Moving Forward ~ 2018 Plans and Goals

2017 was not a good year for me.  Most of the year I was too sick to sew, too sick to do many things.  I spent a good deal of time shopping for more fabric and patterns.  I purchased a few new machines too (new coverstitch, new to me serger, and new embroidery machine).  Near the end of 2017 I started to feel ok enough that I could be in the sewing room for small bits of time.  However,  I would get so overwhelmed by the amount of fabric I have that I just couldn't sew much of anything!

I know some people have a much larger fabric stash than I do, and some have smaller; however, for me, this amount is just too much.  It dampers my creativity.  So I decided for 2018 I will buy no more fabric.  This is going to be super hard because, OMG look at all the pretty fabric!  Pushing this further, I will be buying no patterns this year either.  2018 is going to be a year of using what I have. Use it, Make it. 

Another thing that has bothered me is that I tend to get fabric and never want to cut into it.  Fear that I will mess it up and lose that fabric.  No more.  I am going to just go for it and use everything in my stash without fear!  I learned that there will always be fabric I covet. 

Unedited mess of fabric stash below.  those boxes under the coverstitch box are filled with “muslin” fabric – or stuff I wouldn’t use due to color or feel.  I’m curious to see the “after” picture at the end of this year.























Finally, I also want to use my patterns.  I have tons.  I have lots of plans for patterns I already have and I just never get around to sewing them all.  This year I’m going to use them!  I have spreadsheets and lists of patterns I want to make so I’m forcing myself to make them.  Mainly my Burda magazines need to be used.  Of course I have many Jalie and Ottobre to get around to sewing,  some of the Big 4, and also many independent designer patterns.

Here are some pictures of my pattern stash.  They are many more unseen in drawers, the cabinet, and copy shop PDF’s some seen above in the fabric stash shot.






To help me stay on goal, I joined the 2018 RTW Fasters hosted by Goodbye Valentino.  I’m excited that this group will keep me on track.  Most are fasting only from buying RTW.  But there are a few of us who are also fabric/pattern fasting too. 




I think I attempted to stash bust in 2016?  I don’t remember exactly, but 2017 the flood gates opened.
 
So, I look forward to 2018 being a year of using things, making things, reducing the fabric stash. 

What are you goals for 2018?  Will you be on a pattern/fabric freeze as well? 

Sewing Plans Jan to April

Thank you everyone for your kind words and thoughts for me.  I’m still hanging on and now only have 8 days until I see my GI doctor! Let’s hope I get some pain relief, answers, and a way to eat food again.  Nonetheless, if she is unable to help me I have an appointment with the “big dogs” in March so I’m hopeful.

UPDATE: 
I've completed 6 of these! You can find them here:
Ginger Jeans
Jalie 3248 Drop Pocket Cardigan
Burdastyle 10/2014 #103
Sewaholic Renfrew
Jalie 3022 Yoga pants
P4P Sweetheart Dress

On to the sewing....
Recently I joined a Facebook group to motivate me to sew more with a plan.  They do sew-a-longs quarterly.  So I had to come up with a sewing plan for January to April.  I like the 4 month time frame because it doesn’t rush me.  Here is what I came up with:

As you can see I like darker colors of blues, blacks, and grays.  I’m excited to finally sew up the Ginger jeans pattern.

Happy Sewing
Kristin

A fail, a stall, and a sneak peak

 Lets start with the fail.

Burda 11/2006 #116

I really wanted this top to work out.  I love the line drawing.  The original french terry I wanted to use was way to thin, and I only had 1 yard not 2.  So I went to Hancock's to find new fabric and settled on one of their new sweater knits with a fleece backing.  The pattern calls for sweatshirt material.



Unfortunately it sounds nicer than it really is.  The sweater knit part on top tries to stretch but pulls in other places when it does, and the fleece part fights stretching.  This makes for an uncomfortable top!  The arms are too tight. It feels too tight in the stomach.  Plus, I couldn’t figure out the neck directions for anything! 



If anyone knows how to sew this neck together please let me know.  I’d love to try this top again.  Here is where I’m confused: Turn the allowance out on the slanting front, and collar edges and stitch in place.  What? Am I just flipping the allowance to the outside and sewing so that the raw edge is visible?  In my top here I just folded the raw side to show without sewing anything on the edges.  Or maybe since you are flipping the raw side up you turn the allowances to the right side so that they are really underneath.  I’m just lost; though I think I may have figured it out just now as I typed this out.  If anyone can help clarify…Thanks Burda!




And here is a what I’m stalled on.  I am not sure if I like the shirt enough to finish it.  I feel like the fit is a bit off, almost as if the bust and back darts are too low.  I had high hopes for it in the beginning.  The fabric is a loose weave so it has been a pain to sew the collar area because it grows and shifts.  I usually never have UFO’s but this one might end up that way. This is also a Burda pattern.




