2018 Ready-to-Wear FAST #2018rtwfast
For some inexplicable reason, I signed up to refrain from purchasing any ready-to-wear (RTW) clothes in 2018. The blog GoodbyeValentino.com, by Sarah Gunn, co-author of The Tunic Bible (have it/love it), is sponsoring this event and the rules are pretty strict: I vow not to purchase any RTW clothing in 2018. That’s it. I am allowed to wear what’s already in my closet, and I can purchase undies, shoes, and bags, but otherwise…No new jeans, tops, skirts, dresses, shorts, jammies, swimsuits, etc. That’s a pretty tall order but I’m doing this for a couple of reasons: 1. Clean out my fabric stash and; 2. It will force me to improve my garment sewing skills. There are over 1,000 participants in this year’s #2018rtwfast and there will be drawings and contests with some pretty snazzy prizes throughout the year. I’m looking forward to it. I already whipped up a jammie top on New Year’s Day in a darling little Riley Blake knit I got from Mood Fabrics – sorry, no photo because I left it at the coast.
I joined the Vogue pattern club (annual fee of $9.99) and purchased four new patterns that are on sale for $5.99 but I got them for the club price of $4.79 each. Now that Hancock Fabrics has closed and the nearest JoAnn’s is in another county, I’ll be doing most of my pattern shopping online. It seems lately I do all my shopping online from fabric (fashion and quilting) to notions. Heck, I’m even ordering groceries with my phone and doing curbside pickup. Probably not a bad idea with flu season in full swing. Here’s what I ordered.
Vogue 9057 – Shaped Hemline Top by Marci Tilton
Vogue 9267 – Fit and Flare Dress with Waistband and Pockets
I think this dress will be perfect for work! I love the neckline, the princess bodice, and the skirt pleats. I love every bit of this dress. I’ll probably hack the pattern many times throughout the year to customize it by modifying the neckline, sleeve length, waist position, etc. My work peeps who might be reading – get ready to get sick of seeing this dress.
Vogue 9265 – Princess Seam Flare Dress with Poof Sleeves
I have the 2018 Texas State Daughter’s of the American Revolution conference coming up in the beginning of March and I’ve got two evenings where I need to wear a formal. I have one already hanging in my closet and this pattern will be perfect for the other. Poofy sleeves are in apparently which is just fine with me now that I’m getting “grandma arms”. I’m not sure what to do for fabric.
Now, I’m no clothes horse and I don’t believe I’ve done any serious designer shopping in a couple of decades but I do drop $300-500 a year in places like Roz & Ali (formerly Dress Barn) for work clothes or Tractor Supply for my jeans – hey don’t judge – I’ve got cows! In fact, jeans will be my biggest challenge this year. I have Angela Wolff’s pattern but I’m terrified to try it. I also have Kenneth King’s class on Craftsy. Come to think of it, I shop pretty heavily in Sisters, a darling ladies shop in Port O’Connor that carries the cutest stuff and I buy a lot of my clothes for work there. It will be SO hard to step away from the racks and stick to knickknacks and Yellow Box. I’m just now beginning to realize the money I’m going to save. $$$$
This challenge will also make me get my dress form into working order. So I’m all set! Here we go!
Great pattern choices, and I think I love the idea of the RTWF! I have a pattern for a sleeveless dress with a similar neckline as the Vogue 9267, but that neck opening is a bit too wide. I’ll be going over to pick up the Vogue pattern! Thanks for sharing, and I’m looking forward to seeing (and hearing about) your creations this year 🙂
Hi Kris! I completely agree about the too-wide neckline. I’ll probably bring it in just a bit. At my conference I have DAR ribbons to wear that go on the left side and I definitely need something to pin them too. And I’m glad you said that because I hadn’t considered it. Hmmm. I might use the 9265 sleeves on the 9267 and turn the 9267 into floor length. Can you say “pattern hack”? 😉 Thanks!
