On one of the Sewing World threads (maybe the PMB one), someone described a "Rule of Three" wardrobe plan. The way it works is that you choose 3 colors for a capsule. Create one key garment that will coordinate with all three colors. Then make three garments that will work with the key garment. After that, make 2 garments that will work with each of those three. You end up with 10 coordinating garments.
I decided to experiment with the concept using my spring/summer stash fabric. I put all of them out in color groups on the bed. After I put away the pieces that did not appeal to me, I had several clear color choices. Since I had a preponderance of black and coordinating fabrics, I decided to use black, white and cream for my three "colors". Here's what I came up with:
| Garment | Fabric | Description | ||
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Key Garment: Two-piece "Vacation" print dress
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Update 10/2/03: I finished it just in time for church last Sunday. Had to lose the sleeves--can you say "Frumpy"??? I thought you could.
Update 8/25/03: The fabric is cut! Good, bad, or ugly, it's finally cut and I can move on! It's a dress, very close fit, back zip, 6 gore, 34" skirt, flared with a wide, round neck. The sleeves are long and bell from the elbow. I was inspired by Simplicity 5795 and should be a good transitional dress for spring and fall. Update 5/19/03: I'm obsessing over the style of this garment. Part of me wants a plain dress--you know, it hangs straight down with bust darts, round neck, back zip, and short sleeves. Simple and easy to wear. The other part wants a two piece--A-line, 6-gore skirt with a princess top. Both patterns are designed.
Original: This will be the garment that the wardrobe is built on. This fabric is all polyester with kind of a crepe texture. I found it at Fashion Fabrics Club dot com, and they still have some! This will tie the black/white/cream capsule to another color capsule--I'm thinking rose, since I've accumulated quite a few fabrics of that color. |
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Coordinate 1: Cardigan
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Black Matte Jersey This fabric came from the big JoAnn's Thanksgiving sale. |
Update 5/4/03: This cardi and it's coordinating tank jumped into the trash can just now. The tank was ok, but the cardigan didn't have a long enough CBL, so I was going to have to engineer a clever fix for the back neck. It just wasn't worth it. The fabric is just too uncomfortable for words. The pants I made out of it this winter are cold and scratchy. I'm sure these would have been the same, so I didn't finish the cardigan or hem the tank. I learned a lot about PMB while working on them, though, so I don't count it as a loss! I may go back to my original pattern idea and make it out of the remainder of the black slinky. Update 4/24/03: This morphed into a raglan v-neck cardi. I cut it out at lunch yesterday and sewed the main seams last night. As a bonus, I had enough fabric left for a matching tank! Original Idea: I saw a cute v-necked cardi at Coldwater Creek (I think) that ties at the neck. I want to copy that with PMB. |
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1a: Pants |
Black/White windowpane rayon |
Trinity River Park is the pattern that I bought this fabric for. It's an eBay find from Emma One Sock. | ||
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1b: White top
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White crinkle rayon--You know the stuff, common, inexpensive, and a little transparent. |
4/13/03: Found the neck binding! Top coming soon! (Yes, it was mixed in underneath a pile of stuff. I'm messy.) 4/8/03: This top is a *little* tight across the back, but certainly wearable. Turns out, I threw away the neckline binding piece. I can't bear to throw out the whole top, so I'm trying to decide what to do. Perhaps a satin ribbon bindng? Or a black/white windowpane binding? Top in progress (95% complete). Designed with PMB, it has short sleeves, bust darts, and is loose through the waistline area. This may be my first completely successful PMB garment. Woo hoo! |
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| Coordinate 2: Tee |
Black Crinkle lycra knit |
You can't see it in the picture, but this has a really pretty texture. From my local Hancock's this year. | ||
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2a: Pantskirt
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Smooth black rayon with a maize square pattern |
5/11/03 Finished! PMB Settings:
I took the pattern into PE and flared the bottom and eliminating the darts. The waistband is 1/2"--I like it! Original Idea: Maybe Vogue 7648 or Tahoe. I have had this so long, I don't remember where it came from--on-line somewhere. |
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2b: Top
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Maize Rayon with a textured square design |
5/4/2003: Finished! The blouse turned out well enough, although the weight of your eyes gazing at it will cause wrinkles!
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Coordinate 3: Tee
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Black slinky. This is a "designer" slinky from Fabric Club dot com. It's really nice. |
4/16/03: Tee is done. If you recall, I had trouble with needles skipping. I bought some Singer Yellow band size 11 that worked great! PMB Settings:
I finished the neckline and hems with the "French Trim" technique from the Stretch and Sew guide to Sewing on Knits. |
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3a: Pants
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Smooth Black/Cream Striped Rayon. This fabric was a "buy the piece" find at Fabric Club. I thought there was more... |
4/12/03: These are done and hanging! Hemmed with Steam-a-seam. I created a pattern in PMB. After I decided that they should, nay, *MUST* be one-seams, I layed the PMB pattern over the Burda 3216 pattern and cut. These have a separate, elasticized waistband. |
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| 3b: Shirt Jacket | Cream raw silk | I've had this fabric for years. Time to use it! |
Congratulations
Rustybobn, it's a dress!
