Project planning for 2018 sewing

Happy New Year!

I have not done any sewing at all so far this week. I have instead been trying to plan my 2018 winter to spring wardrobe makes. I desperately need things I can wear for work since my old work clothes are nearly all from around 2007 and show not only dated-ness but wear.

So far I have cut this shirt (below left) out from Burda Style 10/2017#116:

I bought the spider fabric as a halloween print but reckon it will work well as a work shirt since insect prints are still popular and really I am more a bug than a butterfly person. I have several different spider prints in my stash so best to get round to making something from them.I think this will be lovely with the zip neck but I am intending to miss out the neck frills but still do the sleeve frills.

I also want to make this top #111 from the same magazine ( right and above right) but its a petit so I need to check proportions etc. I quite often manage to wear petit anyway since I am short in body, although taller than meant for petits, but I am all legs so can usually get away with these clothes. Not sure what fabric to make this top in and Burda had two versions shown here in tartan and in leopard print and I like both but would prefer to use a fabric from my stash than buy new so its still open as yet to what fabric to make this in.

I want to make these trousers which I bought the pattern for when it was first out and so far have not had time to make.  The Monthly Stitch member made these a few weeks ago now and I was very inspired.
 https://themonthlystitch.wordpress.com/2017/11/13/a-dream-come-true/
I have a very nice navy canvas /heavy twill for this - unknown fibre but probably a synthetic or synthetic mix since it seems not to crease so ideal for a working wardrobe.

I also am condidering this skirt pattern though not too sure which view to make but think this would be very good for work. I bought the pattern years ago and so far it is uncut so about time I made this as well:

 and maybe also this Simplicity skirt (left) but this in the longer length in stretch leather of which I still have loads. I have been intending to make this top and skirt for absolutely ages and it could be good in my new work wardrobe in the right fabric choices. I do fancy this in leather. My fabric is a stretch woven but its very stretch and I have preciously made leggings from it so I think it will work despite this pattern being for a knit skirt. Maybe better for after I actually GET the job but I will take a few weeks to make all this stuff anyway so I will cut this one out today as well and maybe also the top in this pattern, though not sure yet of fabric choice for this and this one is a "maybe" rather than a definite. It could be a nice work shirt though.

I want to make a pirate shirt from this mens pattern in a navy and white striped polycotton - (very 1980s!) but I reckon wearable with the right bottom for work. I reckon I can play with the stripes for this shirt and it will be far more interesting than a basic shirt pattern. Also no buttons and its BIG! Unfortunately, this pattern was bought for the jacket pattern for my partner (which is also on todays cutting out list but more of that in a different post) so is somewhat large for me so I will need to reduce the size I expect. I intend to measure the pattern pieces against some right sized patterns and then decide if this will be needed because as I said, I do want this to be very big and baggy and 1980s style.

And this elf shirt in a green cotton type fabric:

I bought this cosplay pattern as soon as possible in the UK but have yet to make it. The shirt, despite being Cosplay, has some very interesting and wearable features for a normal office top so I am intending to have a go at making this in green woven fabric - just like the pictures.

I also want to make some kind of peplum jacket. I have several patterns and have yet to decide which to use for this. I think a peplum jacket would look good though with my existing dresses and skirts and maybe even my trousers for work where I often need to attend meetings with senior staff.

So not a very productive weekend this for sewing so far, although my main task is to cut all these out for the next month's or so sewing sessions. And I had some good news - I finally got my PhD corrections OK'd so once the thesis gets printed its all done and I will be so very happy to get rid of the thing because it has been driving me potty. I cannot think of a better New Year present.

I also already made this dress, but would like a less Goth version for work because its lovely, comfortable and I really do like it but its too long for work and every day life - it has a train at the back - so I am thinking of somehow "sports-wearing it up" with stretch performance fabric and maybe some fluourescence. Not sure how yet but its on the list to do another of these. You can see the original dress I made here:
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/85-simplicity-1772-dress.html
Come to think of it sports-wearish may not be best for work but I just want to make this anyway!

Hopefully, if I can have a better wardrobe, this will help with my latest ambition - to get a permanent job.

I know it does not officially come down to clothing when you get a job but I am currently temping in a job I would like to do long term and I will get the chance to apply for the permanent job soon so if I can get a bit newer, I would say smarter, but actually I am not scruffy at work its just all my work clothing looks very out of date and old. I will probably do a few quick T shirts first as well to smarten up the existing trousers I own and then get going on things that take longer which is most of what is on this list. Its lovely to have time to take to do intricate garments but I landed this job quite unexpectedly and had only 2 days notice I was starting and having been working in a lab for the past 4 years I own mostly jeans and casual clothing or else fun stuff for weekends so I need to get down to sewing some serious work clothing asap. Appearances do matter I think so I need to look professional as well as be brilliant at the new job if I want to get the perm job.

 So this is my plan for the next few weeks of sewing. I will show you how it all turns out once I finish these items.

Thanks for reading

Bracken