And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

When I first started this blog,  a little over half a year ago, I was unsure about a lot of things: would I be able to keep it up? Did I actually have anything worthwhile to contribute?  And would anyone be interested in what I had to say?

Turns out the answer to these questions was yes, yes and yes. 28 posts, over 27,000 hits and over 500 followers later, I cannot believe the incredible welcome and support I ave received from the lovely little corner of the blogging world inhabited by my fellow sewists. From tips exchanged, inspiration gained and encouragement spread, I cannot believe the amount of love that gets shared around here 🙂 I have treasured every single comment posted here, and so enjoyed seeing everyone else’s creations, triumphs and challenges.

My very first me-made skirt 🙂

So, with the New Year almost upon us, I thought a recap of 2015 was in order! Looking back, I was actually pretty astonished by my sheer levels of productivity this year. At times I felt so short of time that I couldn’t make nearly half the things I wanted to; now I think that it’s just as well I had some limitations, otherwise my wardrobe and drawers would be even more overflowing than they are! Even with my busy double life as a med student, this year I managed to make:

23 Bras!

I was pretty astonished when I came up with that number, but it’s definitely right! Only fourteen of them were for me, which explains why my lingerie drawer is only full to bursting and not actually exploded yet. I feel like I have come a long way since my very first Watson (even though that wasn’t half bad!), and that lingerie-making really has made me a much better sewist in general 🙂 So this includes:

• 10 Watsons
• 5 Marlboroughs
• 3 Boylstons
• 2 Mayas
• 1 MIX30
• 1 Sierra
• And one more bra which I am still unable to reveal (due to super secret pattern testing reasons), but hopefully soon enough!

Continuing on in the lingerie vein, I’ve also made ten Watson bikinis, five Graces, three MIX30s, two Alices and one pair of Rosy ladyshorts; three garter belts, two from Sofìa’s pattern and one Karolina; and two corsets, from the Express Corset Making Course 🙂

Cloth Habit’s Watson bra and bikini in purple lace, size 30F/XS

Just some of the lingerie I’ve produced this year…

Of course, I did make some things that weren’t lingerie this year (though looking back over the blog, they seem few and far between), for a grand total of:

15 pieces of clothing!

Now, these pretty much were all for me, and I think garment sewing is the area where I can see the greatest improvement in my skills. I’ve learnt so many new things this year: different seam and hem finishes, new ways to cut, sewing with new fabrics; I’ve altered patterns (some approaching hack level!) and even drafted my own (with mixed results); and finally been able to sew garments completely solo, doing all the cutting, fitting and assembly by myself – of which I’m pretty proud 🙂 So this year I made:

• 3 dresses (including a ball gown, no less!)
• 3 circle skirts, including a satin one and a quilted one
• 2 crop tops
• 2 playsuits
• 2 pairs of bathers
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 bolero
• 1 pair of pyjamas – not yet posted, coming next year 😉

The time I had a completely me-made day at the beach was a definite highlight of my year in sewing.

Of course, even all of the above aren’t quite the sum total of what I’ve made; there are even more unsung projects – the slip I made my sister to wear under one of her theatre costumes, the old skirt which got taken in and gained new life, the dress my auntie gave me which didn’t fit either of us, but I re-worked into a (pretty stunning if I do say so myself) halter dress, a t-shirt shrug, and the tutu and bodice I made with a baby-sitting charge. None of these ever made it to the blog, either because they seemed a bit mundane or insignificant, or because my hack refashioning jobs do not display the kind of finesse I really want to show off – but I am proud of each of them in their way (especially that halter dress, I really need to wear it somewhere).

Nothing wrong with a casual mirror selfie.

And then there’s list of projects that I never quite got around to – at least, not yet. I had been determined to make Butterick 5824 last winter, but I never found a coating I like enough. I drafted a pattern for a light grey dress way back at the start of the year, but lost inspiration for it. I always meant to get round to sewing a few basics – simple tops and plain underwear, but never had enough enthusiasm for it (surprise surprise 😛 ). But hey, it means I already have plenty on the go for next year! As always, I’ve been squirrelling away beautiful scraps and laces for pretty lingerie, and poring over patterns and fabrics to make myself some chic, smart clothes for placement next year. And one day, I WILL find the perfect coating for that Gertie coat!

I thought it would be nice to finish up with my favourite make of the year – but much easier said than done! I really do love every single thing I have made this year, however flawed or frustrating to make it may have been. Still, I can’t go past one very special make – the dress that made me feel like a princess at my uni ball a few months ago 🙂 and its success has ensured my determination to wear me-made at every ball from now on!

I hope everyone had a delightful holiday season, and a very happy Christmas for those of you who celebrate it 🙂 Here’s to next year, and it bring many more sewing adventures with it!

Until next year,

Miss Maddy xx