Pattern Review Endless Combinations

After failing miserably and not participating in the Stitcher's Guild 2020 SWAP I was tempted by the Pattern Review Endless Combination contest. Given my productivity over the first half of the year the desire to sew nine garments in four and a bit weeks was either ambitious or stupid depending on your view point. At least four needed to be sewn to participate - that was my real goal with everything above four a bonus.

The plan for Endless Combinations is a distraction from the garments cut out and waiting patiently for their turn on the sewing table. As they are left over from my 2019 summer sewing plans it is not too much of a disappointment - there is still time to make them before the start of this Summer.

The official rules

The idea was to build a flexible wardrobe of pieces that go with each other. You start with one garment, and then each subsequent garment you sew must coordinate with the one before.

1. Create and sew an "Endless Combination" wardrobe of at least four items that coordinate in the way described above. (A+B, B+C, C+D). There is no limit to the number of items in your Endless Combination.
2. Any pattern can be used or no pattern at all.
3. Accessories are not allowed as an official “item” but may be sewn/worn for styling purposes.
4. The fabric may be pre-treated (washed) and patterns may be trialled before the contest start date of 1 July but the fabric for the contest garment can't be cut before the contest start date.
5. All entries have to be submitted by 11.59pm Eastern time on 31 July. This should have worked in my favour as that is 3.59pm on 1 August (a Saturday) in New Zealand.

Not discovering the contest thread until 1 July left no opportunity for pattern testing ahead of time.

The original plan

I flitted about between various fabric and pattern options, where was the start and what followed what. Eventually I produced this initial plan but when it came to sewing it required too much brain power and was abandoned (also truth be told new shinier fabric entered the building).

Top row

(a) Top based loosely on the Style Arc Rosie pattern in Reef viscose knit from Drapers Fabrics 

(b) Thread Theory Lazo Trousers in a viscose/silk blend twill from The Fabric Store
(c) V8710 KT top in Lady McElroy Sacred Symbol viscose crepe jersey from Stonemountain & Daughter

Row two

(d) Megan Nielsen Flint trousers in a white/mustard check grey lightweight wool from The Fabric Store
(e) Diane Ericson The French Fold Shrug in an ochre coloured merino knit from The Fabric Store

Row three

(f) Named Kielo Wrap dress in a sheer poly bug print from Drapers Fabric or

     V9243 (OOP) Twirling dress in an ochre merino knit from The Fabric Store

Bottom row
(g) Sew Different Sheer top in Sunset sequins from Stonemountain & Daughter or

      DP Studio LE702 Trompe l'oeil trenchcoat in D&G Sweet Home Italian wool from Marcy Tilton

The (almost) executed plan

The Firebird mohair finally arrived from The Sewing Workshop and turned my plan on its head. The three months it took the fabric to swim across the Pacific ocean is what happens when you order fabric during a pandemic just as borders close and international travel stops.

Top row

(a) Papercut Fjord cardi Firebird mohair wool from The Sewing Workshop (this fabric is still available at Elliott Berman)

(b) V9243 Twirling Firebird dress

(c) Sew Different Sheer top in a paisley cotton lace from Fabric Vision

Middle row

(d) Megan Nielsen Flint trousers in a white/mustard check lightweight wool from The Fabric Store

(e) V8710 KT top in Blue Temptation rib knit from Miss Maude

(f) Megan Nielsen Flint trousers in peggy yellow heavy tencel twill from Miss Maude

Bottom row

(g) Style Arc Rosie top in Lady McElroy Sacred Symbol viscose crepe jersey from Stonemountain & Daughter

(h) Thread Theory Lazo Trousers in a viscose/silk blend twill from The Fabric Store

(i) Style Arc Rosie top in Reef viscose knit from Drapers Fabrics

The pattern cards

Sometimes the Grainline Studio pattern cards are an after thought, and my line drawing of the garment are anything but polished. Yet I have maintained the practice of filling out a pattern card and making notes about alterations etc for each garment sewn. Will report back in a few years as to whether this practice has been useful!!

The finished garments

Eight of the Endless Combination were finished in July but still not entered into the competition for two reasons:

(1) I haven't written reviews for each of the finished garments; and

(2) I don't have photographs of me wearing all of the garment combinations

Even three months later no reviews are written or photographs taken. Instead what I have are the garments in a flat fashion layout.

The seven items in their endless combination

All three of the tops in this endless combination can be worn with either pair of trousers as well as with the Fjord Firebird cardigan, extending the wearing possibilities even further.

Item nine - the Rosie Reef top

The Rosie Reef top was unable to join its friends as an endless combination because item eight the Lazo trousers were not made (and still remain flat fabric). 

The frenetic sewing during July was followed by an extended pause until September and the advent of the Pattern Review 2020 wardrobe contest...