1 Year Blog & Sewing Anniversary

Happy birthday to me my blog! Exactly one year ago I wrote my first post about the start of my (vintage) sewing adventure. On the one hand I can't believe a year has gone by already. But on the other hand sewing has become such a part of me that it feels like I've sewn practically all my life!

I figured that this would be a good moment to reflect on the past year and do a little project roundup.

Unfortunately there are two projects that should have been included in this list, the Butterick 3810 dress I started in February which still needs to be hemmed, and the 1940s palazzo pants from Simplicity 3354 which I have actually finished but unfortunately not photographed yet.

Altogether I have sewn 10 garments (I'm including the palazzo pants and Butterick 3810 dress). Maybe it's not too bad for a first year but honestly I'm a tiny bit disappointed. I had simply hoped to have sewn a lot more in one year. Now I know what you're thinking; quality over quantity! True, but quality isn't really the issue here. Actually, I think the quality of my sewing would improve if I sew more, simply because I get a lot more practice and routine. I am building an actual wardrobe here, and I really do need a lot more clothes. Ten garments a year simply won't cut it!

So I have decided to set a new goal for myself; By May 10th, 2015 I will try to have finished 24 (sewn) garments. So that's 2 garments a month. I think that should be doable!

The most important thing for me to remember, if I want to make that goal, is that I need to drop the indecisiveness. What will I sew next? How will I finish this seam? How will I hem this skirt? Am I going to use a placket or a zipper? All good questions to ask yourself while sewing, but I can seriously not touch a project for days just because I can't make up my mind whether I want to use a placket or a zipper. In the mean time I could have finished the garment! It's quite silly, really.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little roundup of the things I have made in the past year and how I feel about them in retrospect. Let me know: What was your favorite project? And how much would you like to sew (or knit) in one year? (Ideally, but realistically of course ;) )

May/June 2013

My very first project was the (in)famous Butterick Walkaway Dress. At that time, even though I didn't really like the dress and knew up front that I would probably never wear it, it seemed like a good choice for me as a first project. However, looking back with the knowledge I have now I don't think it's a good pattern to start with at all. And I think the dress is rather hideous.

July/August 2013

My second project was Butterick 4919, another 1950s repro pattern. Again a very wrong choice as a second pattern and I am still amazed the dress turned out so well. Obviously I have never worn it since it requires a special occasion. The blog post about this dress is still my most viewed post.

August 2013

My third project was another repro pattern, Butterick 5209 and my first 1940s pattern. This was my first actually wearable garment. I was and still am quite happy with this simple little dress.

October 2013

On to project number four and five, which was my first time sewing with a vintage (unprinted) pattern. I simultaneously sewed two versions of Simplicity 4987, view I and view II. These were the last projects I finished before moving to the UK. I am still quite happy with these blouses but I've hardly worn them yet because I don't have any skirts or pants to wear them with.

January 2014

I started knitting! And quickly completed my first garment, Sun-Glo 2726, the 1940s Wind Breaker cardigan which was also my entry for the Knit for Victory challenge.

February 2014

Just one month later I completed my second knitted cardigan, the bottle green Lumber Jacket from the Australian Women's Weekly. I absolutely love this cardigan to death and have worn it só much in the past two months. I think I will have to make another one just because this one might not live very long!

March 2014

I made a test version of the Mrs. Depew 1940s Tap Pants. Hardly a proper sew, but wearable. This project taught me that my sewing skill just isn't up to sewing with slippery fabrics yet and kind of made me feel depressed about my sewing skills altogether.

April 2014

I finally finished the Simplicity 3450 Blouse that I started way back in December together with the matching skirt from the same pattern which was my entry for the Sew For Victory 2.0 challenge. After completing these I finally felt like my handmade wardrobe is coming together. But it's still only a start.