In the process of tidying up all my downloaded patterns whilst uploading them to my new dropbox cloud storage I decided I wanted to make a list of all the patterns I have bought and especially downloaded that I still wanted to make. Downloaded patterns are like credit cards, they are not entirely real and often I buy them, download em, store em and that's it. I usually print off the first page and file this but it's only been recently that all this has been sorted by women's, kids, knitting and crochet, bags and quilt patterns. That finally made me realise how many patterns I own and how I could safely never buy another pattern! I'm sure I will though as the lure of the new etc...
Anyway that is another blog post because I also realised how many things I've sewn this year! Lots of lots. I haven't got any decent pictures of almost any of them though. I did actually finally buy a tripod and self timer for my DSLR only to then give the camera to a friend in need. Oops. I'm back to mainly using my iphone and sometimes my fab Lumix LX3. I did take delivery of a cheap second hand bridge camera today which has a huge zoom so maybe I will use that more often. Anyway I always drool jealously over people who have the time and inclination to take beautiful shots of they new creations, and wonder how they find the time to sew that much let alone take all those photos and write those lovely long, detailed blog posts, often with tutorials... Bets not beat myself up over this as after all I teach a lot of classes, run my business single handedly and have three boy children to look after (as well as my 6 kitties). I'm no longer a single parent but that upshot of that is that I also try to spend as much time with my partner Sean as possible. There, I'll stop feeling guilty now. So I mostly finish sewing something and then just instantly put it on!
Let's make a little list of what I've made this year:
* I discovered Lekala on Etsy. For just a few quid she emails you a pattern of your choice in your own size, according to your measurements. Lovely! I even got a kiddy culotte pattern scaled up to my size and I'm wearing them as we speak, made out of silver denim!
* I also made a cute Lekala knit dress with hood and massive kangaroo pockets.
*I (late to the party) discovered the April Rhodes Staple Dress and have made three for myself plus
one for a friend. They are the bees knees! A super comfy, easy to stitch and easy to wear dress AND IT HAS POCKETS! I love pockets. No matter how many bags of haribo you've put away, this dress always fits. Hurrah!
*I fell in love with the Liesl + Co Cappuccino dress. And unlike me, I bought the paper pattern and made it as soon as it arrived. Out of some funky red, pink and gold japanese style print from Ikea of all places. Super cool dress, I want to make more!
* I made the Colette Parfait dress out of some fun vintage style circus fabric to wear to a wedding. It was a tony bit too naked and dressy for me so I haven't worn it since although I got many compliments and loved it. It had about a million pieces and wasn't an easy sew although I liked the challenge. A lot.
* I helped Jill from Made with Moxie test run her Prefontayne shorts for women, so I made a simple version without the pockets out of a vintage sheet. They are my bedtime shorts for when it's too warm for full PJS.
* Colette's Ginger skirt is the pattern I use to teach dress making classes with. And in the process I've made myself three versions now. It's a pattern that literally looks good on every shape and size and even on the chap who did the course earlier this year. Go-to-skirt pattern!
*
I finally made the bombshell swimsuit. I downloaded the pattern and even
bought the fabric in 2013. And then it just sat there. However when I started I LOVED sewing it up, it came together really quickly, and it looks bloody awesome even on my lumpy 44 year old body. Seriously that is a fucking miracle! I may even show you a picture.
*I've made two bra's but we're not there yet, the bra and me. We are just starting out together. I'm loving the ultra fitting it needs and the tiny tweeks that make a huge difference. I don't liek how you can't make a muslin and the fabric (as with all fabrics but more so) is bloody expensive in the UK. So I've put it all to one side (in a tiny huff I must admit) and I will rekindle that relationship in 2015. I'm really really excited about making my own bras. I know it's possible now.
*I made a Poppy tunic. And hated it. It doesn't work on ladies with boobs. The neck is too high too. It feels like a hospital gown but with added modisty. So it just hangs there lookign all guiltily at me. Actually I've been using it as a painting smock hahaha because it is very airy due to the ridiculously large armholes and it being sleeveless n all that. So it's usefull after all.
*I made a Victory patterns Lola dress. Which I hate even more. What was I thinking? All the pictures clearly show it to be a bulky dress which would look good only if you are small, small breasted and don't have A STOMACH. I'm none of those things and do have a belly so it is the most unflatering thing I have ever worn. Luckily I made it all out of £2/m sweater material from the market and it came together super quickly. I wore it in bed last night as a VERY warm nighty (I only lasted an hour in it until nightmares of being boiled alive made me tear it off and throw it a long way away). Lesson learnt. Remember your body shape and only buy flattering patterns. *Remember you don't have a waist!*
* I made a Merchant and Mills Dress Shirt just two weeks ago. It was super easy and I used the fabbest fabric, crazy leopard print/ roses/ hearts and musical notes, extra wide, for £3/m from the local shop. I'm wearing this dress right now (on xmas day), it's super comfy and stylish. Next time I will add the staple dress' pockets as I do miss a pocket.
* I made Max a great blazer (the study hall jacket) which was ace to
sew and looks fab on. Bizarrely he more often wears it inside out, and with its blue and yellow lining it looks like a jockey jacket :-(
* I also made him a golden ninja suit out of fleece. He REALLY wanted onebut I could only find one person
selling them on Etsy and they were a good price. Hence I made it. And became his hero!
*I made lots of bags, zippy pouches, PJ trousers for me (wearing them
right now they are fab!) and for Max, curtains for the studio and a
whole heap of quilts too. And a gazillion cushions. Not to mention tons
of stuff I was commisioned to make by others inc a christening dress out
out of a wedding dress (terrifying cutting into that!), curtains,
window seat covers, and endless zippy pouches, and much more.
Not too shabby huh?
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| quilt for Sarah |
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| dress for Ariella |
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| bag for Leo |
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| yes it really does have sweets on it! |
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| dress for Ariella |
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| I knitted some fab socks! |
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| lovely pouch |
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| quilt for Simon |
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| Sarah's staple dress |
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| christening dress for Naimph |
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| Max's PJs |
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| 241 tote |
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| 241 tote 2 |
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| quilt for studio |
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| PJs for me |
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| Ginger skirt 3 in action! |
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| Sean and his new cushion |
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| Funky crochet poncho |
