Sewing 2008...A Year In Review...

I was catching up on blogs and ran across Lindsay T's and thought this was a superb idea! I will look forward to doing this EVERY year now lol.

Last year I made a couple resolutions in regards to my sewing....(In red is what I said last year)

I want to plan my projects better. This year, I just bought patterns because they are on sale. I will probably STILL do that, but I want the patterns that I buy to coordinate with SOMETHING else that I have in my stash already.

• *I did really good with this one. I didn't hit up all the pattern sales and buy patterns because they were .99 I actually picked up things that I really wanted to make. My mojo ran out in October I think lol.

I have to stop making "orphan" items.

• *EVERYTHING I made, went with something else that I either already had or was planning on making. I didn't have ANY orphan items this year! YAY!!!

Same with purchasing fabrics. I know I will still buy fabric, but I want to make sure I am buying something that will coordinate with something already in my stash. I am going to have to be VERY careful with this because I am going on a big fabric shopping trip next year.

• *My "big" fabric shopping trip didn't happen (was supposed to go to NY but I will be there next year woo hoo) but I haven't purchased a piece of fabric other than when I went to North Carolina and I told y'all vacation fabric doesn't count. So I've done well. I am very proud of me. I don't need any fabric but want to do better with sewing what I have.

I will not be afraid to try a new technique or work with a different/unfamiliar fabric.

• *I did learn a few new techniques this year and I worked with new fabrics!! I did well!

Number of garments made this year:  55 individual pieces (WOW) lol. Nothing was half sewn, or rushed.... I don't do rushed lol.

You can see my Pattern Reviews Here

Most Worn Garment

 

How much did I like it? A TON! I made it twice! LOL

 

Butterick 5247- The second time I made this I used this super, duper soft sweater knit. I LOVE this top!!!

Proudest Sewing Moment

Winning the Pattern Review Mini Wardrobe Contest!

 

I worked my ASS off and tailored the CRAP out of my jacket! I LOVE it!!!

ALL TIME Favorite Garment 

 

McCall's 5746- I think I did a SUPERB job on this dress. You can read my review here. The construction, the fit. I simply LOVE IT! I've worn it twice already and PLAN on wearing it at least ONCE more before the year is out lol. I do believe this one MIGHT be made again in a lighter fabric for the summer lol.

Other Favorite Garments :-)

Click to enlarge...

Why in the WORLD did I make that?

Vogue 8486- This was an easy dress to make but it does NOT look good on me. Funny how much I loved it when I made it...I only wore it to take a pic! LOL. Just the wrong style on me lol

Vogue 8472- I think this was just wrong style/fabric combo for me. I only wore it this one time.

Vogue 8379- While I LOVE this pattern, this fabric was alllllllll wrong for it. This dress look better in a solid or an abstract print. NOT this one lol.

Vogue 1056- This has to be the ugliest thing I've ever made...outside of some of my first garments. I don't even know why I wasted my time lol. BEAUTIFUL on the pattern envelope...not so much on me lol.

Biggest Sewing Mistake lol

LOL you can read this story here.

Goals for 2009

• PURGE my patterns.
• Make more basic/everyday tops.
• Use more of the fabric that I have.
• Be a less selfish sewer :-)
• Make my duvet cover and window treatments for my home.
• S.W.A.P more often. NOT necessarily for a contest...just have a plan in mind lol.
• MASTER a welt pocket.  Right now they are just frustrating lol.
• Learn AT LEAST 3 new techniques.  Something I have never done before. I have three in mind, but will talk about them at a later date.
• Make a white button down shirt. I need a new one.
• Make my quilt!!! LOL

Toodles!

Comments

[allisonc]

55 garments, WOW indeed. OK I am going to do this on my blog too, everyone's has been so interestingto read and we can all learn and get inspired by these posts.

[Elaray]

Wow! You had a wonderful sewing year. I see why you love your "most worn garment". It looks great on you.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

[Katie]

You have done such a great job....your talent still continues to amaze me.
Did you make the denim pants, and if you did, do you know the number?
I like the dress that you hate, and you might be able to make it bearable, if you didn't fold it under and just hemmed it like a normal dress. My daughter liked it if it were straight.
Keep up the great work,
katie

[Becky]

It really has been fun to read these. I'm going to have to do one myself... but I'm waiting until the end of the month because I still have things I want to squeeze in before then and I want them to count! And I don't know if I ever said it, so congratulations on winning the mini-wardrobe contest!

