Sewing UFO's - 7 tips to get them organised & finished.

[original image here]

If you sew, and unless you are a very particularly organised kind of person, you probably have a few "UFOs" (Un-Finished Objects) lingering around the house.

Today I'm going to share 7 tips I sorely need to take on board myself to help you get organised and ultimately finish your unfinished projects. Please make sure you share any tips of your own in the comments!

1. Sort them out.

Find all of the pieces, fabrics, notions etc and put them all into a large Ziploc bag with the pattern. I just buy mine from the supermarket. You can label them if you like but I usually don't as I like to reuse the bags once the project is done, and since they are clear you can usually tell what's what anyway!

Just a few of my many, many, MANY unfinished projects

2. Organise into categories.

Some of my UFO's are clothing that needs alterations to fit/repair, some are almost finished, some are just simply cut out. Organise them into categories - like those above - and store them in order. This way when you come to wanting to sew something you will know exactly what needs to be done to each one and roughly how long you will need to complete it. This is handy when you have a spare 20 minutes and want to finish something quick, or if you have all day to spend on something longer!

3. Store them all together, somewhere visible but neat.

I have all of my projects together in a tub, which just currently sits on the floor of my sewing room. You could get creative with this, or even super-organised and put them into separate tubs by type etc, or hang them all up but I don't have that much space. Do whatever works for you - just make sure they are out in the open, not thrown in the bottom of some cupboard.

My as-yet-not-organised box of UFO's. Nothing fancy, but it does the job!

4. Go and buy anything you don't have. 

I know a lot of the projects I've abandoned were because I realised part way through that I needed something I didn't have (I know, a terrible habit).. And then I just forgot to go get it. Look through all your projects and make a list of EVERYTHING you need to finish them, then go buy what you need. And only what you need - no fabric for new projects allowed!

5. Sew when you can vs create allotted time.

There are two ways to slog through your pile of UFO's - you can either sew whenever you have a moment, instead of (or whilst) watching TV etc, or you can plan out a specific time space for finishing something off. I like to do a mix of both, I'll set aside an afternoon on a weekend day to finish large projects but also finish little bits and pieces after work during the week.

6. Start with the simple. 

Got a bunch of skirts that just need a zipper installed? Or an almost finished dress that just needs a bit of hand sewing? Do the little projects first. Once you finish one you'll feel like you're on a roll and will be motivated to finish the next one, and the next..

7. If you get stuck, take a breather. 
But pick it up again the next day or move onto a different project for a while. There's nothing worse than getting stuck and frustrated with a project and then making a mistake. Put it down for the day, go do something non-sewing related and come back when you are refreshed and ready to tackle it with a clear and level head!

So, spill, how old is your oldest UFO? Mine is about 3-4 years I think, yikes! Do you have any other tips or tricks you use to get yourself organised to finish them?

florals for spring...

Dress made by me, everything else vintage.

I made this dress from Simplicity 1159, a lovely and easy to make 50's dress with a V neck and short kimono sleeves. The fabric I bought last year some time and ferreted away, bringing it out only on occasion to stare at and stroke it … my precioussssssss…. it's a gorgeous, slightly shiny coated cotton and the colours are just beautiful - I was too afraid to "waste it" so was waiting for the "perfect" pattern. In the end I bit the bullet because this pattern is just so simple and pretty, so how could it possibly go wrong?!

In general life news; I've just started a new, full time job at a very faaancy store, and I am completely exhausted and out of whack, so expect the sporadic posting to continue for a while until I work out some kind of routine. I've realised that my downfall with keeping up this blog, even while I was unemployed and had all the time in the world, is lack of routine (also lack of money) so thats something I'm going to try and work on!!

stripes + engagement photos

Hi!!!

Long time no speak (write? read??)

The last month has been crazy, turns out I just didn't have the energy to plan our wedding, work and keep up the blog so I apologise for leaving you guys out of the loop.

We've just gotten back from our honeymoon this week, and Eli has been whisked off on a tour with his band so I'm without my trusty photographer for the moment.. which is all good really because it gives me an excuse to play catch up and reminisce about our wedding a little.

At the start of the month we did an "engagement" shoot with our wedding photographer - our friend Aleksandar Jason. I ended up whipping up a dress for the occasion, modifying Simplicity's 1873 from the Cynthia Rowley collection to feature a bateau neckline in this blue and white stripe fabric I found at my local op shop.

I had some issues with gaping at the back of the neckline, which I didn't have time to fix for the shoot so had to cover with a cardigan (I was sewing right up until we left!!), but having since washed the dress that problem has resolved itself so I guess I'll put it down to the fabric stretching slightly as I was sewing and/or the bias binding around the neckline.

