2011 Sewing Year in Review

Completed Garments
I complied a list of all the garments I sewed this year.  While the count seems rather small, I certainly learned a great deal about fitting, styling, and choosing garments that suit my body type.  Here are the stats:

• 11 tops
• 4 skirts
• 4 pairs of jeans
• 3 dresses
• 1 jacket
• 1 purse/tote 
• approximately 35 yards of fabric sewn

Incomplete Garments & Wadders
Reasons for garments rendered incomplete or wadders include poor fabric choice (in content and colour), need-to-refine sewing technique (stupid collar stand), unruly facings, terrible fit, and lack of love for the finished garment.  Although these garments will never reach my closet, I learned a lot in the process of their construction.

Top row:  S2365, BWOF 09-2009-137

Bottom row:  Burda 7866, S2288, NL6300 & fabric 

• BWOF 09-2009-137 (skirt)
• Burda 7866 (knit top)
• Simplicity 2365 (woven top with pintucks)
• Simplicity 2288 (knit cardigan)
• New Look 6300 (woven skirt from TNT pattern)
• Simplicity 4698 (jacket)
• New Look 6917 (skirt)

Still in Progress

• Colette Patterns Lady Grey Coat - Since I am following Gertie's tailoring techniques (as part of her 2010 sew along), this will be an ongoing project.  I hope to have it completed in time for Fall 2012.

• Jalie 2680 - I want to resume working on this in March - just in time for Spring wearing.

Favourite Garment
It was really hard to narrow down a favourite garment.  So I picked the looks that I loved the most.

 

McCall's 6078 (top) with New Look 6897 (skirt)

2012 Sewing Intentions

• Jeans contest on PR:  I love making jeans and this contest is a great way to start off the new sewing year.  I already have ideas for the contest.

• SWAP contest on Stitcher's Guild:  The contest runs through the end of April and if I work hard enough, I should be able to finish it by then, if not before.  As the theme centers around fit and developing tried-n-true patterns, I am motivated to follow through with my plans.

• Advance to "intermediate":  I've been sewing for almost eight years and have definitely learned a lot.  If I successfully sew a lined jacket and attach a collar stand to a good-fitting woven blouse, then I will officially consider myself an intermediate-level sewer.

• Fabric-light:  The fabric fast of 2011 didn't go so well.  In the first six months of the year, I bought a lot of fabric (we won't speak on yardages).  Fortunately, this trend did not continue in the last half of the year.  I have only bought pieces that I really liked and have no interest in buying fabric right now.  I will make exceptions for extra special pieces or linings.

•  Stash sewing:  Since I have so much fabric, I intend to sew primarily from my stash. 

I thank everyone who takes the time to read my blog.  When I started this blog almost five years ago (sorta missed several blogiversaries...), I had no idea that it would last this long and that I'd enjoy doing it so much.  I never was good at keeping a diary, but this seems to work for me! Your continued interest and comments are cherished and very much appreciated.

I look forward to another productive sewing year in 2012.  I hope to continue sharing my sewing trials and victories with you all and reading about yours as well.

I want to wish everyone a peaceful and wonderful new year filled with hope, happiness, good health, and love.  Happy new year!

L

Tying Loose Threads

Before I post my 2011 sewing in review, I wanted to settle up the sewing for this year.

McCall's 5847
I finally finished the second version of this dress!  After hanging in my closet for five months, I attached the final button last week. 

 

Eventually I'll get pictures while wearing the dress.  Unless I make a long-sleeved top to go with it, I'm not wearing this until Spring. 

Simplicity 2396
After cutting out the pieces for another skirt, I had about 5/8-yards left over.  Since the piece was oddly shaped and not quite enough to make another skirt, I decided to make a tote bag.

Fabric & Notions:

• 1/2 yard gray wool suiting
• 1/2 yard cotton floral print
• 1/2 yard cotton flannel
• fusible interfacing
• 1" button

The tote/purse was very easy to assemble and wears comfortably on my arm.  The only change I would make is to cut the inner top band out of the same material as the outside.  The lining is very visible from the outside and I didn't even think about it until after the bag was completed.

Non-sewing bits...

@Kyle:  Thanks for the well-wishes.  =)  EyeCandy was not at the rink on Friday, but he was there on Monday.  He's relegated to being eye-candy because he's married.  Actually, he's just been demoted to CuteJerk because he's incredibly rude!  I was talking with a friend and he rolls up in the middle of us to speak to the guy and shake his hand.  I gave him the oh no you didn't look and he rolled away. 

@Sheila:  You were right.  My headache was definitely caused by sinus problems.  After speaking with the nurse in my doctor's office, she tried to tell me it was a migraine.  I told her that I thought I had a sinus infection because the area around my eye was tender and had been weeping for two days.  She insisted that I was suffering from migraines.  Not paying any attention to her, I made some pure ginger tea, put a hot compress on my face, and rested.  The next day, the infection drained from my sinuses, my eye stopped weeping instantly, and the headache went away.  Let this be a lesson in knowing your body!

Up next:  Sewing in Review 2011 and the 3rd garment of my SWAP complete!



L