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Top 5 of 2018


I am a bit late to this party but still wanted to join in!

I thought I would do a mash-up post on all of the categories (noting that I tend not to do reflections and goals separately anyway).

HITS

  1. Sewing more TNT and patterns - the Grainline Linden and the Paprika Patterns Jasper (shown here with crossover collar add-on) were both definite staples.  I get sooo many compliments on the Jasper! 
  2. Other sewing - the Papercut Patterns Sapporo Coat, the Cashmerette Ames Jeans and the Cashmerette Appleton top I made are all total hits and worn a lot, especially the jeans! 
  3. The RTW fast was astonishingly easy and I consider that a roaring success.  I have mentioned before that the Facebook group wasn't really for me, but overall as a concept I was very happy with how I did.  I only bought a couple of items that weren't going to be made by me ever (waterproof pants for ski-ing anyone?) and it definitely pushed my sewing further towards the practical.  
  4. The Sewcialists!  I became a permanent editor this year and I love it.  I am chief scheduler, which appeals enormously to my list making tendencies :)  It's a fantastic community and I am super proud to contribute to it :) 
  5. My final success is how well I did on last year's top 5 goals!  They were: being more considered, take better photos, RTW fast, engage with the online community and teach my daughter to sew.  I have taken steps towards all but the last one...which is good progress!
MISSES


I won't say much in here as my sewing this year has felt pretty productive.  I did have one spectacular fail of a pattern test for the Named Anni as you can see below.

My god this is awful...
I know it's a pattern test, so I shouldn't care too much - but I picked absolutely the WORST fabric which puckered and behaved appallingly.  I usually get something wearable out of testing and I love how this pattern looks on others, so I was quite disappointed.

Another fail might be how little I have blogged here, but am not sure that's a fail so much as a reflection of it not being as high on the priority list.  I have an idea on that below...

GOALS for 2019

Tricky!  I think they are as follows:

  1. Keep not buying RTW.  The fast is over but actually that had very little to do with it for me in the end.  I would actually like to extend the fast into underwear (see goal 3!)
  2. Keep chasing more TNT patterns - I used our TNT month as inspiration and have bought the most popular patterns to see if I like them too!  It worked with the Linden so hopefully the others will be just as good.
  3. Make underwear / swimwear.  I have patterns and kits - what's holding me back?
  4. Blog a couple of times a month.  There are so many things I have made that aren't recorded - maybe I go back to using this as a note of what I made and adjustments etc so it's more useful to me.  I am considering a format / template of just all the pattern and make details plus pictures, rather than words (if that make sense!).
  5. Again, sew more thoughtfully.  I am compiling a Make Nine, not as a way of joining in with a challenge, but as a way of ensuring I think about sewing things I will wear and that I need in my wardrobe.

Well, that brings us almost back up to date.  I have a few recent makes ready to blog, so hopefully that will spur some more activity around here!

Ciao for now...
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