It also has the fullest skirt I've ever made - perfect for twirling! It's definitely become my new favourite warm-weather dress.

Here's some photos from the shoot, Eli looked particularly dapper in his blue houndstooth suit from ASOS and matching stripes :)

springtime plaid

Hat & belt - thrifted, scarf & gloves - vintage, dress - made by me, shoes - Urban Outfitters

Hello! It's been a while!

I know I've already talked about how much I love winter, and I do, but this time of year is always so exciting - spring is here!

I tend to get a wee bit sick of the cold by the last month of winter and find myself daydreaming of warmer weather, floaty dresses and picnics with friends. 

This year I'm determined to actually get my wardrobe sorted in advance, before the hot hot weather sets in, though I say this every year so who knows if I'll actually stick to it… That said I've made a bit of a start with this pretty dress I made - the fabric is a marvellous find from the op shop around the corner from my house that I knew what I'd do with as soon as I saw it. I used the same pattern as I did for my yellow flower dress (Simplicity 2539). I actually made it exactly to the pattern size that I have this time, which is for a 31 1/2 inch bust, despite my 34 inch bust since last time I made it a little bigger and it just ended up too roomy.. this time it is actually quite fitted (which I prefer). Just goes to show that ease is as much an issue in vintage patterns as it is in modern ones!

Lion's tooth

Hat & shoes - vintage, belt - thrifted, skirt & top - made by me

I mentioned in my last post that I had picked up Simplicity's 4044 so I could make the swing trousers, but while I'm searching for the perfect fabric for that project, I decided to use some of the printed voile I picked up at a Spotlight sale recently and give the blouse a try.

How cute is the dandelion print?

One day I will learn how to match prints… 

I am SO happy with the result. The pattern is originally for a long-sleeved blouse, but I wanted to try a short sleeve option for more versatility. The whole thing took me only a couple of hours to put together and came out really well!

I decided to wear it with another made-by-me piece from a while ago which I've only just begun to fit into again (thanks to many a cheeseburger on our holiday last year.. oops).

I would definitely recommend this blouse pattern for anyone who wants to whip up a cute, 40's-inspired blouse in a reasonable amount of time :)

My Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge

 

So I have just found out about Marie's Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge via her guest post on By Gum, By Golly, and I've decided to join up, but add my own spin seeing as how we're half way through the year and I already have 8 important sewing projects lined up..

Like Marie, I am an avid collector of vintage sewing patterns. I adore the glamour of the illustrations, and, living in a country where there is a substantially smaller amount of vintage still available than a lot of the rest of the world, the idea of getting my hands on some vintagey-goodness that not only fits and is to my custom requirements, but is also affordable is too tempting to resist.

Lately I've also been bemoaning the lack of "basic" clothing pieces in my wardrobe to mix-and-match with my many patterned and/or statement pieces, but I just keep on sewing with pretty florals and other patterns!!

So, my personal Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge is: sew at least 3 vintage patterns from my stash using ONLY block-coloured fabrics.

This way, I should be able to get a start on actually using some of the gorgeous patterns I own (not that it'll make much of a dent but hey, it's a start!), and at the same time fill some glaring gaps in my wardrobe.

Sounds like a winner to me! Now where to begin...

Who else doing this pledge?

Some sunny day

Phew!

Today was a long day. Eli and I woke up extra early (ok, half an hour earlier) as we were meant to be visiting my parents for dinner.. But first we had to return a shoe (singular), visit an op shop and have a doctors appointment!

It was a lovely, sunny, slightly-too-warm day, so I wore a somewhat weather appropriate outfit, with a sun hat of course!

Hat, belt & shoes - thrifted, blouse - eBay, skirt - made by me, scarf - borrowed

My skirt is the first of a (hopefully) three piece outfit I'm making from that lovely wool blend fabric I mentioned a while ago.. it was maybe a little too wool for today.

Also, that scarf may have been protecting me from hat hair, but coupled with the black hat it was also making my head a little bit too toasty, so off it all came (not the skirt!)

Muuuuch better.

In other news, my sister and I will be hitting up Coburg's Trash and Treasure market tomorrow bright and early with the hopes of nabbing ourselves a stall space and offloading a bunch of clothes and shoes (and other random stuff that our Mum just dumped on me) - if you're around and looking for cheap random clothing pieces do come by!

