be a perfect winter coat. 

I lined the inside using flannel from Cloud 9 and even put in a layer of wool batting.  One thing is for sure; this is a Minnesota coat!  

Only one problem.... when I put it on I thought I looked pregnant.  :-(  

Sasha Westin from Fabuliss did try to warn me that this coat might not be my style... but did I listen??  NO!  So now it's a store display and I'll be making a different coat for winter - one that Sasha says will look good on me.  Guess I better hurry - the weather, is changing fast! 

Self Stiched September - I am wearing the pants

I finally finished the pants over the weekend.... and I'm even wearing them today, but now that I have them on I know I'll need to do a little more tweaking.  The zipper took some wrestling, but I finally mastered it enough to be happy with it.  However, I thought I would make the legs a little fuller and that didn't quite give me the look I was hoping for.  Back to the sewing machine! 

Oh, this is what I wore on Saturday and on Sunday I wore the orange Peasant Top from HotPatterns.com that I made a while back.
What will I wear tomorrow?  

Self Stitched September - Lotus Dress

Today I am sporting Amy Butler's Lotus Dress for Self Stitched September.  I made this dress this past summer using Amy Butler's fabric from her Love collection.  I was a little hesitant to wear it - only because its got short sleeves and it's getting a little cool here in Minneapolis.  But, I threw on a pair of tights (lesson learned from Tuesday) and voila! 

Self Sew September - scarf and my perfect pant pattern

Yay!!  I finally found a pant pattern that fits perfectly!  I have been searching for YEARS - literally, for a pant pattern that I don't have to alter!  Thank you Trudy at Hotpatterns.com.  Not only that, but I cut the size based on the measurement chart and lo and behold they actually FIT!!!  I know all you sewers know the frustration of the measurement chart not corresponding with the actual size of the garment!  

Another first, I never make a pair in muslin, but since I was making a pair of pants I thought I'd save my 'good' fabric for something that's actually going to fit.  Other than not remembering how to do a fly with a placket, they went together fairly easy.  I'm not quite done, but now I'm excited to sew a pair using the 'real' fabric.  Trust me when I say; I don't think I've ever been excited to sew a pair of pants.

My Self Sew September item is: a scarf I made using voile and pom-poms.  I made this up thinking I'd wear it during the summer, but it seems to be just perfect for fall instead!

Now off to finish my pants!

Self Sew September - Wool skirt

Today I am wearing a fuchsia wool skirt that I made last winter. It sat on a mannequin all winter and by the time I took it off the weather had turned warm and there was no need to wear it. Well, today it’s a little chilly here in the Twin Cities so I decided a wool skirt will be just the ticket! I was partially right…. I really should have made this skirt a little longer. My upper legs are just fine, it’s my lower legs that are a little cold!! At any rate, I am wearing my one item. On the agenda today: make a pair of pants.

Is that a challenge? You don't have to tell me twice!

At the end of August I decided to try and challenge myself to wear only the things I make myself (see below). At the time the weather was hot and after sewing a ton of skirts for the summer I was thinking I could slowly add to my wardrobe as the weather got cooler and cooler and be good to go by winter. But then the weather literally changed overnight and I thought “Oh yea – I live in Minnesota!” So instead of starting the challenge September 1st I thought I would make a few things and maybe try the challenge as a New Years Resolution.


Then today one of my customers (Patty with the cute Flippy Skirt) informed me of “Self-Stitched-September” from So-Zo’s blog. www.sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com By the way, did I also mention that I believe that when things present themselves more than once it is a sign that you should sit up and pay attention because someone bigger than yourself is speaking to you? Well I do. Self-Stitched-September was just too close to MY challenge that I can’t just ignore it.  So, given that September IS National Sewing Month, I am going to go ahead and do this challenge. 

I, Nikol Gianopoulos, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-September. I endeavour to wear at least one handmade or refashioned items of clothing every day for the duration of September 2010.

I hope a few of you will join me in this challenge. I will post pictures of my creations though out September and who knows -once I'm on a roll I may just decided to go a full year! 

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My original post/challenge:

I’m not a very competitive person, but I do like to challenge myself … mainly because when I challenge myself it makes me live with intention. Being a single mom and business owner I often feel like I’m living by default - just reacting to all that is going on around me

I was listening to the radio this past weekend and they interviewed three women who decided not to buy any new clothes for one year. They mainly did it because of the economy and the whole realization that they might have too many clothes in their closets. But I also believe they did it because they wanted to see if they could, which sounded right up my alley.

I started to wonder if I could go a year without buying any new clothes. Probably, since I’m not a big clothes shopper to begin with. But then I though…. I wonder if I could go a year wearing only the things I make. Hmmmm??? Maybe…. I did make a lot of skirts this past summer. But I would need some time to ‘build-up’ my wardrobe. You see, I don’t sew as much as I should or ALL that I could. For example; I’ve never sewn a bra (though I know it can be done) and I haven’t sewn many pants (mainly because they are too hard to fit). I’ve never sewn a coat (but it’s on my list), or a pair of gloves (though I recently bought a pattern). And when I do sew it is mainly store samples or things for other people. I know that if I sewed more I would get better at it. Plus, it would force to become more creative which has always been a running goal of mine.

So, starting September 1 the challenge is:

1. Not to buy any new clothes for one year. Exception: I can buy from the thrift store as long as I repurpose the clothing before wearing.

2. Everyday wear at least one item that I have made or repurposed.

3. Make at least one new item of clothing a week. (My real goal here is to sew a little bit everyday)

I also challenge myself to blog about it once a week since I could really use the writing practice for another challenge I have brewing in the back of my mind, but more on that challenge a little later.

Wish me luck – I’ll keep you posted.