End of Year Retrospective

Today I decided that I would take a look back at what I worked on this year, which has been a busy sewing year. I am actually quite surprised at the number of items that I made...especially considering how frustrated I was with fitting pants, and feeling like I made an extraordinary number of UFOs.

Here are the totals:

This year I made 49 items for me. I also sewed 16 projects made with my niece and nephew, Sadie and Darrell. Both are busy learning how to sew, although as much as Darrell likes to wear the clothes I make him, he would rather sew things like bags and puppets. I also made 14 gifts.

This makes for a total of 79 items sewn. Of the 49 items that I made for me, here is how they break down:

A total of 8 shirts. Of those, 1 was made from a vintage pattern, and 1 was unwearable
I also make 4 skirts.
I made a total of 5 jackets, although ended up giving one away because the sleeve bands were too tight on my fat little arms. I gave it to a girl that I work with, who reports that she gets compliments every time she wears it and she happily tells them that I sewed it.
I made a total of 7 dresses. 1 was from a vintage pattern, and 1 was from a shirt pattern that I extended into a dress.
I also made in inordinate number of pants in my quest for a good fit. I made 24 total, of which 4 were unwearable. I also gave all but one of those away.
Finally, I made a cape. That doesn't really fit well into any particular category, does it?

Of the projects with the kids, my niece Sadie made 1 pair of pajamas, 2 skirts, 6 shirts, 1 pair of shorts, and 1 pair of pants. My nephew Darrell made himself 3 puppets.

Of the items that I made for gifts, I made one very nice linen shirt for my husband, a shirt for my brother Ricky, 2 shirts for his son Caiden, and a total of 5 shirts and 2 pair shorts for Little Darrell.
I also finished some UFOs and gave them to my mom. She got a matching skirt and shirt. I also gave her a very well-sewn jeans-style jacket in white linen that I thought looked like a lab coat when I wore it. for mom.
I also made a coat for my grandmother and a dress for my niece Sadie for my wedding.

This came up to a total of about 160 yards of fabric.

I made a couple of "advances" this year, as well:

1. This year I made my first patterns from BWOF magazine. I started with a lined jacket, which probably wasn't the smartest thing that I have ever done, but it got finished all the same. Since then, I have regularly sewn from BWOF.
   
2. I purchased and sewed my first ever vintage patterns. I now have a collection of about 30 vintage patterns, and have sewn two of them.
3. I worked very hard on improving the appearance of the interiors of my garments, and learned how to do hong kong finishes, flat-felled seams, and french seams.
4. I also got a serger, and have been practicing with it.
5. I also made pants for the first time, and while I still have a few kinks to work out, my fit is MUCH improved.
6. For the first time, I drafted my own patterns.
7. I also learned much more about proper fit, and am not afraid to make even major alterations.

Here are some images of some of my favorite projects of the year, starting with a white eyelet shirt with batiste underlining:


Hot Patterns Uptown Downtown Knit Dress:


Short sleeved linen jacket. This is the one I gave away because the sleeve bands were too tight:


Motorcycles and Flames outfit for my nephew, he loves it and even wore it for his school pictures:


Burda Safari dress. One of the most complex dress projects I have ever done:


BWOF Shirt from embroidered lawn:


Sadie's pajamas:



Coat for Grandma:

As for sewing goals for this year, I would like to:

1. Make more garments from vintage patterns.
2. Continue to work on improving fit.
3. Make a pair of PERFECT pants.
4. Finally finish the coat that I started for my husband.
5. Finish the Chanel-style jacket that I bought the fabric for, the lining, the pattern...and then never did anything with.
6. Become more proficient using the serger.
7. Repair and learn to use my treadle.
8. Focus on making better fabric choices for projects, and not be afraid to use expensive fabrics.

I also have the various and sundry other New Year's resolutions...lose weight, get healthier, keep my house cleaner, make a budget and stick to it...but you don't want to hear about that boring old mess!