I have “unofficially” joined the 2018 Goodbye Valentino Ready to Wear Fast. It’s unofficial because I just found out about it today and the deadline for entry was January 4. So for all of 2018 I will not purchase any ready to wear clothing, shoes, purses or jewelry. Of course I will accept gifts but I will ask for nothing. I do have a couple of things that did not arrive before Dec 31 so I am not counting those. Needless to say, I’m hoping to spend a lot of time in my sewing room this year! And, because my husband has always wanted to see me with long hair, I am letting it grow all of 2018. I am super excited and looking forward to the challenge. Yep, I’ll be the wacky dressed, long-haired 65 year old living on the river😄
Awesome Donna! Glad you are joining in! Now let’s not go overboard…you can buy yourself shoes and jewelry, unless you want to make your own shoes! 🙂 After 20 years in the AF, my husband wanted my hair long too. If you scroll through some of my posts, you can see it halfway down my back. Funny thing is, I wear it up now all of the time! I only wear it down when the temp drops into the 50’s or below because my hair is very think and it feels like a blanket on my neck. I wish you luck in your long-hair and me-made journey!
I’m so excited to see what you make this year! Love those patterns, especially the two dresses. My goal for 2018 is to sew some things for me, and by 2020 I plan on doing the RTW fast! I hope you do the Angela Wolf jeans – they are on my wish list on PR.com.
To be honest, I’ve only got a few very easy clothing items under my belt so this will definitely be a challenge. I’ve found my mad quilting skills and limited sewing abilities do overlap in places and that’s been a great help. Jeans. Ugh. I have Angela’s class on her jeans too. Everything will be about fit of course and I took an in-person class with her last November and she is simply amazing. But she’s never had kids so she has this perfect little body and I’m concerned her jeans are drafted for those people – no muffin top, proportionate hips, etc. That’s why I like Kenneth King’s class because he shows you how to pattern draft from RTW jeans that already fit. I had an old pair that were too short so I turned them into capris. Then I attempted to embroider a pretty border around the hems and had a fail. I think I’ll use those as the draft pattern and have a go at Kenneth’s class. Thanks for posting and making me think about this! I’m feeling hopeful about my jeans now!
Good luck with the fast, Becky! I waffled with it, but my wardrobe is so minimal (and frumpy, dumpy) that it all needs replacing, and I’d be at my machine 24/7 in order to accomplish it. So, next year! You’ll be posting your makes, I hope?
Yes Jen, I’ll be posting my makes. I got the 2nd half of your StitchingSanta. You won’t believe how perfect it is!! TY note is in the mail. 🙂
Good! and good! I’m soooo glad you like it; the colors and pattern seemed to suit you. And i knew you’d be happy with the thread. 😉
Good luck with your ready to wear fast! It’s a great opportunity to pick up some new skills, sewing things you don’t normally sew – like jeans as you mentioned!
Vogue 9057 is probably my favourite top pattern (though I am cutting out a Cashmerette Concord t-shirt that might give the Vogue one a run for its money). Have fun picking which style to make.
I bought those Vogue pants, too. Love the first dress (the second, too, but the first is very “me”) and may need to look for that one as my son is graduating in the spring! I’m a fellow faster and am kind of worried about how this year is going to go!
Don’t be afraid of sewing jeans! I’m finally learning the value of making mock-ups (wearable or not) as they help quell the fear of messing up. Tinlizzie’s blog includes advice on choosing thrift-shop sheets for mock-ups, (the cheaper the fabric, the less wasteful it feels if you have to re-cut) and since it isn’t RTW it is okay for the Fast! The best tip I ever got for the actual sewing process was to keep a hammer handy: Seriously, any spot that has more than 2 or 3 layers of denim, pound with the hammer once or twice to mash the fabric down. It fits under the pressure foot better, and the needle actually goes thru much more smoothly, too. A “little” hammer is fine, like 8 or 12 ounces.