Fall for Cotton sewing challenge

I have been making a strong effort to spend at least a couple hours a couple of evenings a week in my sewing room. It's hard. Last week I had many small house projects to prepare for new short-term roommate to move in, and both weeks there were long hours at work. But I'm trying. It is honestly mostly time spent cleaning and purging--until I can get it organized to a point of functionality, I'm going to keep purging! 

This coming weekend I plan to spend part of Saturday shopping with my "intern" for costumes for my SCT show, altering my vintage birthday dress for a wedding I'm going to on Sunday, and then Labor Day I'll have Spinstah in for a sewing day. Motivate us both to make progress! 

So, what non-show things are on my table? Well, first is finishing a cute little casual dress I was trying to get done for my roomie before she left for her trip. I failed, but I think I can finish the alterations before I see her in Dublin next month and deliver it then. 

After that, I am determined to make me some clothes! I think I'm within 5-8 pounds of where I can maintain my weight. So, I feel it's safe to start altering and sewing properly. I'm rather motivated by Lucky Lucille and By Gum, By Golly's Fall For Cotton sewing challenge, so, why not? I hope if I keep challenging myself, I might actually complete one!

But what to make? I have several vintage patterns, but none that quite go with any of the 100% cotton cloth I have--and all ME projects have to use stock fabric, period. First I was eying up this beautiful lavender vintage border print I have been hording since the great vintage donation of 2011. But it's so summery and with three days left until to September, that seems silly.

 

Next is this heavier tan pinstripe. I love it and am really hoping to tackle a pair of high-waisted 1940s trousers (yikes!). But... I don't think I have the energy or the courage to tackle those yet.

And then I remembered this jewel! Another piece of the great vintage donation, this whimsical novelty print would be my first such foray into vintage sewing. I love the idea of of a cute novelty top, and the Colette Sencha pattern in my stock has just the right vintage vibe for it.

Instead of dipping into my rapidly depleting muslin stash, I decided to follow the "wearable muslin" trend, and grabbed what was left of a deep fuchsia up-cycled sheet I was using for trip on an Archbishop costume at SCT last season. The sheet was in largely good shape. It doesn't follow the rules of being 100% cotton--it has some non-wrinkle poly blend that makes it a little off-grain and stretchy. But it will do for fitting the right pattern size, I think, and hopefully will give me a second wearable top!

So, here goes nothing :)