Saturday 3 January 2015

2014 in review

 Compared to previous years I didn't make very much this year:
One Anna dress
Clockwise from top left: A Playing Card dress, V1247 skirt, Traveller dress, Lola dress,
Ottobre tunic top, Amy Butler Anna Dress
Two Lola dresses
Vogue 1247 skirt
Burda 7018 denim jacket (yay, I finished it)
Maxi skirt
Butterick 5612 blouse
Brown Lisette Traveller tunic shirt
Ottobre short sleeved blouse (unblogged)
Ottobre Kelopuu hoodie
(unblogged)

For RG:
one pair trousers
For Little I:
A Playing Cards Dress
 I was surprised to see I had made two Victory Patterns Lola dresses in 2014 - I really thought I had made them and the Anna dress last year.
The thing I am wearing most at t ishe moment the dark grey Lola  In the winter months it is in steady rotation.  I like the look of the pink Lola but it is so so bright.  I have to be feeling brave to wear it. I wore the Lisette Traveller dress a lot in the Autumn when it was warmer.



Here is my finally finished Burda jacket,  I'm looking forward to getting decent photos and sharing its making journey.  It was a long trek!  Mainly due to stops and starts. It has been too cold to wear it since finishing but I am hoping it will become a staple in the warmer weather.




The last make of 2014 was a Kelopuu hoodie from Ottober 2014 Autumn/winter magazine.  This is a sneak peek - I am writing a proper post about it.  It is by far my favourite make.  And I wasn't expecting that.  I love the colour, the asymmetry,the practicality and the fact it was far easier to make than I had expected.

On a personal note, this has been a tough year for me.  I hadn't blogged that my mum sadly passed away in March.  She was very ill but it was unexpected and it has hit me like a huge speeding train.   I have thought a lot since then about how much to share in this space.  Keeping on sewing has helped me immensely as it is the one thing I do purely for myself and the mechanics and thought processes of a new project  are a refreshing meditation and distraction from the demands of everyday life.  I am so happy to still have readers here and commentators.  I do think I have made some real friends through this space.  SO thank you.
It's not all gloom and doom though...I have been humbled by the support from some unexpected quarters and I have really learnt the benefit of having siblings.  And I have learnt the benefits of HOLIDAYS!  That was a revelation.
I am looking forward to seeing new sewing creations from my blogging friends....Happy New Year to you all  :)

22 comments:

  1. I am sorry to hear about your Mum. I agree with you about the meditative effects of sewing. I like to think that figuring out some sewing problem keeps my brain ticking over - that and the occasional Sudoku! Looking forward to seeing all your makes in 2015. x

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    1. Thank you. I can't do sudoku AT ALL. My brain just doesn't work that way. xx

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  2. I am so sorry to hear about your Mum, it must have been a very difficult year for you. I use sewing and knitting as my therapy, it relaxes and unwinds me and gives me something to think about instead of stressing. I hope you have had a lovely Christmas and New Year and hope 2015 is a better year for you. I'm looking forward to reading about your denim jacket and hoodie! xx

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    1. Thank you Jenna. I have really enjoyed seeing the results of your "therapy" this year :) I am looking forward to seeing what you make next. xx

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  3. I'm so sorry to hear about your Mum. Having a hobby like sewin really is a great gift.
    There will be mail coming to your way soon!

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    1. Hello Mari...oooh I love exchanging mail with you. I will have to get Little I letter writing again xx

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  4. Sad to hear about your Mum. I don't think it matters how much you are expecting loss, unfortunately, it hits you just the same. But it is lovely to have a 'place' to escape, like sewing. I do agree that when I sew I am absorbed and my brain switches off from other things, and it is a connection to your Mum too. I hope 2015 brings you lots of good things, and is a better year for you. P.S. Your jacket looks amazing, cannot wait to see more photographs. The topstitching is tres impressive!!

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    1. Yes, you are right about the absorption and making your mind switch off. There's not many times that happens for me. I am having such trouble photographing the jacket....xx

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  5. Hope that 2015 is a better year for you and very sorry to hear about your Mum. Sewing does seem to be a good 'switch off from life' activity - it certainly helped me get through a very difficult summer. Lookning forward to seeing your new jacket.

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    1. Thank you. I hope your own family worries have improved. I always enjoy seeing what you make :) xx

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  6. So sorry to hear about your Mum. Best wishes for 2015 xxx

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    1. Thank you. All these kind wishes are lovely :) Happy 2015 back to you

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  7. Happy new year to you. So sorry to hear about the passing of your mum, it must have been a really difficult time. I'm so impressed you have continued to sew. Your burda jacket looks amazing! Best wishes.

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    1. Charlotte, thank you for the kind words ...how are you? It's been ages. I am very happy to see your blog resurface. xx

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  8. Debbie I am so sorry about your Mum, and good to see what you've had to help you through. And am not surprised sewing has helped...but what wonders you've sewn. I expect the meticulous attention needed by the burda jacket was a positive creation, and it looks fantastic. And your Ottobre jacket, love it ( and I have that issue too, and still yet to make anything, but there are a few tempting things in it I thought!) so hope 2015 is better and look forward to hearing more about your recent makes. X

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    1. Thank you WInnie. I am curious to see what you will make from that Ottobre. I have developed a habit of when I see something I want to make I first check my Ottobre mags to see if there is a pattern I can use rather than buy more. I still love the hoodie and want to make it again but don't want to spend lots on fabric! xx

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  9. Was sorry to hear of your loss, I hope that 2015 holds better things in store for you

    I'm loving the Playing Cards dress by the way...and the possible bunny impression

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    1. Thank you :) The playing card dress was for an Alice in Wonderland themed party, and yes, you are right...she was wearing bunny ears and being a bunny. Not sure why.....x

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  10. I'm sorry to hear about your Mum, I'm glad you had family and friends to support you. And that you got a holiday, when they're good they're fantastic. Hopefully 2015 will be a better year for you, with more holidays! And lots of sewing, I do love seeing your makes! Happy New Year lovely! x

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    1. I got three little holidays!! All in uk, two were three days in length and one was courtesy of my brother. But holidays nonetheless. I am enjoying reading your posts xx

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  11. Sorry to hear about your mum, I can only imagine how hard that must be. I'm glad you got a nice holiday at least! And it's not the amount of things sewn but how much satisfaction they give you that's important. Love the Hearts dress, btw, and that denim jacket looks lovely! :) Hopefully 2015 will be better.

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  12. Thank you...I agree about it being the amount of satisfaction that's important. As time goes on I think I'm managing to make garments I like and wear more often than not xx

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