Fabric challenge update

If you read my blog last summer, you may remember that I began participating in the Whole 30 Fabric Challenge. I blogged about my goal of sewing 30 yards of fabric before I bought any more fabric. Well, I have not yet sewed 30 yards but I have not bought any new fabric either. Frankly, I expected to have sewed 30 yards by the end of 2021.

However, participating in this fabric challenge has really made me be a lot more conscious about what I purchase. I have been tempted a few times to buy some gorgeous fabric on Instagram. But I resisted and I reminded myself that I have several projects in the queue and the fabric to make them.

Since the initial challenge by @pinkmimosabyjacinta, who launched a spring edition of the Whole 30 Fabric Challenge. Well, I’m still not done with the first one so I didn’t participate in that one. lol

If you want to do your own challenge and track your yardage (or meters) and projects, @pinkmimosabyjacina has provided a handy Google spreadsheet you can download. Here’s a screenshot of my spreadsheet.

And here’s a roundup of what I’ve sewed since July. Each image also links to the blog post about the particular garment.

Adrienne Blouse by Friday Pattern Company (1.375 yards)

Fabric challenge sewing in August 2021

Cris Woods Parasol Dress in Ankara fabric gifted from a work colleague (3.25 yards)

Zero-waste color-blocked Parasol Dress (3 yards)

September 2021 sewing

My Sew Vintage September hat project (0.75 yard – wool fabric and lining fabric)

October 2021 fabric sewing

Sagebrush Top — Friday Pattern Company (2.5 yards for mock-up in quilt-weight fabric, 2.5 yards of Ruby Star Society fabric)

Fabric challenge sewing in November 2021

Madison Cardigan in red ponte, a Style Sew Me pattern (2.75 yards)

December dress sewing

Indigo-dyed Pocket Dress (2.75 yards), pattern from the book, Nani Iro Sewing Studio — I finished this dress in December but didn’t blog about it until January.

January 2022 — knit fabric

In January I made a tunic-length Toaster Sweater 2. I have to go back and stabilize the shoulders because the knit fabric doesn’t have a lot of recovery. The striped knit I was using had been in my stash for years. I had originally thought it could make a good long cardigan. But when I held the fabric against my body in the mirror, I realized that wouldn’t work. I will blog about it soon. I haven’t taken any photos of it yet so stay tuned for that post!

March 2022 fabric stash

I started this I Am Irma shirt with bishop sleeves (3 yards, cotton lawn and organza) in January but didn’t finish it until February. And I finally blogged about this I Am Patterns design earlier this month.

Total fabric challenge stash sewn

Well, these projects (including one mock-up) added up to a total of 23.875 yards. So I have less than 7 yards to go of this fabric challenge!

What’s in the queue

Here’s what’s in progress:

• True Bias Ogden Cami — I’ve already cut a solid black rayon and an off-white rayon print for two camis. They have been waiting to be sewn.
• I’ve made a mock-up of Sew House Seven’s Free Range Slacks. I haven’t decided what fabric I’ll be using yet. I have lightweight denim and some black linen.
• I’ve traced the pattern for the Cinema Dress by Liesel + Co. I have some beautiful Essex yarn-dyed red linen/cotton blend from Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics.
• I’ve traced the pattern for the Phen Shirt by Pattern Fantastique. I confess that the instructions with 70 or so steps are a little daunting. But I do have some lightweight red linen fabric I want to use for this beautiful shirt.

And here’s what I have fabric designated for:

• The Assemby Line’s Oversized Shirt (fun Lady McElroy cotton lawn print)
• Sew House Seven’s Wildwood Wrap Dress (pretty blue cotton)
• Deer and Doe’s Neige Sweatshirt (teal French terry)

I haven’t made these patterns before, so I may need to make a mockup for some of them. And that just adds more time to the sewing process. When you have nice fabric, you don’t want to make something that doesn’t fit well. Thus it takes a while for me to finish things.

I have to say that I’m quite amazed by sewists who seemingly make new garments every week or so. I don’t know how they find the time!