2018 wasn't the most wonderful on a number of fronts and I rounded out the year by getting mastitis on Christmas Eve and having to go to the doctors on Christmas Day. I was just rather run down - though it feels odd when it happens in the middle of the summer. Being so far from my family was rough this year as my father had major surgery and my brother is now the father to new twins and his toddler daughter. I'd really love to have been there to help out for both events.
On the sewing/crafting front, I tried to work through my existing supplies. Partly because I'm losing my sewing room soon so my little person has their own space and partly because I'm increasingly conscious that a large stash is a waste of resources. I haven't been making as many cards as in previous years and my stash of finished cards is much depleted - unfortunately my stash is likely to see me off the planet with out buying anything other than card stock, glue and envelopes. In terms of sewing I've found SewJourners stash shrinker spreadsheet to be useful in curbing fabric additions, and keeping track of Works in Progress. But also its become a bit of an obsession and not always the healthiest of habits where I've been obsessively trying to reduce my stash and then blowing out on two occasions. I started off with a 3 out 1 in ratio and moved to 2 to 1 mid year. Unfortunately by the end of the year, I hadn't managed that. My final ration for the year was 1.7 with 44.75m purchased and 76.25m out.
So what did the spreadsheet do?
1. I've made a dent in my sewing stash but not as much of one as I'd hoped.
2. I've cleared some space in our house but not as much as I would like!
3. I have a better idea of what my fabric buying habits are.
4. I have a better idea of how long projects take and subsequently how long it takes to sew up that amount of fabric. While I only record finished dates in the spreadsheet I do have a WIP tab and a plans tab.
I bought some fabric as needed for projects and I'm ok with that (especially as I've gotten a bit better as buying as close to the amount I need as possible rather than a 'sensible' amount!). I also bought some fabric while I was in the States and again I'm ok with that. It was semi-planned but I haven't made up much of it yet. The issue is more the two larger blow outs at Fabric a brac and the Fabric Warehouse pop up shop. Fabric a brac is awesome and I'm a sucker for sales but I need to get over my FOMO and only visit if I have a pattern/project in mind. FAB is a little different as its such a great initiative but I went overboard this year. That said I realised what I'm doing because of the spreadsheet and have a much better handle on what's coming in and going out. I made a special effort to stitch up FAB purchased in the meantime. Currently, 5.7m of flannel finished as PJs for me, and two little people, two crew misusu sweater for two little people, 1m of quilting cotton as a cushion cover and some of the rest as nappy change bags - probably about 8m of the 15.5m purchased - it takes so long to use up and I really need to remember that when buying!
I joined instagram (@sewmancer) this year as I've gotten in to a style rut since LP was born - partly because my body has changed shape a bit, particularly the size of my boobs. I'm still breast feeding so that's impacted my motivation to create tops that fit as I know it will change again when LP weans. Its been great to see some curvy folk - particularly sewists - rock their looks and I've found it useful for some inspiration. I've joined into the Make 9 challenge for 2019. Hopefully it'll serve as a bit of a visual reminder of what I'd like to make and I currently own all the patterns needed (I had a bit of a spree on black Friday).
#MakeNinein2019
These aren't the only things I plan on making this year but they're a few of my recent pattern purchases or they're stand ins for more general ideas. I really liked my Twig and Tale Animal vest (its my favourite make of the year and one of my favourite of all time). We have a lot of clothes for LP (most of them hand me downs from friends) but not a lot of shorts. Now the weather's gotten a bit more summery I need to make up one or two of these. I should have suitable fabric in stash somewhere so this will be a fairly early make.
Twig and Tale Pixie Shorts
Also on the list for LP is the Dia sweater by Misusu. I really like the colour blocking options on this pattern. I'm not sure I have the fabrics though but will see after I print it out. A nice cute option.
Misusu Dia Sweater
We're off on our first Pacific Island holiday this year - two weeks in Fiji! I. can't. wait. One of our friends works over there and we're having a reunion with a few friends over Easter. The other week is a resort week - I wonder how we'll do? The resort option is a lot more attractive with LP! As a result, I'll need some new togs. I have one that 'mostly' fits that I use for LP's swimming lessons but I would prefer one I'm actually comfortable in. So here comes the Cashmerette swimsuit. I have some fabric on order from the US but will need to buy lining and bits. This should be fairly high up my list as I'll probably have to iterate to a version I'm happy with but it scares me so I've no concrete plans at present! Hopefully that Easter deadline will help!
Cashmerrette Ipswich swimsuit
I spent a lot of time earlier this year getting the Belize shorts from Itch to Stitch to fit so hopefully they're a TnT pattern for me. I'm sitting here in a quilting cotton pair that I love for sleeping in warmer weather. I have a little linen from FAB a few years ago that should just about eeek it out for me. If all goes well I also have some stretch cotton I bought by mistake this year (thinking it was knit) and I might try a hacked version with a scalloped edge.
Itch to stitch Belize shorts
This top pattern is a bit of a placeholder. I need a few more work tops and given this itch to stitch pattern has multiple cup sizes, this pattern may well be it. But I've also got another pattern that I might spend some time fitting to my current shape as I've made it before and loved it but have sized out of it. Hoping to get these out of stash fabrics even if it means colour blocking with some newer ones.
Itch to stitch Beausoleil top (or another woven top)
I would like a few more shirts for work and hopefully this pattern will require minimal alterations to get it to work for me. Again, there should be enough fabric in my stash to pull together one of these. Though I wonder about print sizes so I might try to create a wearable muslin from stash and then buy something to make another if it works out.
Itch to Stitch Chai Shirt
The new papercut pattern release was covetable and I bought two physical patterns in the Black Friday sales (I'm a little over pdf printing and taping). I love the lines of Fjord cardi and want to make up a version from scraps in stash before figuring out if I need another. Should be good work wear. The fact that it doesn't close should make it easier to fit (fingers crossed!).
Papercut Fjord Cardi
I'm not sure the Papercut Palisade trousers were the best option for me as I would really like to just make them up and not alter the pattern for fit - but I'm hoping the fitting lessons I learnt on the Itch to Stitch Belize shorts and Style Arc Willow trousers this year will be useful! Sewing for littles is so much easier when you ignore the fit!
Papercut Palisade Trousers
The final pattern in my MakeNine is the Jasper Paprika hoodie. I've printed this off and almost made it a number of times. I even have fabric for two (wearable?) muslins in stash so I need to get this cab off the ranks this year. I think its the FBA that's stopping me from getting started.
Paprika Jasper Hoodie
I have a few other planned makes - I'd like to start a blanket for a dear friend (I got a voucher for Holland Road Yarn Company for Christmas and have already purchased the first lot of yarn but need to decide on a pattern) and I started a cardi for LP yesterday on New Year's Eve. I'd also like to make a quilt and have a number of squares pre cut so that might be relatively quick make.
I'm hoping this coming year is restorative. And hope you have a great year too!
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