Essentially fall: So what are you doing on your leave year? (updated)

School started today. I'm not there, because today is the official start of my leave. I've already done one of the first things I did the last time I was on leave, which is catch up on Girl Genius. But when people ask me what I plan to do, I need rather more to say than "Find the other end of the internet."^* Therefore, some planning is in order.

I'm getting married October 3. It's going to be a quiet wedding, and all the planning is already done. Coffeeneuring starts the same week and I am determined I will finish this year. I've got a lot of crap to clear out of my office, a bunch of books to read, and some teaching videos to film.

Oh. And crosswords. There will be many crosswords.

And of course there are a bunch of things I want to make. This is where the Fall Essentials Sew-Along, hosted by Rhinestones and Telephones (she of #sewDollyClackett fame), comes in.


Obviously, we need to add "Cheeky Crocheters" to that. Humpf.

There are seven categories and it turns out I have plans for every. single. one. Of course, I always have far too many plans; this fall I do have ample time, but as we know I need definite event deadlines or I'll never get them done. So here's to over-planning in the hopes that some of these projects get made. Past me even cut a bunch of them out. Cheers to past me.

Fashionable Foundations for Frosty Weather

Cut: Denim Simplicity 2451 (tulip) for The Bloggess's reading Sept 20 for tea with P & C Sept. 12. I had just enough of the denim I used in my jeans and my Lekala spiral gore skirt to make this skirt.

Cut: Polka dot Simplicity 2451 (trumpet) for the wedding shower Sept 26. I cut this out to make last summer and, well, didn't. September is still pretty much summer weather here, so I'll still be able to wear it. I hope.

Cut: Tan check Thurlows for Thanksgiving Oct 11/12.


I don't have the fabric for the next three yet, which might mean they are doomed to not happen, but they are all actual essentials so I've got my determined face on.

Tan twill or denim Lekala swirl skirt. I need more "elegant casual" clothes -- things that are not obviously work dressy but that aren't yoga pants. I've been thinking about making another spiral skirt for a while now. I would like to have it ready to wear for the third week of Coffeeneuring and the Early Music Fair October 17.

Another pair of Jalie jeans for Chris Hadfield's Generator on Oct 28. I'm really proud of my first pair of jeans, but I ain't gonna lie: they are far from perfect. I need to tweak the pattern and make them in a thicker denim. I could use the denim from the Closet Case kit, but I want to save it until I've finished tweaking the pattern. I think I will actually watch one of my Craftsy courses to help me out with this. I might even embrace the Full Butt Adjustment.

Wearing History Smooth Sailing trousers for Postmodern Jukebox for Nov. 16. I want to get these done to finally fulfill both the second of Gillian's sewing dares and the first of my Vintage Pledges. Better late than never, right?

Chic Chemises for Cool Climates

Cut: Breton Renfrew, for the Cabbagetown Festival, Sept. 13.

I'd like to take part in the Refashioners challenge, because yay for procrastination + extended deadlines, and redo a man's shirt in time for the shower. The problem is that a) the idea I have might take too long to implement by the 26th and b) I don't have the shirt yet; will I even have time to buy one? The answer should be yes, because honestly I don't really have to do anything but sew if I want to, but. I'm not counting on it.

Cut: Mathilde blouses. More fabric cut June of last year. One of these, probably the sheer green one, will be perfect for the I Furiosi Game of Thrones concert October 23, particularly with leather pants. Update: I'll make the blue one for The Bloggess's 's reading, which is Oct. 20, not Sept. 20.

Once I finish the Shirley's socks (see below), I'll start the Dana cowl sweater; I have a feeling it will be a longish make, so I'm aiming for the November 14 deadline.

Fabulous Frocks

A Very Special Anna: Everybody needs a wedding dress, right? This is obviously my top priority and the other September items have to wait until it is sewn. I'm planning on embroidering it, which entails trips to Aged P's. She is moving, which will make that part more involved. The wedding is October 3, but I plan to have it sewn by September 13 and embroidered by September 26th. I'm starting this one before the official sew-along starts. Don't care. So far I've already cut the skirt off Aged P's dress, unpicked the seams, pressed the panels as much as possible, did some creative laying out of pattern pieces, and have cut everything out. I think I'm off to a good start.

Lolita Sugarplum, which will also be part of Sew Indie Month, for the meet the family/rehearsal dinner Sept 27. This might be not-doable because I've been looking at the sew-along and there are lots of potentially time-consuming fiddly bits. The fact that I have nine, potentially twelve, other projects planned first (of which the wedding dress and wedding jewellery must be finished before the 26th) and the fact that I haven't even cut this out yet (not even the pattern) put this deadline rather firmly in "pipe dream" territory.


Underneath It All

I never got around to making those Measure Twice Cut Once Charlotte and Mary knickers in July, so I'd like to get them done. I don't have a specific event for them because that's ridiculous; maybe after the wedding I'll plan out my time more efficiently.

Tender Tootsies

IP: I started a pair of Shirley's socks in July, but I got stuck on the heel. I plan to have these finished for Thanksgiving.


Those Cozy Nights

Cut: I am going to make the DC^** a pair of slightly modified Tofino flannel pjs. They will match the ones I made myself in June. I'll get these done for Hallowe'en for no particular reason other than he'll be wanting a pair of lounge pants well before then.


Baby It's Cold Outside

I've had plans to make a pair of mitts out of a moth-eaten cashmere sweater for a few years now. I'd like to have these done by December 1, which is outside the sew-along time frame but then these are really winter gear, not fall.

If I have time and the weather forecast indicates it, I might take the sleeves from Aged P's gown and some of the leftover silk to fashion a bolero jacket for the wedding. We'll see.

I'm adding an eighth category: Beautiful baubles for brisk banlieues

I'm planning on making my wedding earrings as well as earrings for various family members. Fortunately, I can knock off a pair in about an hour, so these won't be too time-consuming.

So, as always, a very ambitious plan. Once the wedding is over, I'll reassess some of the timelines. I'm sure to get a few of these done, at any rate.

By the way, I made/finished/participated a bunch of things over the summer, so expect me to mess up your blog readers and sidebars by blogging them in my usual timey-wimey fashion. This includes the return of Pancake of the Month!

But first? I'll be on my deck with tea and a crossword.

^*I found the first end of the internet on my 2009-10 leave. It has a picture of a cat.

^**Yes, you read that right. I am actually sewing something for the DC. Dude drafts his own jackets, so I'm not keen to sew him something he could make better than I could; comfy lounge pants I can do.