Travel Sewing Plans!

One of the best parts about an upcoming vacation is that you have an excuse to MAKE NEW THINGS! Do I already have clothes that would be sufficient? Of course! Would I rather give myself a barrage of self-imposed sewing deadlines that are unrealistic but thrilling to imagine? YES!

For my whole trip to Berlin, my wardrobe theme [because all vacation wardrobes should have themes] is utilitarian. I want to pack light and streamline everything and feel very mobile. I'm going to be doing a lot by myself during the day while my brother is at work and I will just want easy clothes.

The first and largest project I'm hoping to accomplish is a coat. I have never made a real coat, with interlining and actual warmth-preserving properties, and I've actually not even bought one in the last five or six years. But now I live in a place with an almost-actual winter, and will be traveling to a place that has a real winter. So I need a coat.

I'm pretty sure I've chosen the Colette [Walden] Albion jacket. It's partially because I already own that pattern, and that would be responsible of me. AND I have [I think] enough leftover navy moleskin from the KwikSew bomber jacket to make it, which would be even more responsible. IT'S LIKE AN almost FREE COAT.

I wasn't sure if it was exactly the pattern I was looking for until I saw this version on Evolution of a Sewing Goddess. She did a lot of shaping and added seams and made it more feminine. I really love it. I don't know if I'll have time to do all the work she did, but if I even go a little in that direction I'll be happy.

I'm planning on interlining with Thinsulate, as I don't expect the cotton moleskin to be very warm or wind-stopping. Does anyone have any experience with using thinsulate? I'm trying to decide if I should use it in the arms or not.

Next, I have this acid wash knit that's burning a hole in my stash so I really want to make some jeggings, but I'm scared. What pattern should I use? Will the Berliners make fun of me? I feel like if I do them right they will just look like pants, not leggings-as-pants. The fabric is pretty thick and stable so it could work. I was thinking of using just a basic leggings pattern and adding some double topstitching along the side seam / inseam. I also have the Papercut Ooh La Leggings pattern, which might be better. But I don't know, WILL I LOOK RIDICULOUS?

Also in the pants department, I'd really like to make a part of cigarette pants. I have already made a muslin of the Colette Clover pants, but sadly it's been lost to time and space, and I can't find it anywhere. I'm hoping that I accidentally left it in my old house in LA, and someday someone will find these weird see-through pants with sharpie marks all over them. I have some grey stretch twill that would be really cute, as long as I can get the fit right.

And speaking of, well, Clovers, I'd like to make another Papercut Clover shirt out of this navy polka dot sheer business.

I'd like to make up a Plantain or two as good staples, maybe long sleeved. I have some black jersey and the Arizona Tomahawk jersey for those.

I also think that I need a daytime bag. I'm eyeing the Cooper bag because it can be a backpack and a messenger bag, which fits with my theme of utilitarian, a very important criterion. The only thing is that I don't have the pattern OR fabric for this one yet, so I'd have to buy them. We shall see.

And lastly, I want to use this motorcycle jersey to make a Thread Theory Strathcona henley for my brother as a thank you for putting me up. He has a motorcycle, and half of his instagram pictures are of motorcycles, so it seems only fitting. And I'm not ruining the surprise because I don't think he reads my blog...do you, Ian? Do you? This is a test.

So there are my six[ish] sewing goals. As of today I have three weeks. Will I accomplish all? some? any? Who knows! But I'm gonna try!