Hello all! For the past two years we've done some summer sewing together with the Summer Essentials Sew-Along. Born out of the first Me-Made-May, it was a wonderful way to continue the momentum of support and enthusiasm over our me-made wardrobes.
The blogosphere is chock full of amazing sew-alongs and challenges that have made sewing garments a collaborative and exhilarating experience. It has also, for some of us, made our sewing queues very, very long! (Must. Sew. Fabulous. Dresses!)
We could pass on the Summer Essentials Sew-Along this year, but we'd really miss the fun of sewing together during my favorite season. Along with my co-hosts—the Siren of the Sorbetto, Sarah of Rhinestones & Telephones, and the Maiden of the Macaroon, Alessa of Farbenfreude—we'd like to sew a bit together and so we bring you: The Summer Spark Sew-Along.
Here's the sparky deets:
1 MONTH:
In the month of June, sew one fabulous garment that you plan on strutting all summer.
1 GARMENT:
Your choice! What's the most wonderful thing you'd like to wear again and again this summer? A pair of linen palazzo pants? A shoulder-bearing sundress? A swishy skirt? A floaty top?
Why not make it now and flaunt it 'til the days get shorter?
1 GREAT LIST:
We'll be posting photos of our finished garments in a Flickr group and, at the end of the month, we'll tally up all the fabulous patterns in a list to serve as inspiration to all. One person's amazing garment could spark another's summer sewing—in July, the season's still young, after all!
1 FABULOUS PRIZE:
All folks who have uploaded a photo of their finished garment by July 4 (a few extra days for good measure!) will be entered into a giveaway for ONE INDIE SEWING PATTERN OF THEIR CHOICE, to be shipped worldwide. Can't resist those Colette Iris Shorts? That Sewaholic Cambie? The Christine Haynes Derby Dress? It's a thank you for sewing along with us.
Personally, this'll help me start the summer with a bang. In previous sew-alongs, I've over-planned and under-delivered. A new pattern or a new fabric score and the best laid plans are out the window. Oops. What can I say? So much loveliness, so little time.
Yet every time the weather turns warm, I long for a dress that's been on my list for multiple seasons! So it will finally get its day: I'm even going to buy the right fabric and work to get the right fit.
And then: Long days and sunlight and sand between my toes. Barbecues and laughter. Summer + one rockin' dress.
Join us?
On the way: Badges + Flickr Group
.jpg)
Yay!! I am so happy to be co-hosting with you and Alessa again! Bring on summer!
ReplyDeleteYou're a sew-along QUEEN, Sarah, I can't wait to see what you come up with. :)
DeleteI was pondering taking a step back in June to recoup from Me Made May (financially and time-wise), but if we are only talking one garment....
ReplyDeleteWell, I already have the fabric and an idea for a skirt I've been wanting to make. With a month to tackle it, I think I can rise to the challenge.
:)
I totally hear you, Meris. There's a whole lotta stuff going on -- personally, I'm balancing sewing exhaustion and a busy schedule, and also thought about taking a step back. But I so, so enjoyed the sew-alongs the past two years.
DeleteI figure with a month and one garment, I can slowly prep and sew at my own pace (or if it comes to it, procrastinate and do it all at the last minute ;). I plan on making something easy and highly wearable.
I hope you'll join us -- I look forward to seeing that skirt :)
I'm going to make McCalls 6557. I already have the fabric. I just have a few things to finish up this weekend and then I'll be ready to start.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is SO pretty! The surplice bodice, the full skirt -- just lovely, perfect for summer. I'm wrapping up some stuff, too, then I'll delve into my sparky garment. :)
DeleteOh this is an awesome idea! I think I'll sew something with summer in mind - it's winter down south and I could do with dreams of sunshine. And I just bought some STUNNING washer-finished teal silk. Done. Count me in!
ReplyDeleteYes, then you'll waste no time strutting it as soon as the weather warms up. :) And teal silk sounds glorious.
