Literary Sewing Circle: Inspiration!

 

It's the first week of our Literary Sewing Circle featuring The Excitements by CJ Wray! Have you found a copy yet? Have you started reading? If so, how are you finding the opening chapters? 

Today's inspiration is going to look at some of the characters in this story; we'll find ideas based on their names. Here are a few suggestions for projects you could make based on character names of all sorts. 

Let's start with our main characters - the Williamson sisters Penny and Josephine, and their great-nephew Archie. 

Penny's personality really takes over a lot of the story. So starting with her, you could look at a few different projects inspired by her name. 

The Penny Dress by Sew Over It is a classic easy wearing shirtdress, reflecting an earlier decade as well as Penny's name. 

Or maybe the Penny Pinafore by Sew Liberated is more your style. It might be more suited to Penny's practical work during wartime as well. 

The clean lines of the Penny Jacket by FibreMood might be the one to catch you. This can look casual, or formal enough to receive a French war medal in, depending on what you make it with! 

Or in a nod to her nonagenarian love of burgundy pantsuits, you could try out the Penny Pants by Kelsey White Patterns

Now Josephine was slightly more feminine and demure, at least when they were young. The romantic Josephine Dress by P&M Patterns  might be a good fit for a Josephine inspiration! 

But it could be that Josephine's streamlined style in her later years inspires you, and you might want to try the Josephine Tunic by Made by Rae, which has some nice details but is still neat and tidy. 

Penny has a nickname for her sister, and it could be that it's where you find some inspo! Penny calls her Josie Jo -- maybe you'll make the Josie Dress by McCalls  and/or the Jo Dress & Top by Seamwork! 

Josie McCalls

Jo Dress

Or maybe it's just the name that you are inspired by, and some frills and furbelows are more to your liking. If so, the Joséphine Dress & Top by Atelier Bernie  has separates options that will give you lots of choices. 

Moving on to Archie, you could make the Archie Woven Shirt by Style Arc I think that a man or woman could get away with wearing this, depending on personal style. 

Or mayble something straightforward, the fairly simple Archie Oversized Tee by Winslet Patterns 

Perhaps you'll think of little Archie and all the things he carried as a boy & make the Archie Backpack by Knot & Thread Designs This is a good size for lots of things - probably even enough room there to tuck in a copy of Fairbairn's guide to Defendu. 

Or how about Arlene, the dedicated home care assistant to Penny and Josephine - who also has an interest in fashion design? You could try the Arlene Knit Top by Tiana's Closet  as something she might wear for everyday work. It's sweatshirt-like, but elevated with fashion details. 

Or maybe you'll want to make the Arlene Totebag by Sirena Elite It's big enough for a weekend trip to Paris! 

Penny and Josephine's frenemies, the fellow war workers Davina and Sister Eugenia, could inspire a project, too. You might want to doll yourself up a little with the Davina Dress by Itch to Stitch 

For something with a little more of a dressy/casual feel, perhaps the Davina Sweater/Skirt Set by Made By Oranges  will catch your interest. 

And just because our characters are older women doesn't mean they aren't interested in pretty underthings -- the Davina Lingerie Set by Carla Renee Couture  is a choice if you also like making undergarments. It has a bit of a retro feel, maybe a throwback to our characters' younger days. 

Sister Eugenia likes room to be comfortable and might have enjoyed the Eugenia Sportswear Set by DG Patterns if her younger, pre-nun days had been in contemporary years.

But for a French twist on her name, you could also try the Eugenie Blouse by Atelier Scammit 

Josephine's solid, reliable friend of her childhood and youth, Connie Shearer, might be the one to inspire you. You could try the Connie Casual Shacket by Ellie & Mac, something they might have worn walking in the Scottish countryside as teens. You could even use shearling in a double nod to her name! 

Or you could go a bit fancier with the Connie Top by Tiana's Closet  - a free pattern to try out! 

Looking at some of the minor characters might also give you some ideas. Hazel is Davina's care help in Paris, where she is overcome by the heat (and maybe also Davina) so only appears briefly. But she might be reflected in the Hazel Dress by Victory Patterns  (one of our sponsors!) - maybe even made in a French print. 

Or Sister Margaret Ann, who accompanies Sister Eugenia, might inspire quite a nun-like and period appropriate nightie with this Margaret 1940s Nightgown by Atelier Serena 

Later in the book we meet a Canadian character, Madeleine. Maybe that's where you'll start, with something like the Madeleine Dress at TAUKO magazine 

Another minor character is someone who appears in the sisters' midlife: Penny meets the wife of an old flame, named Veronique -- try the Veronica Blouse by Mood, a free pattern that's as youthful and free-spirited as she was. 

We could look at the French family connections for ideas too - when the sisters are young they spend time with their Aunt Claudine and Uncle Godfrey in Paris and meet a whole cast of characters. You could choose the Claudine Dress by Paulinessence Patterns

Or try something quite unusual with the Godfrey Chainmail shirt by Official Hambly 

There are many men in the story, from early boyfriends to husbands and lovers in later years. Any of these could be used as inspiration for a project! 

You might start with the August Top by Alissah Threads - a women's blouse but still referencing his name. 

Or maybe you knit... you could try this August Sweater by Ozetta, on Ravelry for a more masculine nod. 

The classic Gilbert Top by Helen's Closet could refer to another Paris friend in the sisters' youth. maybe in a more manly or French print fabric? 

Gerald, Josephine's wartime friend who stays in her life could potentially inspire something made for someone in your life  -- perhaps using the Gerald Underwear Set by Jalie This can be made into undies, swimwear or even leggings. 

The Frank Jeans by Closet Core  might jump to mind when you're thinking about wartime encounters

And you could make something to go alongside the jeans, with the Connor Messenger Bag, a free tutorial from Love to Sew 

Briefly mentioned later in the book, the name Ralph could be reflected by the Ralph Backpack by IThinkSew 

Or anything by Ralph Pink, of course! 

Equally briefly mentioned, the name Edgar closes out our inspo, with this unexpected unisex pattern, the Edgar Harem pants,  by Tiana's Closet. I dare someone to try this! 

So many names in this book - I didn't even get to all the Williamson relatives. Remember that your project only needs to point to whatever element in the book inspired it, no matter how small. If you're already getting ideas, I would love to hear about them in the comments (although do try to avoid spoilers if you can). Hope you're digging into the story and having fun so far!