Stash Busting Start Up!

Well after my last post and helpful tips from Emily at Tumble Weeds in the Wind I went away, well to my special place - my sewing studio to contemplate just how committed I am to stash busting!

I read a very interesting blog post over at The Diary of a Sewing Fanatic which really got me thinking more about this whole stash busting idea? Basically the question is - are you a sewing technician or a creative fibre artist? Its a thought provoking question for the suburban (or even professional) seamstress, don't you think?

I gave it some thought and decided not to categorise myself unnecessarily - some days I'm technician some days I'm an artist ... most days I'm a teacher and so I definitely need a stash for all occasions! That said, I do buy fabric with a specific garment in mind and don't always get around to making it (or even worse) I forget what I wanted to make but remember there was intent in the purchase!

So I decided to commit to a small amount of stash busting in 2014, you know try it on for size see how it feels - if it feels good I might do it again on a larger scale next year!

So staring me in the face when I'm in my special place (which is almost every day, I practice the Uke and my  français langue most days in there!) is this

See the tick next to the the 3 wrap blouses - that's 'cause they're done - oh yeh!

Check out the 'winter/autumn version below - I got to bust some of my button stash with this one! A very lovely family member salvaged these buttons (3 buckets full) for me from a fabric store that was closing down - they may have ended up as landfill - what a crime!!!

And here's the blouse - these are my first attempt at taking my own photos using a small table top tripod and the timer function on my 'point -n- shoot' camera ... they will get better!

I actually forgot why I bought this fabric (maybe to make Mr SS a short sleeve tailored shirt)? In the planning stages of this shirt I thought I would do an 'Ode to Cam' the character from the TV Show 'Modern Family' by using a contrasting fabric on the inside cuff, as I was cutting the blouse I realised I didn't have enough fabric for the tie or the front/neck facing, so the matching contrasting tie, facing and cuff was born! Pretty happy with that mistake - hmmm now does this make me an artist or a technician?

Sorry about the blur - lets call  them soft focus shots - haha!

 FYI - I drafted the collar and cuff for this pattern (Burda Wrap Blouse - a link can be found in my favourite patterns list on the right) and yes I made those jeans too ... more on them later!

Stash Busting 2014!

Whilst this new to me, its not to the sewing blog world! Its where you commit to using some of your fabric stash over the year ahead. I'm all for it but I do have some questions!

What if, actually, when I buy more fabric over the year ahead is it excluded from the original commitment or do I have to use some of that too?

How much is enough, 5%, 10 % or 50%? I don't think I would feel right without my stash, its not so much the actual fabric pieces I'm attached to its more the aesthetic and warm lovely feeling I get from having a wall of fabric at my finger tips ... here let me show you ... when I say wall I really mean a few shelves on a bookcase but one day it will be wall - ha!

And there's just a few more pieces on the bottom shelf of the other bookcase! And there's just a few sewing books there!!! Maybe I should do a book review a month, hmmm that's worth thinking about. (Sorry about the blurry pic - leave a comment if you want a clear pic of my books.)

Here's my scrap stash - I hope that doesn't count as part of the stash busting? What about saved for upcycling clothes, are they counted as part of the stash?

Oh and here's just a few more precious pieces - now some of these can't be used until I have some grand babies I'm saving them to make beautiful quilts -n- things! 

What about notions and supporting fabrics - you know like interfacing, curtain sunblock backing fabric and other such background stars we all have stashed somewhere in our sewing stores?

Then there's the question of - if its all out-of-sight its out-of-mind - so if its neatly stashed away for a seriously rainy day do we count it? 

So I guess my overall ultimate questions are:

1.  What are the parameters of stash busting - is an all or nothing ... and ...
2. Do new purchases after the date of commitment count?

Yay! I'm a Winner

For the first time, in a looong time I won something ... I was so shocked and surprised to receive an email from Amy at Sew Well informing that I had won her holiday give away competition! What did I win? I won some truly awesome (and extremely useful) sewing rulers from SA Curve. Claire at SA Curve who also writes a blog, check it out here, also emailed me to let me know and get my contact details to post my prize. 

I am so appreciative of this gift - it will be put to good use in the very near future when I draft a new block for tailored shirts for my significant other (Mr SS). I'll be using my Pattern Cutting Level 1 instructional video presented by Don Clark to help with this - if you never heard of Don Clark I strongly suggest checking him out here, he's a great teacher!



I received the rulers in the post yesterday.

It felt like Christmas all over again!

So exciting opening the box and unwrapping my prize!

And look it really was like Christmas - I even received a Season's Greeting card from Claire at SA Curve LLC with a lovely message and offer to replace the rulers if the were damaged in transit - how nice!?!

This little tool is going to get such a workout! Today even! I'm about to start making myself some new blouses for work and I plan on changing up the pattern a little for each one - I tell ya, the timing of this awesome gift is just perfect!

Tah-Dah! Here they are, in all there sew-a-licious glory, I still need to remove the backing tape from the rulers but its a bit like peeling off the last protective layer on your new phone, once done it wont't be new anymore! 

Well folks - I'm off to sew!

Who's Sooz & why sew with Sooz?

Sooz – that’s me, Susan. I'm partly self-taught and partly institutionally taught and I love to sew, to learn and to share my skills. I teach full time Home Economics (Fashion & Textiles Specialist) in a local secondary college. I love to sew!

My absolute passion lies in dress making, especially getting the perfect fit.

I'm inspired by all things vintage, especially vintage couture sewing techniques. 

I decided to start this blog to share my passion for sewing and fashion and become part of the world-wide community of bloggers, sewing bloggers that is!