Top 5 Reflections

Reflections

1. Whenever I Can

After my daughter was born I hardly made anything.  I rarely sewed and I hardly knit. Pre-children I wouldn't usually knit unless I could sit down for an hour or more to knit.  Sewing, I would cut a pattern and sew it up over a whole weekend.  I've learned to sew and knit in such small segments now.  I knit a few stitches at a time.  I cut out one pattern piece at a time.  I don't set timelines on getting a project done.  I have several projects on the go at once that require various levels of concentration and energy.  That way when I feel like making something I can just pick it up and go with it.

2. Project Specific Stash

I like to buy fabric for a specific project.  I'm lucky. I live a 15 minute walk from a Fabricland. They don't always have what I'm looking for but if I keep checking back in different seasons I can usually find what I need.  The only fabric I do stash is flannel and knits . . . but even then I only have enough for 2-3 projects.

3. Sew What Makes Me Happy

I mostly make garments for myself and my kids.  For me because I like the fabrics and the patterns and making it fit properly.  For my kids it's sometimes a necessity. My kids are skinny and have long torsos.  For my 3 1/2 year old daughter I usually cut a pattern that is a 2T in width and 4T in length.  My 18 month old son wears a 6 month size in width.  For both my kids RTW clothing usually has to be taken in at the waist so I like sewing clothing for them that fits.

4. PDF Patterns Rock

PDF patterns are amazing.  Being able to print a pattern at home and get started is part of what really got me back into sewing.  I love the convenience of being able to reprint a pattern piece if I lose one (which I've been known to do).  If I cut the wrong size I can just print another one. If I want to make a garment for my mom and myself out of the same pattern I can print a version for both of us.  I like how most PDF patterns have detailed instructions and photos.  And best of all are all the photos from people who tested the patterns showing what it looks like on real people, not models like the big 4 patterns.

Top 5 Highlights

Highlights

Healthy

1. 

This has been such an amazing year for me because I have been at home with my 2 children. I took an extended maternity leave when my son was born.  My daughter is 3 1/2 and a bundle of curiousity, energy, enthusiasm and imagination.  I love watching her play and listen to the stories she creates.  My son is 16 months old and imitates anything he can that his sister does. He is starting to talk, run, his giggle is infectious, he kisses everyone in his family all the time.

Sick

2.

 I've started running again.  I tried to start running after I went back to work, after my daughter, but I got a really bout of vertigo that had me off work for several weeks. When I did recover and go back to work I seemed to get sick with anything that came into my kindergarten room.  I've been running weekly now since August and I hope to keep running when I go back to work in March.  I got back up to running 10 km and starting next week I am going to be a pacer for the next 10 km clinic at my local Running Room.

3. 

My daughter being old enough to start doing sports.  This year she ran her first 'race'. She did the kids run at one of my races.  I ran with her and she was so excited to finish and get a medal. She enjoyed going canoeing.  She started skating this year and is quite good already.  And next week I am taking her downhill skiing for the first time.

4.

My husband.  He's my rock. He is so steady and reliable and takes care of the the 3 of us.  When other women complain about their husbands I just shake my head as if I agree but I don't because he is so wonderful I can only think of the littlest things that bother me that aren't worth mentioning.  He always finds time for me to go running and do all my crafting. I don't have enough words to say how wonderful he is.

5. 

Family and Friends - all my extended family and friends, no matter how often or how few times a year I see you, having you in my life is wonderful.

Happy New Year!

Top 5 Sewing Misses.

Sewing Misses

1.  Jamie Jeans - this version was intended to be a wearable muslin so I was anticipating having fit problems but thought I could make it work.  I've decided that the colour just doesn't work for me for full length pants so I've had no motivation to finish adjusting them.

2. Jacole Skinny Pants - the pattern is simple and a fairly quick sew for pants.  Whenever I wear these I feel like I have to keep hiking them up all day.  I've taken the waistband in a couple times and initially that  helps but I still feel like it doesn't work.  I made 2 pairs of these.  I made the coral ones because I thought the colour looked really trendy and I could pull it off.  Instead I just feel really conspicuous wearing them. I like the colour of the bluish grey ones.  When the weather gets warmer I might cut the legs shorter and make them capris and see if they are better then.  I also now know that I need to increase the rise in the back.  I squat down a lot while playing with my kids and when teaching kindergarten and if pants slide down when I crouch I won't wear them.

3. Velvet Disaster -   I used the Jamie Jean pattern again . . . because I had it and used a size up because I was using velvet.  I could get them on but they felt like a was wearing a vice when I went to bend down.  I took the side seam apart and added this stripe of black velvet.  My husband's comment was "you look like you are wearing velvet track pants" not the elegant look I was going for. These I am just abandoning.

4. Melly Sews Hi/Lo top - This is a great free pattern.  I tried adding a bit of width to it and ended up with the neckline being to wide.  It slides over to expose my bra straps, which I hate.  I am usually so worried about making something too small that I end up making my first versions too big.  I don't have a picture of this one.

5. Plaid Natalie Top - I was so excited about making a cozy plaid top for the winter.  I've made the Natalie top 3 times already so I knew it was a Tried and True (TNT) pattern for me.  Except somehow when I was cutting it out I added an inch to the front width and the same for the back.  I've been ripping out seams and adjusting and trying to save it.  I went back to the fabric store to get 1/2 m more of the same fabric and they didn't have any more! So I went home and thought more about it.  I found this shirt with a lace yoke.  I'm currently trying to fix the neckline by adding the lace yoke and a colour so it will match the rest of my family with their matching plaid shirts.  The pockets are terrible.  The collar is too big.  I'm not sure it's salvageable.

I don't dislike any of these patterns . . .  sometimes my fabric choice wasn't good, I didn't cut the pattern accurately or I need modify the fit just for me.