Thanks to a bump of organization – or creative micro-management! – I don’t have an uncut fabric stash. I buy yardage for a specific project, enter it in my spreadsheet, and sew that project within a month or two. Scraps are divided into two boxes – one for garments (pockets, facings, etc.) and one for quilting (a.k.a. a box of self-delusions). Until I saw the Lady McElroy Tropical Stems cotton lawn and lost my dang mind.
I went mad with love! And can you blame me? I’ve been the proud owner of 2 meters of this gorgeousness since summer 2017.
And I’ve run screaming in the opposite direction every time I thought about cutting it.
Some background: I started sewing in 2011. I’m a children’s illustrator, and that was definitely reflected in my shopping habits – at least 4 different early purchases featured prints of vegetables. This might be a familiar story to you, with a familiar ending; I didn’t wear those makes. Then after a forced year away from my sewing machine, having devoured sewing blogs the whole time, I returned home and sewed my first navy shirt and olive pants. And I was off to the races!
I’ve been a solids girl ever since, using colorful prints only in pockets. Of course, a slubby, earthy piece of linen will always make me weak at the knees, but it’s time to get back to my first love and let print out to play.
I don’t have any practice buying fabric first and then choosing a project, and I didn’t want to lose my sense of self or make something I’d most likely never wear, so I thought through this system for trying something new. Actually, I chickened out of using my fancy fabric and hid it under a veneer of organization, which is one of my top 5 veneers. But maybe it will be helpful for you!
- One thing at a time. Don’t try to sew a new silhouette in a new color/pattern and a new substrate all at once – choose one element and introduce just that.
- Control the controllables. For me this means using my favorite thread, zippers, interfacing, snap brand, whatever. I won’t be thrown for a loop by a notion in the home stretch!
- Sew a kind of garment with a process you enjoy. For me, that’s collared shirts. For you, it might be a dress or shorts or a bra! If the final piece is a flop for whatever reason, it will still be fun to make.
So yeah, I STILL haven’t used that cotton lawn. I had a length of block-printed cotton en route from India, originally destined to be a lining, which arrived just as I volunteered for Sew Brave. I used that instead. 🙂 Baby steps?
Let’s see how I did with my checklist:
- One new thing – a print. Check!
- Control – yup yup. These didn’t require much but I used stash supplies, reliable and predictable and already on hand.
- A process I enjoy – check and check! I decided on a summer set of coordinated separates – a camp-collared shirt and elastic-waist shorts. I love sewing shirts and sets. Plus, my Lady McElroy fabric has a large print, so I’ll probably want to sew it into a one-piece outfit; a set simulates all-over print but doesn’t commit (see step 1!).
And I’m going to throw in a bonus fourth step –
- Practice gratitude. Maybe this will work, maybe it won’t, but isn’t it fun to try? I remember that one cut of fabric won’t make or break me, and that I have the wherewithal – time, financial flexibility, physical and mental health – for a creative experiment. Which is exciting and wonderful!
And the result? I like it!
It totally gingers up my closet, and I’ve worn the top half with jeans twice already. I haven’t officially debuted the set; that’ll keep until shorts weather. The top is a slightly modified Seamwork Ruth and the shorts are Peppermint Spring Shorts (free, but very limited size range). Technical sewing details are on my blog.
But was I Sew Brave?
Um…not really. I think, with my habits and systems, I’ve gone and listened to my inner Bluebeard (“be bold, be bold, but not too bold”). I couldn’t shake off my caution now that I’ve let my stash fabric achieve such mythic significance – but I want to, both to take more creative swings, and so I can wear that fabric in the world. It’s not going to try and cut me back, for Pete’s sake!
I know that I am ready for more print and pattern! I think my closet is about to become a more exciting place.
Suggestions for using my cotton lawn are very warmly welcomed!
Lia Marcoux is a children’s illustrator and teacher who blogs at Pound Cake, hoping to sew and share pieces of quality and sense. She’s on a constant hunt for comfortable flat boots. Also, she really thinks you should watch Killing Eve, unless of course you don’t want to!
