Review of 2012 & thoughts for 2013

It's the last day of the year, 2012. 

I haven't sewn a heck of a lot of items this year. Mostly because I had a newborn at the start of the year, with two other pre-schoolers at home and I had to get into the swing of three children. 

Mid year, when my youngest started to sleep longer overnight, I rearranged our lounge to make a sewing corner, and set up everything ready to go whenever I had the chance. I still want to take photos and share my set up, so perhaps in the new year.

This year taught me that free time was hard to come by but when it did, USE IT WISELY. I cut down on computer time and switched over to this blog from my old fashion/style blog when I realised that my priorities had changed. I stopped spending my evenings watching TV and sat at my sewing table instead. 

I started buying patterns but found that it was easy to get swept up in the hype of a new pattern release. I don't like mainstream clothing stores because they dictate what trends we should be wearing, but then I saw that the sewing world still does that too. Not to the same extent but it made me stop and think before I rushed to purchase a pattern. Was I buying it because everyone else had it and it was the "in" pattern of the moment? Or did I really like it, I would sew it and I would wear it because I knew it was MY style and it would suit me?

I also joined a new library when I saw they had Burda Style magazines! I have traced around twenty or so patterns to date but now need to start sewing those patterns. I have made a few already. 

After making a muslin to a Burda blouse in the past few days, I've realised that I am size 34 in tops, and most of their patterns are at a 36. It means that I need to work out how to grade to fit! 

Finally, I received a few great sewing gifts at Christmas which already has made my sewing life easier. 

For 2013 I want to focus on sewing practical, every day wear items. I know that doesn't sound glamorous but the basics are what you wear most of the year so that's where I will start. 

Of course I could still sneak in a lovely Cambie but that isn't a priority.

I want to work on getting sewn items made well. I don't want to win the world record for the most items sewn in a year. I'm going to strive for quality, over quantity and use my op shop fabric stash to practice sewing skills and learn a few techniques.

The new year is going to be busy but I still want to blog even my failures or things I've learnt on a muslin, and not just pretty finished garments. It's a record of my journey to sew for myself, not just of the garments.

With that, I wish you all a very happy new year and thank you for following and commenting. I appreciate it so much and am grateful for the blogging community!

xo

Jacinta