Top 5 of 2013

Happy new year, Readers. Did you all  have fun celebrating new year? We stayed at home and I cooked a meal and my mum, brother and sister joined us. It was a cosy way to welcome the new year amidst this perpetual miserable weather we have been having.

Lots of fellow bloggers have been joining in with Gillian’s Top 5 list, and before it’s too late, here is mine.

First some stats.

In 2013, my first full year of blogging, I made a total of 42 garments (and a couple of unblogged wadders):

• 2 shirts and a body warmer for Philip
• 3 dresses and a nativity outfit for Kezia (it felt like much more?!)
• 2 skirts
• 6 tops
• A pair of pyjamas
• 3 coats and a jacket
• 22 dresses

Wow, when I see it written down like that I am quite amazed.

Top 5 6 hits of 2013 (selected only from items made for myself):

I couldn’t quite restrict it to 5 so it’s 6, actually….

Papercut patterns Saiph Tunic

Simplicity 2823 floral satin pyjamas

Sewaholic Minoru Jacket

Butterick 5870

Vogue 8904 LBD

Simplicity 1716

It’s interesting that 4 of the 6 items are made from knit fabrics….before I started to sew clothes for myself I would have avoided knit fabrics like the plague as I felt they just weren’t flattering on me. My mother’s day gift this year was a serger and it has opened up a whole new sewing wardrobe for me!

Top 5 misses of 2013:

New Look 6000 Polka Dot Frock Fest!

This just isn’t me…the print and the slightly retro look…worn once, maybe twice I think.

Vogue 8626

This coat has already been given away to charity. I didn’t love the colour to start with and the fit wasn’t that great either.

Kelly skirt with Simplicity 2365 top

Grainline Moss (not so) Mini Skirt in cord.

Vogue 8787 floral version

So the interesting thing about these last 3 garments is that they all had slight fit issues but more than that, I think it is the brightness of the colours which is off putting to me. I definitely want to revisit the Kelly skirt and the Moss mini and get them right, so that is something I will look to do this year. But I think this year has made me realise that actually, whilst I do love some colours (like jewel colours), I actually wear basic/ neutral colours more on a day to day basis and am happier introducing colour into my outfits with accessories.

I don’t want to restrict myself by making resolutions. I just want to continue to enjoy my sewing, improve my technical and fitting skills and tailor a jacket/ coat (I was totally inspired by Peter’s pea coat series!)

I do also want to say thank you Readers for following along, leaving comments, hosting competitions and giveaways (I won 2 prizes in 2013!), being inspirational, giving advice, and making what can sometimes feel like a solitary hobby more sociable and interactive.

Wishing you all every happiness, peace, health and prosperity for 2014!