Works in Progress - Make it with Wool, Wall Hanging & a Bunch of Fabric Bowls

Works in Progress - The long and short of it all

In keeping with our autumn Works in Progress Challenge, I thought I would share my most recent works in progress. Part of why we are doing this challenge is to normalize process and focus on that part of of our sewing journey. Sure, a finished project is a great hit of dopamine, but the real joy, for me at least, comes from the PROCESS of making.

Personally, I have about 1000 (I exaggerate, but it feels that way) projects going at once. I like to have different kinds of projects going that I can pick up and put down easily, so when I have time, I tend to prep these projects so that I can “grab-and-go” so to speak. I have projects for watching TV, projects for crafting with friends and projects that are a bit more difficult requiring more focus for periods where I have a long stretch of time to create.

The Long Game

Lets’ start with the projects that required more focus. In this case it’s a group of 3 garments I am submitting to the California Make it with Wool Contest - a contest I truly enjoy and dread at the same time. I call this out it a “Long-game” project because I start planning it way in advance and work on it over several months. This year, I am making a 3-piece outfit that includes a plaid wool skirt, a button-down shirt and a knitted vest. Each of my garments had to be made from fabric or yarn that was at least 60% wool. The fabrics were acquired in multiple ways. The Pendleton plaid was a prize from a previous MIWW contest, the cream challis a donation and the yarn purchased locally from Recrafting Co. I have finished the blouse and skirt with lots of handwork, but the sweater vest is still being blocked so this 3pc outfit still qualifies as “In Progress” . The vest was the most complicated I have ever made and took great concentration. Every time I tried knitting it with a show on, I would have to frog it back several times. Ugh! But it seems to be turning out really well.

Smaller Projects

We are having a FABRIC BOWLS class in October so I started making some bowls to use as examples to market the class. Well that was so fun, I have just kept on going and now friends and family will be getting these cute bowls for Holiday gifts. Yay! These I can do while watching Granchester with my husband.

And recently I went on a crafting retreat in Vermont. We started with hand dyeing fabric, did some block printing and then moved on to work with textile artist Suzette Smart to work on an embroidered and applique piece that, for me, will become a wall hanging. I love this kind of work and I love just hunkering down and stitching for hours on end. This project was particularly inspiring for me, in part because of the pastoral setting of rural Vermont, the local farms and our wonderful instructors, but also because the time I got to spend creating was rich with new ideas and experiences.

I found myself thinking about nature and what it means to me

In this project, I found myself thinking about nature and what it means to me, about wind and getting windblown and my experience with with wind, in particular - being in flow vs. going against the wind, getting blown where the wind takes me. I’ve had a little hatred of wind for a long time now, because I don’t really like getting blown about but having gone to Iceland recently, have a new appreciation for it, for it’s power and movement and how it brings about change.

These are my most immediate projects, but I have more too. Little embroidery pieces as well as some mini Kawandi style quilts that will get turned into project bags. I have plans to sew for a few upcoming craft fairs. It gives me more opportunities to create and explore my creative process. I’ve been dyeing vintage textiles at home, for this purpose, experimenting with Rit Dye and the washing machine, getting ready to give these pieces a new life as bags, garments or accessories. I can’t wait to share those with you as they come about.

I would love to hear what you are working on and why you like the process of MAKING. Please let me know in the comments.

Until Next time, Happy Stitching!

xo Jennifer