UFO's and house dresses

A couple of weeks ago, while I was cleaning my sewing room, I decided it was time to devise a new organisation strategy for my "UFO's" (that's unfinished objects), because having them slung over a clothes-rack was really not conductive to me actually finishing them.

So I pulled out a tub, folded them neatly (after throwing a bunch of no-longer-relevant projects away), stepped back and realised I have a LOT of unfinished projects that I for some reason have just not gotten to. Some of them are literally as simple as sewing a button back on. Like a 5 minute job. Yeah.

I set myself a goal to get through at least one of these a day (two or more for the simple jobs) until they're all done, at which point I can start making new stuff.

And then I hit a wall. I had no motivation, I just could. not. be. bothered.

After reading this post on Lucky Lucille, I decided to do what Rochelle did - just sit down and sew something. So I picked some fabric at random and made myself a little house dress.

I adapted view B of this McCall's pattern - I cut two of the front waist band and extended the length of one of them as well as one side of the back waist band as well to create the cross over tie. 

I cut two front skirt pieces so there would be a decent amount of volume and cross-over (no one likes to accidentally flash their house guests when they sit down).

It took me three days to finish (with the help of my assistant, Brian Wilson).

It's a little bit rough around the edges but it's perfect for sitting around reading books and for when I'm sewing since it's super easy to take off when I need to try something on.

Hooray for fancy lounge-wear!

Now I just need to make a few more of these, my house coat and maybe some 1940's lounge pants and blouses and I'll be all set in the lazy-glam clothing category!

1/2/3

Has anyone else made/bought any fancy lounging clothes? Don't they just make you feel a million times more amazing than pyjamas all day?!

Lately I've been sewing..

Though I don't have currently have a job, I've been working really hard at not becoming the stereotypical unemployed person, sitting on the couch/in bed watching trashy TV all day (although I can't say I haven't done this a couple of times..)

So in an effort to stay occupied I've been organising, cleaning and sewing up a storm!
I thought I'd share a few things that I've made recently, as well as some of the projects that are on my to do list..



I was given this pattern by Eli's amazing Nan, along with a whole bunch of other vintage sewing patterns and home books (best. day. ever.) As soon as I came across this adorable boat fabric at the op shop I knew it would be perfect for a little nautical-themed outfit..





The darts at the bottom give a really great fitted shape, but the blouse is kind of looser up top for a nice relaxed look.

Ironing.. who does that?

My first time using my sewing machines automatic button hole.. I was very impressed! So much easier than my old sewing machines manual setting!! I went with these clear buttons sewn on with some blue cotton because I just could not find a colour that didn't make it look super tacky.

The collar ended up a little bit different to the picture but overall I'm really happy with it!

I've got plans to make another one, maybe with a different collar variation (round collar?!) in this adorable fabric:

Ladybugs!

After I had finished the blouse I decided I needed to make a matching skirt, which I wore on my Hanging Rock outing. After I had finished the skirt I decided it also needed a matching jacket, just to make it a whole outfit of course!

I drafted this dolman-sleeved cropped jacket from the pattern below.. It's the first jacket I've ever made, and simple as it was I'm pretty proud of it! 

I wanted the jacket to have a more 50's look, so I changed this 80's jacket pattern to include dolman sleeves, as well as more pronounced front darts and also darts in the back.

Then there was the dress I made to wear to the Skyways Are Highways residency on Thursday. I picked up this lovely fabric at the op shop when I stopped in on a whim and as soon as I had it I knew I wanted to make a pretty, summery dress.

I remembered that I had this beautiful 50's pattern in my stash, so drew up a little modified version..

I was so happy with how it turned out - you can see it in my last post :)

My last project for the week was a little bit nerve-wracking. A lady I used to work with contacted me last week and asked if I would be interested in making something for her to wear on a special Valentines Day date. I agreed, and she became my very first paying customer!

I can be a bit of a perfectionist, particularly when I know someone is going to be examining something I've made very closely, so I was suuuuper nervous handing it over! Luckily everything worked out, it fits and she loved it :)

So, whats on my list for next week?

This absolutely beautiful, mid-weight, slightly shiny cotton fabric with a floral pattern in blues, greens and mustard.. I definitely want to make a dress out of this but I'm just trying to figure out the perfect pattern. Perhaps a simple, short sleeved wiggle dress?

(from here)

And out of the light-weight houndstooth-y fabric I am planning on making a little 60's style jacket, cigarette pants AND, if I have enough fabric left over, a simple pencil skirt.

I can't wait to get started on these projects!! Do you have anything you're currently working on or have recently finished? Let me know, I'd love to have a look :)