Well, hi there. It’s December (Merry Christmas!) and I’m finally revisiting this space. I’ve managed to get in a better rhythm with my sewing routine and have probably had my most productive year since I started sewing. But with a full-time job and two small kids and work travel and family travel, I knew that if I wanted to have sewing time, it meant cutting out nearly everything else that wasn’t as important to me. I even swore off of Netflix for a whole month!
All of that is to say that I’ve been sewing, but not blogging, because blogging required time that I did not have. But it’s December, which, for me, means that I will be hopelessly romanticizing the coming year and all of the raw potential it holds for accomplishing the things that I did not do during 2017. (You should see the notebook I filled up last December with the plans for the specialty fabric and notions shop that I was going to like, for sure launch this year.)
I’ve thought about a couple of sewing goals that I have for the coming year. Some are pretty specific and attainable, some are more vague and aspirational:
1. V-necks
I have not attempted many v-necks, but they’re one of my favorite necklines to wear. I have a cami pattern that I love, with a slight v-neck, but whenever I’ve made it, I’ve felt it comes out wrinkly. I want to conquer v-necks once and for all.
2. Linings
Maybe it’s kind of like second-sock syndrome with knitting, but whenever I’m making a lined garment, the fact that I have sewn the entire shell and then have to (in most cases) sew the entire thing again in a more delicate, shifty fabric, and then attach the two pieces in a very precise way so that the lining isn’t poking out or causing the garment to hang incorrectly…? It drives me bonkers. I’ve sewn a few linings and whenever I’m done I reflect on the garment and always think, “Man, I kinda wish the lining wasn’t there to f**k this thing up.” But I will win this fight, dammit. I have a lot more coats in my future.
3. A well-fitting bra
I am practically flat-chested. No, really, my high bust is about 89cm and my full bust is around 90cm (on a good day). In terms of self-esteem, I’m really quite okay with this, but I just want a bra that fits me well. Self-drafted might be the way to go!
4. Embellishments and details
I have a Pinterest board called “sewing details” (I bet you have a similar one, too) where I collect images of cute, fun, unique details on clothes that I would want to copy some day. An embroidered collar. A contrast placket. An asymmetrical yoke. Enough pinning them, time to start doing them. The way to do this is through planning; I’ll have to think about the finished garment and the steps involved for these quirky details before I cut into my fabric.
5. Getting more involved with the sewing community
I’m already taking a first step with this one. I’m a total Instagram creeper, but I want to be more involved with the sewing community! I’m taking on a billion+1 sewing challenges, I’m pattern testing, I’d like to get back into blogging, and maybe (this is a bit of a stretch) even venture into vlogging. *gulp!* And can I even tell you a secret? This one is the ultimate stretch goal, but I’d love to vlog in Dutch. (Hey, Kirstin, how is your Dutch anyway? Totally abysmal, even after living for 4 years in a Dutch-speaking country.)
What about you, what are your sewing goals for 2018?
Oh man, linings! I’m on the same page with you there! You have great sewing goals on your list! I also have a small chest, check out “OhhhLuLuSews” on etsy, she has a lot of patterns I swoon over (ohhhlulu on Instagram). Happy New Year!
i LOVE ohhhlulu’s patterns! I already have a bunch of them and hoping to perfect the fit of them this year!