Sewcialists is a hyper-inclusive editorial site. We recognize that all of us make up an amazing and varied community. We ask that you take each challenge as you see it fitting in your life, and express your involvement how you like, at the given time. Our challenges are for the pure enjoyment of participation and the love of community.
Your Prints Charming is singing Zadie! [Even though the pseudo jumpsuit sings to me! Such a practical garment(s).]
OH MY! Prints Charming! Ten million angels are high-fiving that pun! 😀 I wish I had enough for a Zadie…sadly reviews seems to indicate that their fabric requirements are accurate. Maybe as a short romper…?
That set is so cute! I love the idea of matching separates. I would use that gorgeous fabric for a shirt dress with a full skirt. I also have some fabric from the summer of 2017 that I splurged on and can’t bring myself to cut. Maybe I just go for it! Next month! ☺️
Thank you! We have fabric peers! They’ll be starting fabric preschool soon! XD I’d say ‘go for it’ but, well, I didn’t. ‘GO…near it? Maybe?’ Good luck! ^^
Love that faux romper! And the print 😍
Yeah that cotton lawn.. too pretty! You know they also have this print in stretch cotton twill? I’ve been dreaming of a pair of trousers in this fabric… aaaah…
I have 2.5m of See You at Six Viscose fabric that was supposed to be birthday dress back in October and I was too scared to cut into it and it’s haunting me 🤪
THEY DO NOT. Oh man. Maybe I should double my stash instead. 😀 You’ve been making so many lovely floaty pieces lately, it’s like you’ve been in training for the perfect viscose birthday dress!
I really like your tips! I have tons of fabric that I sit on waiting for that perfect pattern and just the right opportunity. Then it seems like taking too many chances with a new pattern and precious fabric, and I never get to sewing with treasured pieces. 😂 I think your way of making small steps outside of my comfort zone might work for me! Thank you!
Thank you! I know ‘prudent’ isn’t the sexiest adjective, but I’m all about achievable steps! 😀
I’m dying to find some great cotton lawn to make a Cashmerette Webster dress out of for the summer. Something floaty and light like this. So dreamy!
Oh that’s cute!! I’m not that tuned into dress patterns, so I love when people point out a gem like this. 🙂
I made it into a shirt last summer, so this summer I’m ready for a dress version. 😀
I don’t know if you’re a dress person, or how much fabric would be required, but I see a shirt dress in that amazing enormous print similar to this: https://oliverands.com/shop/digital-reeta-midi-shirt-dress-sewing-pattern.html (I do not own this pattern, and don’t know if I would even fit into it. But it’s the look I like.)
It’s a beautiful dress, thank you for the link! 🙂
I just want to tell you, I’m in the site’s posts here doing some backend editing, and every time I come across your post’s title, I grin. I’m a sucker for dad jokes, and yours takes the (pound)cake. –Editor B
😀 Thank you! Did you see Melody above take it home by calling that fabric my ‘Prints Charming’? I’m kicking myself that I didn’t think of it! ^^
[…] I sewed an outfit for Sew Brave on the Sewcialists. This is part two of my associated technical posts. Part one is […]
“…I don’t have an uncut fabric stash. I buy yardage for a specific project”
That;s my goal…
You’re my HERO!
This is such a great post in the Sew Brave series and I love your set idea – I have plans for an African Wax print in my stash to make a set that looks like a longer play suit, when I can find patterns that work.
I wonder if that Lady McElroy print would work for you as a long skirt, which you could wear with plain tops. With that blue green as a velvet jacket to match it could be part of your evening wear?
Nice words (the post), nice words (the cute title🙂), nice sewing, nice photos. Thanks! Happy, helpful, and no lack of sew bravery. Nice look on you, too…i am much much too brave-deficient to wear a look like that but I love it on other people. Ugh, I’m recalling having said the same exact thing um exactly 30 years ago. That’s a bit discouraging. Oops. But thanks for sharing. 🙂