Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Time for some goal-setting

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 . . .

26 comments:

  1. 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!

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    1. And this time I'll choose something a little more complex than the green mohair cardi I did recently!

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  2. I 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!

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    1. I 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 :-)

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  3. A 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...

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    1. I 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!

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  4. Can't wait to see how you find the Lining book. If it's good I might get it too.

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    1. I 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.

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  5. That's a great list.

    I'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.

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  6. Great goals! I wonder if I should make a list too. Haha, I'm such a copycat, but I think laziness might win instead...
    Looking forward to seeing what you accomplish in 2013 :)

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    1. 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 :-)

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  7. Great list! I'm looking forward to this quilt... :)

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    1. It's a beauty! It's the one that inspired me to get back into quilting after so many years!

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  8. i 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!

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    1. That'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.

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  9. My 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!!

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    1. Honestly, 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!)

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  10. Fantastic 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! :)
    And 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.

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    1. 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.

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  11. I 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?
    I 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.

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    1. 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.

      I 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!

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  12. 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!

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    1. I'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!

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  13. Good to keep it simple -ish!!!!
    I agree about the magazines. I'm not going to renew the Knitter - but wonder about buying just regular Vogue, for fun?!

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    1. 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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