Reflecting on 2012

I'm quite enjoying reading other bloggers wrap ups of their sewing year and thought I might join the club.  I only started blogging in January this year after a few years of reading other sewing blogs and getting a lot of inspiration and motivation from them.  Actually I think sewing blog reading has become a bit of an addiction and hope it doesn't cut into my actual sewing time.  I do think that keeping my own blog has motivated me a lot, especially to finish garments in a timely manner.  One of the best things I have learned from other bloggers is the importance of changing a pattern to fit your own proportions.  After a few sewing lessons earlier in the year, I learned that my torso is about an inch shorter than commercial patterns, and low and behold, my me-made-dresses suddenly don't look as frumpy as ones I had made previously.  Amazing!

Here's my favourite things I made this year:

Vogue V8615

Oliver & S - digital school days jacket

And probably my most worn me-made garment:

Japanese Pattern Book - Blouse B

And biggest fail - already gone in the charity bag:

Japanese Pattern Book - Dress I

I think I have had quite a prolific year with producing garments.  Perhaps next year won't be quite so massive as I am expecting child #2 in April.  I also need to spend a little time on other creative pursuits such as painting most of my house interior and also tending my first love, acrylic painting.

Some sewing aims for 2013

• more sewing for the home - couch covers, more curtains, cushions
• sew a men's shirt for hubby - not sure what pattern - suggestions welcome
• sew a tailored blazer for myself - again not sure what pattern 
• sew two basic patchwork quilts (like big squares) for my kids (I can't stand the ghastly quilt covers in the stores!)
• work through the pattern book "Sewing For Boys" purchased recently
• learn how to fasten plastic snaps

My pattern wishlist for next year

• Sewaholic Minoru
• Sewaholic Lonsdale
• Colette Macaron
• Burda dress 7494
• Deer & Doe Sureau
• Deer & Doe Airelle
• a men's shirt of some description
• a blazer of some description

Hmm that's a lot of patterns.  Perhaps it's not too wise aiming to sew fitted garments for myself next year due to big body changes over the course of the year.  However, it shall be interesting reading this post again in a years time to see how I went. Thanks everyone for reading!  And thank you for your blogs.  I have had lots of fun sewing and sharing this year.  However, I think 2012 will, for me, always be associated with the c-word.  For those that have been reading for a while, you may know my only child was diagnosed with cancer in April.  He has only just completed treatment with no more signs of cancer on his scans, so hopefully 2013 will be hospital free for him.  He will need surveillance scans for many years to come to make sure it doesn't come back, but in the meantime we will try to return to normal life.  It probably shouldn't have come as a surprise to me that despite having to deal with something as bad this, I still sewed quite a lot.  I guess it is my meditation and medication.  I presume it is for all of you as well.  Happy sewing!

Discharged two days before Christmas, hopefully to never return. Except for scans.