A new top for foxy.....

A wonderful chain of events led to piece number four in my ethical clothing challenge.

Firstly, the fabulously talented Mel a co-op member at work (Olive Grove) has decided to leave.

In making the decision to leave she also decided to have a big cleanup and get rid of......fabric. Something I could never do. But bless her cotton socks, cause there were some great pieces she was giving away.
These two fabrics, a brown and yellow floral and a brown check were in amongst the stash and surprising looked good side by side, so I took them home hoping there was enough to make a top.

I would never usually put two prints together... a check and a floral....another sign that I am turning into my mother!
But they seemed perfect together, and it was creating another addition to my non-black wardrobe so it was all good....

I used the pattern I have been working on for my last few attempts...again. I'm not sick of it yet, so it's all good. This time I extended the border contrast on the sleeve to go all the way around the neck too. Finishes it off nicer I think.

But....that's not all there is to the story.
After picking up the fabric and adding it to my stash, I spied a brand new foxy creation over at the Lino forest blog. It was in the exact same colors as the fabric I had newly attained and had so much character in his little face, that I had to have him.

So out came the fabric that was stored away for another day and I whipped up the top in time for Thursdays Northern craft bonanza catch up where I would rendezvous with the lovely Liz to pick up foxy, the Pièce de résistance to my newest ethical clothing pledge top.

Joy!

Yet another.......

Another non black contribution to the ethical clothing pledge.

This time I reconstructed a beautiful purple cotton dress I had bought from Supre' and still never worn.
Again it had spaghetti straps.....I don't know why I do that to myself!.....so it was only ever going to be worn over a wider strapped singlet. But then you get weather like we have had lately and you just can't stand the thought of having to wear two tops to get the desired look.

So off came the straps, and on went a coordinating purple cotton print (from the stash) for a thicker strap.
I placed the pattern on the original dresses neckline so I could maintain the gathered detail, and altered the upper back piece of my pattern, to have more of a scooped almost racer back effect.

I've used this pattern 3 times now and still.....it's not quite right. Just needs 1.5 cm added to the shoulder strap and it'll be perfect. So one more top from this pattern I think. Gotta get it right!

* Please excuse blurry photo's taken by holding camera up high and hoping i got myself in it.
web cam is on the blink.

Ethical piece no.2...............

Yay I'm so excited to have completed my second piece of clothing following my ethical clothing pledge.

It was a booby tubey type halter dress, which was lovely and all, but I felt a bit like mutton dressed up as lamb. There was no way I'd wear it with out a bra and it sure looked naff with my bulky nanna bra straps hanging out.

So on the chopping board it went and got transformed into a new top.


Complete with pin tuck detail.



I'm enjoying this new challenge so far!

Back later tonight, with January's design theme after we do our first round of selections for the next Northside Makers market...Yay!

The Ethical clothing challenge...................

Inspired by Jennie's commitment to the ethical clothing challenge, I have decided it's high time I put a little 'E' for effort into the choices I make with how I dress.

Of course there are the usual choices to be made when buying clothes, like can I afford it, does it fit, will I get the wear out of it....

But I have never included thoughts like, is it ethical, fair trade, handmade or organic.

Having spent over a year doing markets, I'm confident to say that I can buy handmade accessories and home wares to fill my home. (and I do...)
But....I cannot say the same about clothes. Sure there are clothes makers out there, but not for plus size. So as much as I'd like to support handmade in the clothes department, I haven't been able to find many, that do a size 20.

Seems as though I might have to be the one who does the making. Which is o.k Just makes me all the more determined to get a clothing range happening for us bigger girls that is hand made local and fabulous.

Of course that's just a pipe dream ...... one day.

For now, I can indeed follow a few rules pertaining to the ethical clothing pledge to get myself sorted for a year of ethical fashion.

So, created by Isis over at Isis Made, is the Ethical clothing pledge.
I plan to follow the pledge for at least a year. If all goes well...it may continue on.

The basic rules are:

I pledge to only wear clothing that is one or more of the following:
1. Pre-loved
2. Handmade (preferably by me)
3. Reconstructed
4. Made with ethical / environmentally friendly materials
5. Made by a company with strong ethical policy & workers' rights

To add to the challenge, I'm going to try my bestest to make colored clothes...GASP! (mum will be so proud!)
I have just ended up a job with a plus size company that whilst fabulous in design, have filled my wardrobe with black, black and more black clothing. Whilst classic and timeless indeed, I do crave the bohemian and Moroccan prints i see and adore Amy Butler and Joel Dewberry fabrics.

So I will also pledge to fill my wardrobe with color....

My concern like many when taking this challenge is what to do about undies. Lucky Isis has got that one figured out too.
Firstly a few ethical makers who do under wear and a great tutorial on making your own. Very funky indeed!

So I'm exciting to become reacquainted with the old sewing machine. It will help fulfill my 2010 resolution to make more time to sew for me and will also start the process of teaching me to take the time and think a bit more about the choices I make when shopping.

Oh, oh, oh....I almost forgot.
I already made my first non black thing today.

It's hot hot hot in Melbourne today and I just wanted something colorful, light weight, and summery to wear. So instead of rushing to the shops for a quick fix I turned to my fabric stash and made a new top with some batik I had.

Not a great photo, but I had to document the beginning of a great pledge.

I'll be back tomorrow to draw the first theme for my monthly design challenge, so don't forget to send through any ideas that you'd like to be included.