2016 Sewing Year in Review

I wish you all a Happy New Year!

I like the beginning of a new year, because it is an opportunity to reflect the past year and to start fresh for the new one. I like beginnings: I am full of expectations and optimistic and can start something new with all the best intentions. It really is like Hermann Hesse said: “Jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne” (a magic dwells in each beginning).

To make the best out of the new year, it is always good to look back and learn from the experiences. Let’s start with some numbers: In 2016 I made 17 garments (lingerie sets counted as 1 item) and 1 set of little owls and knitted one pair of wristwarmers. This is just half the amount of items I made in 2015. Was, then, 2016 less succesful for me? No! Because I think success is not dependent on numbers. Nearly all items I made turned into favorite and loved pieces. This is my personal success. So, it was quite difficult to choose my top 5 makes of the year, but here they are:

From left to right (links in the pictures):

The Butterick 6285 skirt is the garment I am most proud of. I implemented all couture techniques I could think of and had joy making it as well as wearing it. Even if it took some time, such projects give me more satisfaction than an 1 hour knit top.

The Bonn shirt is just so lovely to wear and I plan on making more.

I wore the wristwarmes quite a lot. Unfortunately, I lost them just before Christmas, but I have already started new ones from the same wool.

This lingerie set is the one I wear most often, in fact as soon as it is back from the laundry. I will have to make more bras from my self drafted pattern, as the fit is so much better than from the first ones I made.

I love both the Vienna tank top versions I made and wore them so often during summer, the black one for office, and the grey one at home.

Now to the 5 items that were either less worn or could need improvement:

From left to right (links in the pictures):

I like the style of the ITS Zamoura blouse, but I am not in love with the test version I made up. The fabric choice was not perfect and for a next version I would raise the V-neck a bit.

I wore the Style Arc Posh top at home. It is a nice for hot summer days, but both fabric and style are not my favorite.

My modifed bras were made mainly for trying out new techniques, so they have fulfilled their purpose even if I am not wearing them often.

I made a partial band bra whick looks quite cute, but this style is just unsuitable for my shape. There is nothing to hold the bra in place when I lift my arms.

I wear the Ginger jeans quite often despite it flaws. Soem day, I hope, I can figure out all my issues I have with pants fitting.

I do not have precise sewing goals for 2017, but I want to work on the following:

Sew up as much of my UFOs as possible

I have a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) laying around. This is so stupid, because you put a lot of money and time into them and then you have nothing in the end. Also, they take up a lot of space and they stress my mind. Some are already nearly 10 years old, some only a few months. Most of them are unfinished because I encountered some fitting issue.

Work through some of my Craftsy classes

I have become something like a craftsy addict. I was quite embarrassed when I discovered that I own over 40 classes. At least I want to work through one of Suzy Furrer pattern drafting classes. I hope this helps me to understand my fitting issues better.

Participate in the 365 challenge

I discovered this challenge end of last year. You sew a little block every day and end up with a quilt at the end of the year. I am quite sure that I will not be able to presevere for a whole year. Also, I am not a quilter, but I have the feeling that this would improve my skills for accuracy and straight seams. And, maybe, help me get rid of some of my fabric scraps.

Sewing Active Wear

I started with yoga a few months ago, and I am quite enthusiastic. What better reason to replace my old active wear with some nice selfmade one?

In addition, I have things like “sewing more dresses”, “sewing up my fabric stash”, “finding my style” etc. in my mind. As this is far too much that I could achieve, I take this just as guidelines and not goals :-).

There is, however, one goal that I have: 

Build my business

This will be the biggest challenge for me in 2017. As you might have noticed I started to translate Itch to Stitch sewing patterns into German and I will open my shop in a few days (stay tuned for that!). This is all so new for me and takes a lot of time and sometimes I am really scared and feel overstrained. But I take one little step after another and so far everything worked out in the end, last but not least also due to the support I got from Kennis (Thank you so much!). 

Often when bloggers take the step to get commercial, the blogs lose a lot of the personal content and change into advertising tools. I really do not want to take this route but keep my blog as it is now. Let’s hope that this will be possible!

I want to thank all my readers for stopping by at my little blog and I look forward to another year with you!

Do you have sewing goals for the new year? Are you like me and have a much too long list in mind? 

 

4 Replies to “2016 Sewing Year in Review”

  1. My plan is to use 5 specific pieces of fabric from my stash…If I don’t use them in 2017 they are going on the fire! See my blog post for more details, but hopefully it is sufficient incentive! Best of luck with your business!

    1. MySewingDreams says: Reply

      Uhm, that is tough! Or maybe great because I think you really will use that fabric.

  2. Far too long of a list this year but like you pants is one thing I really want to work on.

    1. MySewingDreams says: Reply

      Hi Sharon, good to know that I am not the only one with a too long sewing list. Maybe we could take that pant sewing journey together?

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