Monday, January 28, 2013

Self-Imposed Hot Patterns Challenge

I still haven't scheduled my sewcation, but it will have to be sometime after the first week of March as per the Big Boss because we have a LOT going on between now and then and apparently she can't live without me. ;-) And my official 1-year anniversary is in about 3 weeks so my review will be between now and then. I hope the can't-live-without-you feeling plays into that. (Read: raise!!) My unofficial anniverary is September 12 (when I started as a temp) so I will have been there almost 18 months by the time of my review. Time flies!

Update since I first wrote this: My review was today! It was glowing, and I received the highest raise percentage being given. It's not a huge number because of the current economy, but it's not terrible either so I'm good with it. The best part is my "hourly rate" goes up and with all the OT coming at me, that will make a significant difference.

Anyway, on the heels of my two/three wadders, I started going through my existing and soon-to-arrive Hot Patterns with the thought of actually using them, or re-using them in a new size. I pullIed out a lot that I want to make and will start before the actual sewcation. Who knows - I might actually be sick of this challenge by then, but I hope not because I really want to have these as finished garments in my closet.

Here's what's on the list, in no particular order except the first 4 are the new ones which I don't actually have possession of yet.

Depending on its arrival date, this will be the first or one of the first. I want this to work (waistband placement especially) so I will need to make an ugly muslin, especially since I don't really know what size I am with HP anymore. I think I want to make the dress to look like a blouse/skirt, so I need to assess the coordinating solids and prints available from the stash.


This may go toward the end of the list only because I see this as more summery. Of course, being Florida, summer will be here in just a minute.


This one will definitely need a muslin and the right fabric so I don't end up with a sack since I see it with a higher waist and more fitted than shown. I'm thinking laundered linen or rayon challis. We'll see.


This one is available for download but I didn't feel like printing and taping and thought the $3 additional was a good tradeoff for NOT doing that. I'm thinking this will be a quick project so it may take a place near the top of the list. Plus it will be new-to-me and I'm a magpie with shiny, new things. ;-)


I made this before in a knit but it's HUGE now and only being kept so I can better gauge a current sizing. I also want to make this in a drapey woven this time. I don't think I have anything suitable in the stash, so I'll be on the lookout.


I also made this one before and again it's too big. But it fit great before so I'm hopeful it will be successful in a smaller size. I'm thinking white or another solid linen. I'll have to check the stash.


This may or may not get made since it's the old sizing (Glamour Girl) and the reviews are mixed. I need to pull out the pattern pieces and evaluate before deciding.


Can you believe I do not have one Sunshine Top in my current wardrobe? All of my previous makes of my favorite HP are too big. Since my weekend wardrobe is severely lacking, I think it's time to size it down.


I made this once before and a fabric disaster kept it from being wearable. Plus it was made in a bigger size back then so even if it was wearable then, it wouldn't be now. It was a popular pattern back when it was first released and, really, who doesn't need another wrap/faux wrap dress?


Thinking of this for weekends and casual Fridays in a summery knit.


Another weekend contender. I made this one before too, but never wore it because it was too big. My sister loves it though. I think it deserves another attempt.


I tried the red version way back when and it was a disaster. I don't think I'm going to revisit that one but the tie front version intrigues me. A shorter top than shown in the drawing, or longer as a dress. I will muslin this one for sure since it has sack potential.


Ambitious, no? Let's see how this goes, and no promises that new patterns won't distract me in the middle. But if I can make my way through even half of this list, I'll feel like I've accomplished my goal.


25 comments:

  1. Wow, what a challenge! I love everything on your list and can't wait to see what you have at the end of it.

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  2. wow! just wow! I can't wait to see what you finish. you make me want to sew more than costumes for myself. lol

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  3. Congratulations on the raise! It's thrilling to be appreciated at your job. Interesting challenge, I'm sure you'll make some really great garments.

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  4. Not to confuse things further, but I extended the bottom of the Tie Me Up top into a dress and it came out really nice.

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  5. Just a few, huh? Good luck. And congratulations on the review and raise. My 6 monthly review is this afternoon but there won't be a raise. Oh well, not complaining.

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  6. Congratulations on your positive review and raise. I am LOVING these patterns, and must admit I've never heard of this company. Must look into it!!! Very excited about your upcoming projects. Have a blast, and take lots of pics.

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  7. Nice selection of patterns. Looks like a great line-up for the sewcation. Congrats on the raise!

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  8. Congratulations on your successful review, you always sound really positive and excited when you talk about your job so I'm glad your employers feel the same! I have obviously been away from the HP site too long, there are some great new patterns there and I'll be very interested to hear how they make up.

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  9. That is quite a list of garments. I can't wait to see them. Also, congrats on the raise.

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  10. I've never heard of hot patterns! So many great pieces in your list. Yay for the raise (more money to buy fabric!)

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  11. Congrats on the raise. How wonderful to have a job you enjoy and employers who appreciate you. Fabulous.

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  12. Pat-on-the-back for the great review! Well deserved!
    And, OMG was my first utterance at all your pattern selections - sewing these will certainly fill in your spare time. Great choices and your wardrobe will be spilling over with great clothes when they are all made up. So hard to pick which will make the 'top-of-the-list'...J

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  13. That's an ambitious wish list! I hope you can find a few that you really love and the right fabric for them. And Congrats on the rave review as well as the raise! It's really nice to be so appreciated.

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  14. congrats, Debbie.....not surprised that you ranked high in the review process.
    Happy sewing with your Hot Pattern selections. I gave up on HP's a few years ago....too many fitting issues for me.

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  15. So happy that you are doing so well with your job and liking it! I look forward to what ever you sew hot pattern or otherwise always a treat. That is a mind boggling ambitious list for a busy working girl but I know you will probably get it done along with everything else at work. I haven't bought a hot pattern yet though I keep thinking I will get the sunshine one and try it.

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  16. Congratulations (on the review & raise) and good luck (on the ambitious list)!

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  17. Congratulations (on the review & raise) and good luck (on the ambitious list)!

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  18. Lots of sewing time tomorrow while you watch football.
    Nice to hear of the amazing review and raise.

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  19. Happy to hear about your good review and raise! And you're looking so fit, too. Have fun with those cool Hot Patterns.

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  20. Congrats on the good review. Judging from your list your sewcation is going to be more than a one week vacation? Looking forward to seeing the beautiful new cloths.

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  21. I love all those patterns. I can't wait to see what you do with them. :) And I think I may have to add some to my queue.

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  22. Congratulations,on your job review! I love the style of a lot of the Hot Patterns but I had one heck of a time with the two I bought. They seemed to have a huge amount of wearing ease. I kept had to take them in even after cutting a size smaller than my measurements would suggest. Have you found this to be the case too?

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  23. That is ambitious! I am curious to see how the new patterns turn out. The one HP I tried was an absolute disaster, but the new styles are so cute...

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  24. I've made the top version of the Sarine top/dress twice and really like how it turned out. It's a very flattering shape, IMO.

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  25. yikes! I should take this challenge. I have so many hot patterns that I haven't made. I've almost finished one of the dress patterns. I can't remember the name and numbe but it has an uneven hem. I love the way it's fitting and it's been easy to make.
    Diana

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Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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