Finally, here is a sneak peak of something I’ve been working on for Miss K. 



I finally have all my supplies ready for Jean making so I plan on doing that next up.  

What have you been sewing?

~Kristin~

2016 Winter Sewing Plans

BurdaStyle 11/2006 #116A

Long Sleeve Wrap Top                         Red lightweight Terry Fabric in Stash
finished and failed

 


Burdastyle 12/2008 #114
Nightgown                                           Black and White Rayon Jersey in Stash
finished and blogged
                           


Ottobre 05/2013 #1A
Tunic                                                  Navy Blue Cotton/Polyester/Spandex Knit in Stash
finished and blogged
                               


Ottobre 05/2011 #13
Cardigan                               Dark Blue Boucle Sweater Knit in Stash.
                  


Jalie Eleonore
Jeans                                                  Midnight Indigo Stretch Denim 9 oz. in Stash, failed

 I really, really wanted these to work. I keep trying. This is the look I was going for.  Per my measurements I should go with a  “V” at the waist to an “AA” elsewhere which I did. My fabric was the right stretch, too.  I could barely put these suckers on. Super tight. *Shakes fist at those who had this pattern work “right out of the envelope”*
           

Ginger Jeans
                                                                Stretch Medium Weight Dark Denim 7.4 oz in Stash
finished and blogged
 

2015 Fall Sewing Plans

Ah, Fall is here.  It sure doesn’t feel like it this week with temps in the 90s but it will come soon enough.  Fall is my favorite time of the year.  I love the crisp air, the changing colors, and Halloween.  Here are some of the things I hope to sew for myself this fall.

 

Tops

BurdaStyle 12/2009 #121 Henley with Long Sleeves – With this Navy/Gray Rayon Jersey Stripe finished and blogged




BurdaStyle 12/2009 #124 Long Sleeve Flannel Shirt (like an Archer) - With this Yarn-Dyed Cotton Flannel ** I'm still working on this in 2024...

Burda 12/2009 #120 Hooded Henley Tunic – paired with leggings for around the house; Maybe I’ll go wild and use this Tie-dye Rayon Jersey







Simplicity 1283 Cardigan – With this cozy Dark Blue Boucle Sweater Knit





Jalie 3248 Drop Pocket Cardigan – fabric unknown

sewn 4x now

teal one for Miss K (still unblogged).
completed my gray one here in 2016

completed my black one here in 2017
completed another black one here in 2020

Jalie 2795 Zip Front Hoodie – Most likely with this Navy Blue Sweatshirt Fleece




Ottobre 05/2013 #1 top and #4 Tunic – fabric unknown; 

sewn 6x now: 

back in 2013 a fav fall tunic of #1  

another back in 2013 charcoal colorblocked #1

and another in 2013 teal striped #1A

and another LOL in 2014 black colorblocked again #1A

omg another in 2014 teal colorblocked #1A

in 2016 I finally made the tunic in blue #1B

                                                             












Bottoms
Jalie 2908 I need some Jeans! – With various Denims that I have in Stash

Sewn 4x now!

Jan 2016 I made them for Miss K

March 2016 I first made these for me!

May 2016 I made them again for me! 

July 2020 I made these into shorts for me but unblogged as of yet

Jalie 3022 – I need a pair in black – With this Black Cotton Lycra Jersey 

Sewn 9x now. 

1. Dec 2014 Black plain  2. Dec 2014 Black for Miss K 3. Feb 2015 Hunter Green 4. Jun 2015 Green Shorts 5. Jun 2015 Teal Pants 6. Oct 2015 Black and White 7. Mar 2017 Navy Cotton Lycra 8. Apr 2019 in black 9. May 2019 in navy 

Sewaholic 1203 Thurlows – with this soft trouser fabric

sewn before: 

1. Jun 2014 Muslin, 2. Jul 2014 brown twill, 3. Aug 2014 fun green twill 







PegLegs Leggings by Patterns for Pirates – To wear under the tunics I am making, various fabrics

Sewn 6x: 

Dec 2015 black cotton lycra, Mar 2017 pink dbp , Apr 2017 green plaid dbp, Jun 2017 purple shorts, May 2023 Charcoal cotton lycra, and Jul 2023 Navy athletic shorts

BurdaStyle Classics 2013  #0005C Long Skirt – With this Brown/Tan Plaid “Wool Look” Fabric




Dresses
BurdaStyle 10/2014 #105 Envelope Sleeve Dress (Long Sleeves)

Sewn 4 other times now: 1. Jan 2015 floral muslin and gray on gray tops, 2. Jun 2015 aqua tank top, 3. Oct 2015 color blocked top, and 4. Mar 2017 jewel print top

Misc
Jalie 2680 Jacket – With this Slate Gray Twill Jacketing




Jalie 2572 Shapewear