New Ways of Sewing, Shopping & Dressing

Since having a baby I have been having a rethink about how I dress and shop, and what I sew. Some of this is budget related - now I'm on maternity pay I can't justify buying any fabric that I'm not going to use immediately. But it's also body related. I didn't put on a lot of extra weight while I was pregnant and being tall, I can carry a few more pounds anyway. However I have a few extra inches around the waist than I did before, meaning that I currently can't fit into most of my normal skirts and dresses, plus a bust size increase due to breastfeeding which means that my more fitted (and non-stretch) tops are tight or unsuitable to wear while feeding.

I'm hoping this will resolve itself eventually as I'll be sad not to be able to wear some of my favourite handmades again, but I have no desire to talk about or think about having to lose weight. Not only is this pretty boring, but I really have more important (and interesting) things to put my energy into. Plus I love biscuits.

Working with a reduced wardrobe during pregnancy helped me to realise that I don't need so many garments and that each item of clothing should earn its place in my wardrobe. That being the case, I should make sure that I really like everything I wear. That might sound obvious, but we all know that there are garments we rarely wear because we don't like them so much. I want to cut down on those and increase the garments that I love, that suit me and that work for my lifestyle.

So let's get onto the topic of what I'm going to be making in the near future....

Skirts! To fill the wardrobe gap as I'm bored of wearing jeans. My recently-made wrap skirt will be able to adjust to any waistline changes plus I will be using stash fabric to make a couple more skirts, probably classic A-Line styles that I can draft using my measurements rather than having to grade up a pattern.

Scout Tee, made last year

Tops! Using knits or wovens to make loose style patterns (such as the couple of Grainline Scout T-Shirts I made last year), these will be worn now and in the future. I have another Scout in mind plus a Wiksten Tova, like the Sailboat Tova I made earlier in the year - it might finally be time to break out the precious Liberty Tana Lawn I've been hoarding for a couple of years.

Wiksten Tova

Stash Projects! To try and use what I already have rather than buying more fabric (or patterns). I don't have an enormous stash but if I can't think of how to use a piece of fabric then I should get rid of it - what's the point of keeping it otherwise? As for patterns, it's SO tempting to buy more, especially when you see the buzz created by new patterns and see lovely versions popping up online. However I already have more than I will ever use. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what I can make with my existing resources.

Fab 70s fabric from my stash for which I've finally got a pattern in mind

Casual Dresses! I really enjoy wearing dresses but I need to find a few styles with non-fitted or easily adjustable waists and that also will be suitable to wear while still breastfeeding. I've just treated myself to this pattern, which I'm really hoping will work for me:

Practical Clothes! Yes, I do need to make things that will bear up to getting baby sick on them and being chucked in the wash. That doesn't have to mean boring though.

So for the foreseeable future my watchwords will be thrift and practicality which might sound dull to some, but don't you find that giving yourself boundaries can inspire and challenge you to think more creatively?

K x