Sewing Plans - First Quarter

 The first half of my year is going to have two events that I really want to sew for, and in August there's a third. On top of that, I've got three projects in progress (not counting the skirt that only needs a button) and two that I'm sort of socially committed to doing. I'd like to finish one of the in-progress projects before jumping into more. The second one is cut, but I'm uncertain if the size I chose is right for me now. If not, it'll go into hibernation until things change. There's also a practical item that I've been meaning to whip up for quite a while and really want to be able to use sooner than later.

So my commitment calendar looks like this so far:

• Due early March for Florida trip: Linen jumpsuit (linen/rayon pants as a wearable mockup too), maybe a long-sleeve swimsuit (this would be my first serger project too, unless I use it to finish edges on other things)
  
• Due probably May for the wedding: Utena cap-sleeve jacket (tailored over a corset) and accessories
• Due probably May for the honeymoon: mu'u mu'us for myself and Waifu from vintage sarees
• Due August 1 for Thailand trip: any of the above that didn't get finished. Need to have jumpsuit, pants, swimsuit, and at least one mu'u mu'u for each of us. Would like to have the crinkle maroon dress (below) too, if it fits, and the bathrobe (below). Also want to make Brampton shorts.
  
• Due at Winter Solstice: EPP pattern weights for Katy
  

Unfinished projects:

• "Pining for his boyfriend" dochugi - short robe in the original cotton velvet with a silk lining. The main construction is done and the lining needs to be hand-sewn in
• Crinkle maroon dress - I cut this out a year ago intending to finish it to wear in England, but didn't get to actually sewing.
• Purple velvet dress - I started making this hoping to have it done for the holidays, which didn't happen. No rush but will be a pretty easy finish probably.
  

High-priority unstarted projects:

• Waffle weave bathrobe - I have a waffle weave Ikea blanket and plans to chop it up for a bathrobe that's kind of a hybrid of a kimono and a medieval smock. Pretty straightforward, and extremely useful. 
• Thick-wale corduroy jumper - This should be a pretty quick and fun project. Carol sold me the corduroy (and there's so much of it!) and it's a great winter item to pair with the mock neck bodysuits I bought before I knew I'd be unemployed.
• GNU Arayti cape - Only Arayti's in as much as I have the mockup that Carol made with her off the American Duchess pattern, but still. I want to get this done while there's still plenty of cool weather for it. The outer fabric will be a piece of lovely Italian wool that was in the remnants at Vogue, and the lining will be a white and rainbows TulaPink print.
• Patchwork bomber jacket - I got a pair of pretty purple and green charm packs on vacation last fall, and I want to make a reversible bomber jacket (have the Itch To Stitch pattern). Not sure what the reverse will be, maybe a purple celestial flannel from stash.
  

Of course, the main complication with simply jumping into all of this is that my sewing room is a goddamn disaster at the moment. I was hoping to use last week to unfuck it but instead brought home my brother's cold and was sick. But I'm feeling better now, and ready to devote some energy to getting that all together. I think by the 16th of January I can have it in useful shape, so with that, here's the plan so far. I'm aiming for about 1 project per week on the more basic ones, and a mockup and fitting counts as a project.

• January:
  
• This week: pull out the PFHB dochugi and set it up for hand work.
  
• Week of 1/16: Fit GNU Arayti, share changes with Carol (should be pretty minor, just circumference). Cut lining, check layout and fit.
  
• Week of 1/23: Finish GNU Arayti. Bonus: Make corduroy jumper.
  
• February: 
• Start wearing my corset daily. 
• Make bathrobe.
  
• Prepare Meriam Trousers pattern, fit them.
• Learn the serger and make orange linen pants.
• Have a go at making a swimsuit!
• March:
• Make linen jumpsuit.
• Finish maroon crinkle dress
• Prepare mu'u mu'u pattern and make one
• April:
• Draft Utena jacket pattern (from Upton?)
• Mock up and fit Utena jacket over corset and pick a bra
• Make Utena jacket
• Make Utena accessories (epaulets, chain)
• May:
• Make a second mu'u mu'u
• Wrap up anything that didn't get finished
• Make Brampton shorts with leftover jumpsuit fabric
  
• July: Tour de Fleece (no sewing planned)
  
• August (Thailand): EPP pattern weights for Katy
  

I think that's about where I'll leave this one. I'll make separate posts for most of these projects, and they'll all be tagged so you should be able to easily find all posts on that project through the Blogger tools.