2021 Sewing Year in Review

Although 2021 was full on crazy, I did manage to sew some things.

not pictured: 

Burda 6464 (white cotton pique jacket) 

Jalie Éléonore (army green twill pull-on capri pants)

 

I made 16 wearable garments (8 knits, 8 woven) and had 14 UFOs/fails. The fail rate was higher than normal because I didn't have the mental capacity to endure even more foolishness. 😬 If something wasn't working, I let it go post haste. For me, sewing is fun and enjoyable. Challenges happen, for sure. But the moment it becomes a frustrating chore, it's got to go.

The Statistics

 

 

Once again, even with limited sewing, Burda and Simplicity are clear favorites. Of course I just bought 10 new McCall's patterns. 😅 Most of them are dresses and I rarely even make dresses! Ooof. I blame Instagram and YouTube.

 

 

That I sewed more non-stash than stash is a good thing considering the amount of fabric I purchased last year. Wadders/UFOs amount to 31.875 yards of fabric - the majority all stash. In total, I worked with 62 yards.

Favorites

Burda 8-2011-102:  This is easily my most favorite garment made during the year and in the top 5 of all time. It's been on my radar for a long time I am so glad I finally made it.

 

 

The fabric, 100% wool twill at $16/yd, was not inexpensive and a quick read of the instructions had me worried. For more-involved Burda patterns, I type the instructions, enumerated line-by-line and divided into sections. I find this helps me to slow down and think carefully about each step. Plus my eyes are showing their age and I can't read that small ass print. 😏

 

Because I was bit nervous about messing up, I made a muslin to check the fit and to make sure I understood the construction of the collar, collar stand, and front band/facing.

 

Even though the fabric was difficult to press, it was so worth the hassle because the drape and hand of the coat is simply wonderful. The coat is lined with black Bemberg Ambiance and I used sew-in hair canvas to interface the front. Weft interfacing was used on all hems, collar, collar stand, pocket flaps, and front facing. I used a cotton scrap for the back stay, though I think hair canvas may have been a better choice.

McCall's 7838 (button-up shirt) & Burda 12-2020-106 (skirt):  I have gone all in on dramatic sleeves. I don't follow trends, so I don't know if this style is still "in." And I don't care; I wear what I like.

view C - modeled on envelope

 

The blouse fabric is 100% cotton shirting in a color that is unlike anything I own. I cut a size 16, made 1/2" FBA, and rotated the extra dart take-up to a shoulder pleat. The sleeves are a bit too long - especially with the extra long cuff. I still like it and wear it.

 

The buttons, a vintage something purchased at my local happy place, are a perfect match. I waffled back and forth on using them thinking I should save them for "something special." This shirt is something special.

 

The skirt with which the shirt is paired is nothing too special in its design. It has front and back darts, center back zipper, and a lower flounce. The reason it's one of my favorites is because of the interior finish. I have long wanted to improve the inside of my skirts - especially when using facings and linings. A video I found on YouTube (link) is what I used to achieve a nice finish.

 

Honorable mentions

Burda 8-2009-104:  This is another pattern that's been in and out of the sewing queue. A couple of years ago, I jumped on the ruffle bandwagon and never left.

 

 

Don't mind the wonkiness on the dress form; it hangs correctly on my body. The front frill is off center, so it looks like the shirt is crooked; it's not. The pattern actually calls for snaps as the closure, but I didn't feel like sewing them. 

 

The fabric is described as having colors quartz, crimson, red, and white. The quartz is reading blue to me and it's hard to match it with other garments I have, so I'll likely wear the shirt with jeans.

Bootstrap Fashion dress form:  I made a dress form! I tire of making muslins all of the time - even though I know I need to. I have a padded dress form, but the measurements were never quite close enough to my own. After reading many reviews of those who've made the Bootstrap version, I ordered the pattern and got to work.

For the most part, it's a good match. The stomach area is a little flatter than mine, but the chest area is pretty close. I think the cup size is still off, but I've still been able to use the form to tissue fit before jumping into making adjustments.

 

Wadders/UFOs

The list here is rather long, but the biggest disappointment is the Jedi Smurf Coat. I so much wanted this coat to happen, but I ended up not liking it as the finish neared. It looks like an oversized bathrobe and I just am not feeling it. It's VERY warm, but voluminous in a way that I don't like on my small frame. Unlike the other wadders, I won't trash this. I just need to re-hem the lining, add buttonholes, and sew buttons. I will finish it, but not any time soon.

 

The pattern design is fantastic and is much better suited in a lighter-weight fabric. I used a heavy wool-nylon-cashmere coating and it's just too much.

 

The rest of the wadders/UFOs from the year are the result of poor fabric choice and lots of user error (e.g., accidentally slicing into the hem of a newly-finished skirt).  Of the 14 unfinished garments, 7 are trashed and 7 are on time out.

 

 

So how did those 2021 Sewing Intentions go?

• reduce fabric buying & use more stash:  Womp, womp. I leaned all the way in to retail therapy.
• Make Nine 2021:  I completed 1 of 9. I'll try again this year.
  
• make one or two more bras:  Never finished the bra I started and I'm so close.
• embrace the finish:  Eh...
  
• just sew it & just let it go:  Totally let it go last year, hence the many wadders and UFOs.
  

 

2022 Sewing Intentions

• reduce fabric buying & use more stash:  I really, REALLY need to be mindful of this. I bought way too much fabric last year and need to (a) sew it or (b) do a major cull. It's probably both. Definitely both.
  
• Make Nine 2022:  Again with the Make Nine. I like the uninhibited-yet-focused nature of the challenge. 
  
• record all sewing-related purchases:  I started monitoring my fabric buying a few years ago and want to extend that to include all things sewing. I started a spreadsheet to track fabric, patterns, and notions purchased.
• just sew it & just let it go:  Always an intention.

 

Thanks to all who continue to visit my small sewing corner. Stay safe and happy sewing.

L