DeleteOh, yes! I didn't think I could commit to a full sewalong (having bailed sadly last summer) but one garment, I can do. I started tracing out and altering the Sewaholic Cambie pattern just this morning---I still have full-skirted sundresses on the brain. :)
ReplyDeleteI sort of bailed too (family stuff) and was saved by my amazing co-hosts. I'm glad this new version works for you! I'm beginning to think a month is about as long as my sewing attention span goes -- plans beyond it go out the window :0
DeleteAnd I can't wait to see that Cambie on you! It's such a lovely dress.
oooh YES!! as i said on sarah's blog, I'M SO IN!! now i just have to figure out what to make.....
ReplyDeleteYou'll pick something fabulous!! :) Another sundress? Another pair of shorts?
DeleteOh yay! I'm so excited! This seems so manageable! Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteYes! I'm big on manageable! So glad you're joining us, Ginger.
DeleteGreat Idea! I usually miss out on these sewalongs/challenges, not having a large amount of sewing time, but 1 fabulous pattern is doable!!!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I saw on your blog you're doing a Lonsdale in a stripe. So pretty. :)
DeleteOooh, fun! I'm so looking forward to sewing along with you again!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Couldn't do it without you and Sarah :)
DeleteI totally hear you on the overplanning and underdelivering-- I have so little regular time to sew these days, and when I heard that SESA was coming up again, I was a bit sad because I loved doing FESA but it took me until March to get through those things. One project sounds like something I could actually manage, though. So now I'm excited again!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad, Becky! I think this new version takes the intent of SESA while making it manageable for us all. :)
DeleteI am thinking this will help motivate me to finish my Lisette traveller dress - I cut out half of it in January and that's as far as I got!
ReplyDeleteYes! I always love versions of that dress -- really versatile. Classy and casual at the same time.
Deletethis is great! I have a simple pattern and the fabric waiting for me...plus it gives me the time to make a muslin...just in case...thanks for organizing it again
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm muslin-ing too. Can't wait to see what you come up with -- after your couture dress, you deserve something fun :)
DeleteOh, I so want to join in! I'm moving on June 22, but if I can squeeze in some sewing after that weekend is over, I'm all over this sewalong! :) I've been dreaming about making McCall's 5001 (out of print) in a causal white cotton, and I think now is the time to do it. A strapless white cotton dress just screams summer.
ReplyDeleteA white cotton dress does scream summer! You can wear it anywhere: A summer wedding, a summer barbecue -- so lovely.
DeleteYay! I´m definitely in! I just have to think of what to choose… Very exciting! :-)
ReplyDeleteHooray! Summer wouldn't be the same without inspiration from you :)
DeleteThis sounds great. Thanks for hosting! Good idea to suggest combining with Sew Colette 2.0. Hazel is calling my name, and after seeing so much Colette gorgeousness during Me-Made-May, I'm dying to jump on that bandwagon. Their Iris shorts are adorable too. Decisions, decisions. Can't wait to see the parade.
ReplyDeleteBoth patterns are gorgeous and so perfect for summer :)
DeleteI'd love to join you in this sew along.
ReplyDeleteThis would be my first, how do I get in?How does it work, basically?
I have chosen the pattern McCall's 6331 (option B)and have the fabric!!!!
very excited :)
Laura
I'm in!!!
ReplyDeleteI am with antonietta, I would love to join everyone as well with this sew along. how does it work and how do i enter? thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Antoinetta and lvs2sew: All you have to do is join our Flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/sssa/ and post a photo of your finished garment by July 4. But you can have a lot more fun inbetween, charting your progress on your blogs, if you have one, and an Flickr. I'm going to post about my progress at least once a week and if I need any help (i.e. with my muslin) I'll post a photo/question in the Flickr group. Happy sewing!
ReplyDeleteI want to join in, although the only appropriate garment for me this Summer would appear to be a raincoat! However I have some nice linen cotton boucle and I'm going to make a jacket. I'm deciding between Vogue 7975( the Chanel type) and a Knipmode with a collar.
ReplyDeleteCount me in! I'm a new follower. Thanks to Ginger for directing me here!! I'll be sewing Simplicity 1803. I have it started and this sewalong will be the right kind of motivation I need to get it finished.
ReplyDeleteI'm new here too (via Ginger :-) ) Motivation to make that breezy maxi dress I want...Count me in!!
ReplyDelete