Abandoned Plans

Spring 2020: Pre-Pandemic Sewing Plans

I have been in a reflective mood and am looking back on this past pandemic year. I mentioned before how I had started a plan to sew some work clothes, but I abandoned that plan in lockdown. I had a pile of half finished sewing projects and specialty fabrics that were abandoned with that sewing plan, stuffed into a tote bag, and forgotten in a dusty corner for the last year. 

I participated in Seamwork’s Design Your Wardrobe in the Fall of 2019, and again in the Summer of 2020. Instead of participating in Design Your Wardrobe (DYW) this spring, I thought I would make a plan for the contents of my abandoned Spring 202 DYW tote bag. This would challenge me to reconsider my old project plan, and also help me make a dent in my fabric stash. I’ve accumulated so much fabric in the last couple of years, and I’d welcome the opportunity to delve into the yardage of my fabric hoard, while also making room for new fabrics. 

Part 1: Looking back to the Beginning of 2020

The first page of a new sketchbook!

It looks like I started a new sketchbook with my Design Your Wardrobe plan. The first thing I did last spring was review my 2019 Fall DYW plan. I made a list of the clothes that I wore the most, hoping to find some common themes. Even though I enjoy making special occasion clothes, I like to use the DYW planning process to focus on making clothes that I want to wear everyday.

I also love stickers.

I was happy with the goals and concepts that I had established in 2019. For the spring 2020, I decided to elaborate on my original concept of Bold Detailed Classic. I added a few new concept words: Tailored Geometric Contrast. I also decided that I wanted to design and make clothes to wear to work. Back then, I was working at a corporate architecture firm, and wanted some styling, polished outfits that I could wear to the office or site that would express who I was as a designer- I love detailing and pops of color.

Looks:

Now that I am taking a critical look at my old sewing plan, I think I fell into the rut of “black goes with everything” because a lot of my planned looks default to black pants and a black blazer. I have been thinking about why the black pants + black blazer look is so popular among a lot the architects I know, and I’m not sure I have a good answer yet. I've enjoyed having this year to step outside of my tried and true work wardrobe, when I can question whether black really goes with everything. 

Fabric Shopping

However in February 2020, I had not yet given black a second thought. I was eager to shop because fabric shopping is one of my favorite things to do in NYC, especially during lunch break. So I hit the shops with my plan in my hand! Among other fabrics I bought:

• 4 yards of black stretch wool for slim fitting pants

• Cotton lawn with a green and white geometric print for the Seamwork Bo top

• Sherbert striped lawn for a tunic length top

• Sequin fabric scraps to add dazzling details

I launched into my sewing plan by pre-washing my stretch wool and cutting out my boxy Bo top. By the time April 2020 rolled around, I was out of a job, stuck at home wearing pajamas all day, and lacking any motivation to sew my wonderful workwear plan. I packed away the new fabric, and the half-finished projects sat in the tote bag until the beginning of this year.

Next time, I’ll share how I got my sewing motivation back, and what I finally decided to do with 4 yards of black stretch wool.