Unintentional Endless Combinations Mini Wardrobe

Pattern Review occasionally runs a contest called Endless Combinations (EC). The idea is to create a wardrobe where each subsequent garment coordinates with the previous one.

An example from the 2016 contest rules (edited for clarity): 

1. Sew blouse A.
2. The next item, B, could be pants and must work with blouse A.
3. Item C must coordinate with item B. It could be another top or a jacket. It does not have to work with item A; if it does, that's a bonus.
4. Item D must work with item C. If you made a jacket for item C, item D could be a skirt, another pair of pants, or a top.

Of all of the wardrobe plans I've tried, I've had the most success with this and the Stitcher's Guild 6PAC. One time I sewed an 11-piece wardrobe for a contest. By the time I was finished, I was SO bored with everything that I stopped sewing for a few weeks. Plus I only wore maybe 2 or 3 of those 11 garments and gave the rest away.

Here are the garments I made using this idea. I didn't start with this intention; it just fell into place.

First I made Burda 2-2005-129.

I wanted another denim chambray shirt, so I made Ottobre 5-2012-7. I used a blue/white/red gingham scrap for the undercollar and inner collar stand, cuffs, and front band. 

Not really feeling the skirt's prairie vibe, I opted for something more structured and made Burda 1-2018-121.

Thinking this would look good with a short jacket, I made Burda 4-2008-107.

Finally I completed the set with Simplicity 8606 using a red floral polyester woven from JoJo. 

Here is a collage of all the possible combinations from the five garments.

Hands down my favorite looks are in the first and last columns. I just do not like the prairie skirt! I know I said I'll wear it at least once, but...uh...I'm not so sure about that anymore. The angled stripes just aren't doing the skirt any favors. Big ol' meh!

Added bonus: three of the five garments I made are a part of my 2020 MakeNine. Woot! If I ever get that tote bag done, I will be halfway-ish through the plan. Baby steps. =)

I will write a review of the Ottobre shirt and Burda jacket next.

***

I'm working on a shirt for #Faye'sTopsThatPop sewing challenge starting on 1 Jun. The color works with some garments I made at the beginning of the year and continues the spirit of Endless Combinations.

That's all for now. Stay safe everyone.

L

McCall's 6654 (skirt): Complete

McCall's 6654 with Simplicity 1945

This was supposed to be a quick project.  The pattern has two pieces, both cut on the fold, and a simple waist casing for elastic.  Easy right?  Noooooo.  Of course not.  I had to rip out the serger stitches for the casing twice.  I also had a hard time stitching the ends of the elastic together.  There was a thread nest big enough for a bird.  The truth is, it's still there holding everything together.  And you know what?  I am not picking out these stitches for a third time.  No one will know - except the folks reading this.  But no one else.

I blame Scandal and all you Scandal lovers for bringing me over to the dark side. 

Fabric & Notions

• one yard of grey/black knit houndstooth
• 3/4" no-roll elastic
• serger, coverstitch machine, and thread

Sizing & Alterations

I started with a size 16 (I know, too big) and made my normal full seat adjustment by slashing and spreading the back 1.25".  I started with the larger size because I really didn't feel like making a muslin.  So I figured if it was too big, I could make it smaller and I did.  I ended up taking 1" out of the sides so that I could get the fit I wanted.  Next time, I'll cut between a 12 and 14.

Construction
I serged the sides and "attached" the casing.  I didn't understand the instructions for this part and just did what I thought made sense.  I don't know if the casing is supposed to be on the inside or not, but mine looks like a narrow waistband.  It works and I'm not changing it!  As for the elastic, I cut it to my waist measurement and then adjusted the length after it was inserted into the casing. 

Here the skirt is paired with Simplicity 2422 (left) and Jalie 2559 (right).

This skirt is part of my fall 6PAC plan - which has sort of morphed into a full 12PAC with pretzels.  I don't think I want to sew these colors for long, so I'll do some editing and add in some other colors.  In fact, I think I might try to do an Endless Combinations type of plan.

Do you remember the Endless Combinations contest on PR?  This was one of my favorite contests since it opened the door to building a wardrobe of coordinating outfits.  The idea is to make a garment (or use a previously made garment) and make a second to wear with it.  Then make a third garment to match with either the first and/or second.  And so forth.  Before you know it, you've got a whole wardrobe collection or a capsule of coordinated pairs.  

I don't know why this contest hasn't run in a while.  I think the idea is kinda neat.  Would anyone be interested in doing an EC sew along?  We can space out the time to cover a few months and, perhaps, continue the spirit of the wonderfully inspiring Style the Stash sew along started by Sarah Liz.  We can step into the depths of scary sewing (I'm talking to you collar stand and welt pockets) and join BeaJay in some fearlessness.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Anyone interested?

L