[Cassandra]

Wow! I'm impressed! 55 garments! That's about 4.5 each month! You were on a roll for sure! Great job.

I love your favorites and your "what was I thinking" lists. I really liked the black dress you made though. I thought it was cute.

I don't think I've made one thing this year! LOL! I did try but got derailed. Oh well! There's always next year!

[urbanknitrix]

Congrats on your year and hitting all your goals. You made some wondeful pieces and make me want to learn how to sew. Can't wait to see what you make in the New Year.

[Cynthia Michener]

NO matter what.. i still am impressed with your sewing!! all the clothes.. are still looking good on you. I wish I could do that for myself. I just got back to sewing (clothes) few months and now been on and off all the time.. Oh well.. haha.. have a great day!! so cold here in austin, tx...

[Dei]

Girl, you have been busy! I love all the things you've sewn even if you don't. LOL, I'm working on M5746 right now. Issues with that dang cowl. Have a blessed holiday.

[Lu]

This was wonderful to read. You really have made me want to start sewing again. I know I can...I know I can...I KNOW I CAN!

[Erica B.]

You've had a great year! I thought I would be able to squeeze M5746 in, but I'm working on a coat right now and it's doubtful!

[sheila]

You definitely had your sewing flowing this year with 55 garments. Although you felt the fabric was wrong for pattern, I really like V8379.

[Izzy]

Wowee on the amount you've sewn this year. So wish I could get the drift of how to sew.

I normally don't disagree with you, but I loved the end result of Vogue 1056. I think my favorite this past year was a red dress you made. You rocked that one.

[Krystal (aka Pirouette)]

Wow, you sewed a lot this year! Great job on all of the pieces, even your least favorite ones. ;-)

[Pam]

Dang girl! 55 items this year?! I haven't done 55 things period!! LOL. Anyway, I love them ALL!

[Tiffany]

Can't wait to see ur fashions in 09 and u have reminded me that i need to do a LO with my resolutions for next year. :-)

[Cennetta]

Way to Go, Adrienne! You've had quite a stylish year! This is such a great idea: "A Year In Review". BTW- B5746 is on my to do list. Yours is too cute!
Happy Sewing!
C

[JAkkI]

Shaking my head...I tried to sew once...would NOT subject that to any living soul AGAIN....you are a very talented lady!

This would be a great idea to do for my scrapbooking supplies (the 'resolutions). Most of the time I'm double buying everything because I have NO clue what the heck I've got so I've got to organize,organize and organize some more. I'll look more on your blog but what do you do for organization of your fabrics and items.

[Fergie]

55 individual pieces. Is that a lot? It sounds like a lot to me. This is awesome, your favorite pick is mine as well. That is a great dress! The fit is AWESOME!

[Carolyn]

You had a wonderful sewing year! I love many of the items you made and it was wonderful that you won the mini-wardrobe contest on PR with your first tailored jacket!

I can't wait to see what sewing adventures you have in 2009!

[Tany]

What a fabulous year, my friend!!! You have every reason to be VERY proud! 55 individual items?!?!?!? OMG!! And winning the PR contest, I'm so proud of you! That McCalls dress is my favorite too!

[Leslie]

You've had a really great sewing year!!! I anxiously await what beauty you create in 2009!

[Arlene]

Great list! What a sense of accomplishment by looking over the whole year!

[Lisa]

what a great review! you did good this year! can't wait to see what you do next year!

[CarlaF]

Whoa! You have a husband and 3 children AND you made 55 garments! You have time to take wedding photos and scrap too! Girl, now tell the truth. What's in the water in B'ham!

CarlaF-in Atlanta

[Vicki]

You have had such a great sewing year. Congratulations!

[robin]

You really accomplished a great deal this year!! I like how you revisited your goals and evaluated how well you did on them - you were very successful! Although I haven't really thought about it much yet, I have a lot of the same goals you did for this year, for 2009. No more orphans for me either!

[Peacock Chic]

Damn...55 garments!! Wow what great year you have had!

[Cynta]

excellent post and excellent garments!

[Neecha]

What did you do with the "What was I thinking" garments? And are you going to use fabric from those garments in your quilt? WOW on 55 garments...I'm working on my 4th one a dress for the holidays!

[Stacey_CrimsonPurl]

Wonderful sewing year!!

[Renee]

Just doing my weekly blog hopping and thought I would check in. Good lord that was a lot of sewing. Looks good though.

[don]

Yeah buddy!!