I've been thinking a lot about what I want to accomplish, craft-wise in 2013. But I'm also wary of making too lengthy a list and setting myself up for failure. So in the end I decided to keep it pretty simple.
When I think back to how I felt about sewing one year ago, it's really evident to me that I learned a lot over the course of 2012. At the beginning of the year, I was pretty discouraged; my goal was to learn about and implement alterations for getting a great fit, but all the blogs I was reading left me feeling like everyone was "getting it" but me. I spent a lot of time trying to discover everyone's secrets and find out how they learned these things. And I kept on sewing and trying out new techniques and patterns along the way. In the end, I think the answer was just that - continued reading and research combined with a lot of practice. I certainly don't know it all yet, but I have come a long way toward achieving that goal.
This year, I have two main goals for sewing:
1. Learn how to line or underline a garment. Any garment, whether the pattern includes instructions for it or not. To help me get there, I've ordered a book called Easy Guide to Sewing Linings, which got great reviews on Amazon. I can't wait to receive it!
2. Grade a pattern. I have loads of vintage patterns to choose from, and sewing one of them this year could even be counted as another goal, because interestingly, my desire to grade a pattern has more to do with the technical aspects of it than the practical. Am I becoming a process-oriented sewing enthusiast?
I also have a couple of very specific goals related to sewing:
3. Make a lined coat. I really meant to do that this fall, but time kind of got away from me and suddenly the weather had turned too cold for the pattern I have in mind.
4. Make that darned Anouk Dress! I do mean to be wearing it this spring - perhaps for Me-Made-May?
5. Make a complicated quilt. More about this in a day or two!
And some goals for knitting and the like:
6. Knit a vintage pattern. I've done this each of the last 2 years, and really enjoyed it.
7. Knit a Phildar pattern. I keep buying the magazines, but hardly ever make anything from them!
8. Do more spinning.
And in the category of "other":
9. Join both the 7 and 8 Million Meter Clubs. Last month I told you all that I was doing the Concept 2 Holiday Challenge. I did complete 201,000 meters on the rower between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Toward the end of this month, I should be logging in my 7 millionth lifetime meter. I'd also like to make it to the next million - doable if I stay on track with my average of 162,000 meters per month!
Well, maybe not such a short list after all . . .
Wonderful list! I especially love your resolution to knit a vintage pattern, that is going to be fun to read about! I also look forward to seeing some spinning!
ReplyDeleteAnd this time I'll choose something a little more complex than the green mohair cardi I did recently!
DeleteI love your list! I should try to grade a pattern, though ... I suspect it's one of those things that makes you say "why did I think that would be hard??" when you finally learn. I hope so, anyhow!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think I get held back a lot by fear of messing up! So I'm trying to get myself to just jump in :-)
DeleteA coat is also on my list for this year. I have teh patern piked out... just need to get my act together! Looking forward to hearing more about that quilt...
ReplyDeleteI have my pattern picked out too. I could make it into a spring coat, but I already have 3 fabulous lightweight spring coats! Still trying to decide!
DeleteCan't wait to see how you find the Lining book. If it's good I might get it too.
ReplyDeleteI just got it last night! I've already read half of the first chapter and learned a bunch, so I think it's going to be a keeper. I'll do a more thorough review once I've read more of it.
DeleteThat's a great list.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you on buying knitting magazines then never making any of the patterns, I've added a similar goal to my list this year.
And yet, I can't seem to help myself!
DeleteGreat goals! I wonder if I should make a list too. Haha, I'm such a copycat, but I think laziness might win instead...
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing what you accomplish in 2013 :)
Believe me, my own laziness almost took over! But I figured I'd better do it, since I made the commitment on Gillian's blog! I'm such a good girl :-)
DeleteGreat list! I'm looking forward to this quilt... :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a beauty! It's the one that inspired me to get back into quilting after so many years!
Deletei love your goals, they are all so attainable! i know what you mean about feeling like every one else "gets it" when it comes to fit. i still struggle with this, but i do feel like i'm making progress also. don't fear the lining/underlining! there's no one right way to do it and every dress/skirt i make i seem to do it a little different. i'm so lining-obsessed i have to resolve NOT to line everything. at any rate, i look forward to seeing what you accomplish this year!
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny re: lining everything! I've only recently felt like I can diverge from the pattern instructions (a big step) so I feel like this is a pretty logical and useful next step.
DeleteMy two faves on your goal list is to make a lined coat and to knit a vintage pattern both of which I would love to do myself ONE DAY!!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, the vintage patterns I've knit haven't been any trickier than the modern ones. So I felt a little cheaty putting that in - it's not a goal about difficulty, but rather about style and using what I have :-) (And I have a LOT of vintage knitting books!)
DeleteFantastic list! I'm really looking forward to seeing how you go with the coat. I don't feel quite ready to tackle one but I can sew vicariously through your blog! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd in terms of fit - I'm with you. I've worked really really hard on it throughout the year and feel like I've had a couple of break throughs - my realisation that getting the shoulder fit right went a long way was one of them - but I still have a lot to learn.
Of course, I have to make it harder on myself: the coat I want to make is from a Burda magazine, so the instructions are sketchy! Maybe I should get my feet wet with some thing that will hold my hand a little more.
DeleteI find it super cool that you row. Are you part of a club that has boats for members to take out or do you own your own?
ReplyDeleteI love how you're so focused upon sewing and have clear, simple goals. Great knitting ones too.
Oh! I tried to tag you on Pinterest but I don't think it works on the phone app, but I Pinned this gal wearing a light denim/chambray shirt with a sequined skirt. The pin was entitled "casual sequins" and I thought of your sparkly skirt you had made recently and how it could be worn in thhe daytime.
I have never rowed a real boat, LOL! (except a row boat for fishing when I was a kid) We have a rowing machine in our little workout room right off the living room. If I had to go to a gym, I wouldn't do it! So I just row on my own. It's great exercise.
DeleteI haven't even been able to get that tagging thing to work with the computer on Pinterest! But how you described is pretty much how I want to wear it. I just have to find time to do a little shopping!
What a great list! Looking forward to seeing you accomplish these over the course of the year! I'm with you on wanting to get better at constructing and inserting linings-- they still kind of scare me every time I need to do one!
ReplyDeleteI'm OK when there are directions for them, but I want to get to the point where I can do it on my own, even if the pattern doesn't include it. And I want to remember that I don't always have to use boring, plain lining fabrics: I can use something fun!
DeleteGood to keep it simple -ish!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree about the magazines. I'm not going to renew the Knitter - but wonder about buying just regular Vogue, for fun?!
I've given up all my magazine subscriptions except for Rowan, but I will likely still troll the Phildar website and buy the spring magazines when they come out!
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