Here goes nothing...
Let me present my collection for spring/summer 2018. Sorry this is so long. Not sure how much detail I'm supposed to supply... skip to the pictures if you don't need the details.
Set 1:
B1: Denim jeans
Pattern: these are my own design, based on a mash-up of my pants block and a favourite pair of RTW jeans that currently have too much negative ease built in.
Fabric: this is a pretty special fabric for me - it is one of the last pieces of denim I produced back in my time as a denim developer/technician (about 10 years ago...). Heavyweight, 100% cotton, with an overdyed finish (pale gold colour over the indigo). Lining on band and pockets is the same paisley I've previously used for my hat.
T1a: 3/4 length sleeve tee
Pattern: My own draft based on my set-in long sleeve tee, with the neckline widened and deepened to match the neckline of the dress (WC2) and the sleeves shortened to 3/4 length, with cuffs added.
Fabric: 100% cotton jersey, natural colour, almost seedy.
T1b: Linen knit boxy tee
Pattern: My own - just two rectangles really with one longer than the other, with sloping shoulders for better fit. Binding folded over an trimmed at neckline.
Fabric: 100% linen, pigment dyed khaki, purchased from Cleggs in Melbourne several years ago. I've eked out all I could from this piece and now have 3 garments from it (one didn't make it through to the collection).
Set 2:
B2: Linen pull-on trousers
Pattern: based on Vogue 2064, with my own fit adjustments and without the darts, so I can get them over my hips.
Fabric: 100% linen, two-tone (brown warp, cream weft)
T2a: Gold spotted poly woven singlet
Pattern: my own, this was a test garment for fit, based on my loose knit singlet pattern. Worked well, but found it needed a small dart at the armhole. Have worn it several times already - it's a lovely happy colour.
Fabric: remnant - I think it's a polyester lining fabric.
T2b: Textured natural cotton shell
Pattern: same as above, with the dart moved to the side seam and eased into the back.
Fabrics: 100% cotton. The outer has a great diamond weave pattern and hasn't been bleached so still has the seedy look of natural cotton. Inner is a cotton lawn (the only 'purchased' fabric for the collection)
Set 3:
B3: Khaki canvas trousers
Pattern: same as the jeans, even down to the back pocket 'swirls'. Because this fabric is lighter, I made them a slightly looser fit.
Fabric: 100% cotton, canvas weave. Lining same as jeans.
T3a: Salmon jersey wide-necked raglan tee
Pattern: my own, based on a RTW tee I had years ago. Not normally a fan of raglan sleeves, but I like the wide-neck and the wide band on this one.
Fabric: Cotton/lycra jersey
T3b: Printed raglan tie-front top
Pattern: based on the same raglan t-shirt pattern as above, just modified to add a lot more width to the pieces so it could be gathered. Front slit and bound then the neckline trimmed in bias binding which then extend to the ties.
Fabric: 100% cotton, a remnant of border print - cut so the border runs across the back.
Wild cards:
W1: Linen knit cardigan
Pattern: V8954, modified to raise the neckline, as a previous version of this kept falling off my shoulders. Also adjusted the collar pieces to match the smaller neck opening.
Fabric: same linen knit as T1b
W2: Linen darted dress
Pattern: One of the dresses in the 'Basic Black' book by Sato Watanabe. Modified the shoulders. I was going to make this as a thigh length tunic, but just cut it out to the end of the fabric, ready to trim it off once I tried it on. I actually like the length as it was, uneven hem and all, so hemmed it as is. I thought it might be too long to go over the trousers B2, but liked to look, so have kept it in the collection. As a wild-card, it needs to go with both sets 1 and 2. It goes from being an 'under' with the tops from Set 1, to an 'over' with the trousers from Set 2.
Fabric: Same as B2
Here they are:
Left to Right: Linen dart dress (W2), Printed cotton tie-front raglan top (T3b), Textured cotton lined shell top (T2b), Raglan wide-neck tee (T3a), Woven singlet (T2a), Linen knit boxy tee (T1b), Natural cotton jersey ¾ sleeve tee (T1a), Linen knit cardigan (W1), Linen pull-on trousers (B2), Cotton canvas jeans (B3), Denim jeans (B1)
Some detail shots, showing various neck and edge bindings, my chinese knot buttons on the cardigan, and the fit of the jeans, which I'm very happy with:
And finally, I've spent all day taking photos and am quite certain now I'm not cut out to be a model! Oh goodness, it's tedious. I've never changed clothes so many times in one day. Here are hopefully enough looks to show how it all works together. Please tell me it's enough, I'm not even sure I have the strength left to change into my pyjamas!
So there it is folks. It's been a hard task making the final selections. There are several garments that are still very much part of my overall wardrobe, but couldn't fit into the garment limit.
I also have more plans to fill out the 'holes'. I'd love another set or two to reduce the workload on these garments, so they don't wear out too fast. I'd also like an extra over-layer or two, so I'm prepared for cooler evenings. And more a couple more dresses... so much still to do.
This has been a very rewarding process and I'm going to be better dressed than I've ever been before. It will be marvellous to know I can pick anything out of the wardrobe and have something that works.
Thanks
@Manuela for running this and giving us a wonderfully flexible set of rules to apply. I'm going to be busy with other things for the next few weeks, but look forward to popping in and seeing others' collections from time to time. I'll be thinking of you all.