Getting started!

My resolution for 2017 is to have a 100% handmade wardrobe by January 1, 2018, by creating one wearable garment per week. I have the skills; I can knit, sew, crochet, spin, and weave. I also have the tools, in the form of (multiple) sewing machines, a spinning wheel, knitting needles, and a loom. 

There are a ton of reasons to do it. When you buy cheap clothes, you GET cheap clothes. You wind up with shirts that have holes in the seams, or stretch out, or discolor, or just plain don't fit you properly, and of course there's the whole ethical issue of cheap clothes being made in sweat shops using child labor.

Really, though, I've set myself this challenge primarily because I want to. I enjoy crafting, and this will give me a direction and purpose for my hobby. Hopefully, it will mean fewer impulse buys of clothing, fabric, and fiber; I'll be more mindful of how I spend my money, and I'll be able to give myself permission to buy slightly higher quality (read: more expensive) fabrics and yarns that I wouldn't normally buy.

So, I'm going to create a capsule wardrobe. I'm a stay at home mom, and my general uniform consists of jeans and a t-shirt.  Making a capsule wardrobe will let me improve how I dress, and let me explore my personal style - something I haven't done since I was a 90 pound teenager.

There's the obvious, socks, bras, and underwear.  I can already knit socks, and I've made myself a few pairs of scrundies, but I'll confess to being really intimidated by the thought of making my own bras.

Then, I'd like to make a few pairs of jeans that fit my shape. I'm somewhat overweight, and carry a lot of my weight in my belly (Thanks for that, Mom!). Store bought jeans that fit me through the hip and waist tend to be baggy in the thigh. I'm also rather short, so having jeans that are the right length would be awesome. I should probably also make a pair of dressier trousers, and a skirt or two.

For tops, I'd like a variety of long-sleeved t-shirts, maybe a button up blouse or two, and a couple of cardigans that I can mix and match. I'll also likely knit a sweater or two.  I've got a subscription to Seamwork Magazine, and I love the simple, classic shapes of their patterns.

I'll also make myself some pajamas, and probably around September, I'll be brave and make myself a really nice wool coat.

So far, I have a sweater on the needles (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heavenly-2), and one sock from a pair finished. (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/penispoopcakewaffle-sock) I'll work on getting the 2nd sock finished by January 7, so that pair of socks will be 1 of 52 wearable items.