2019 - my year of making things on a whim

The above photos shows almost the complete (wearable) output of my 2018 garment sewing efforts. I am not sure what happened to all my sewing ambitions that I noted down on this blog in January last year.... I could blame work, which took over my life, but I am good with time management and it is only one of several potential explanations. Developing new skills is more difficult when time is limited and the tried and tested skills come to the fore. Having said that, I can only really label 'making jeans' as a new skill. Ah well, best to move forward, after looking at my 2018 ambitions in more detail.

Make a vintage coat with a Peter Pan collar. I have a vintage pattern but need to either loose weight or grade the largest size up. Either is challenging but I should probably have a go at both. In any case, the coat is going to be bright yellow.

I have neither lost weight, nor was I keen enough to grade the pattern up to my size. On the positive side, I have not gained weight, which surely must be applauded. 

Make a warm cape. This I imagine will be particularly useful for cosying up while camping. You may call it a fitted blanket. It needn't be a sophisticated cape, just something plain and simple. I have the Seamwork Camden in mind but I also like the Sew Over It Chic cape 

I have not made a cape but I have decided which of the two I fancy more (the latter). Considering my inability to make decisions of minor consequence, I think this is not an insignificant achievement. 

Make an attempt at sewing jeans. Cashmerette have released a pattern that caters for my size and shape, the Ames jeans and I think I might have a go and make a wearable toile. The pattern is for straight legs. I prefer boot cut jeans but I imagine it is easier to start off with a pattern that fits on the hips and adapt the legs. I am not sure if it is worth the effort, I buy my jeans at GAP and they usually fit well. 
I continue to buy my jeans, always in the sale.  I have a high turnover because I almost exclusively wear jeans. Most pairs are beyond repair after four months and I don't think it is worth my effort to make my own. I always mend the pairs I have (they wear out on the seat) but there is only so much mending a single pair can take. I don't know anyone else who wears out their jeans so quickly!

Make a shirt dress. I have pattern and the fabric, too. I just never got around to making it in 2017. There are two patterns I am considering for the shirt dress, both by Cashmerette. The Harrison shirt dress appeals to me because of its double princess seams. The Lenox shirt dress is also nice but I have a feeling it might be less flattering for my shape. 
Oops, I used the fabric to back Alistair's quilt.... maybe next summer!

Make a skirt. Any skirt will do. I might make a denim skirt to practice sewing with denim. I seem to own the Cressida skirt pattern, which fits the brief. It is a bit flared but not full circle, which should make it practical enough to cycle with. Other contenders are the Colette Ginger skirt and the Colette Beignet skirt.

I bought a button down jeans skirt, on a whim when I went clothes shopping with Annie. Thereafter, I lost interest in making one. I don't wear skirts often and one seems plenty.

Sew a cardigan. I have only ever knitted cardigans but it is taking forever. I have the Seamwork Oslo cardigan in mind.

I nearly finished knitting a cardigan instead. Just a sleeve and a bit to go. It is taking forever. I also knitted a sleeved shrug, which I loved wearing during the summer months. It doubles as a scarf during the winter months.

Develop my bra sewing skills.

I didn't need any new bras and didn't want to wast my bra fabric and hardware just for the sake of making something.  

If all fails, I can always make more t-shirts.
I made five t-shirts. My favourite this year was a white and orange striped one with a deep neckline back and front. It is the swing top version of the Fairlith by Blank Slate patterns. My second favourite one is my annual take of the Sailor top, which I have not photographed.

My comfort sewing will be another quilt. It is James' turn to choose fabrics and a pattern. I want to make a quilt with circles to stretch my skills. 
I made three quilts. You can find James' quilt here and Alistair's quilt here. I made a log cabin quilt  for James and a circle quilt for Alistair. The circles didn't stretch my sewing skills as much as I thought they might but it was a fun project. I have yet to show you my own quilt, a completely hand stitched masterpiece.

I made a dress, which was a complete fail and it remains buried in the pile of shame, to be revisited at some point in the future. It is a mystery actually because I used the same pattern previously with success. I spent quite some time on perfecting the fit of the bodice before making the first version.... the bodice of the second dress had a worse fit than even the first toile! I can only imagine that I have muddled up pattern pieces. I could cut the bodice off and use the fabric to make a waistband for the skirt, which fits just fine. Some day. Maybe.

I have no particular plans for sewing this year. I am still keen to sew a coat but I may make a parka instead. I was going to make this for early autumn but the slightly unusual zip took almost two months to arrive (thank you DHL) and when it finally arrived (in duplicate) I didn't fancy getting started any longer.

I'll just bumble along until something takes my fancy and get completely absorbed in the process.

What about your creative ideas for 2019? Do you have any plans, ambitions and dreams that you would like to make a reality? Do share!

Wishing you a good day! Christina xx