100 posts that is. I have been blogging for a little less than 5 years, so I thought it was time to make some updates, and to examine my progress.
Actually, I thought it was time to change my header, and then noticed that the 100th post was coming up. Good timing! Do you like the photos I chose?
When I started I wrote: I’ve never thought of myself as being fashionable, so it feels unexpected to be turning the focus and camera on myself, and what I’m wearing. Can I finally discover my style?
Well, yes! I have learned what I want to sew and wear. I have been most happy wearing my casual, everyday clothes.
Let’s take a look at most of the clothes I made in 2016: 3 tees, shorts, pants, culottes, a pretty blouse, and a refashioned dress. Some of my refashioning is making a few alterations to make a wearable item, but I often use the fabric to cut a new item like with my tee shirts and culottes.
What I’ve learned about sewing clothes:
1) Know what patterns to pick and what you will actually wear.
I want to sew and wear basics and a few extras. By extras I mean things that are experimental in some way or a little different than what I usually wear or have interesting sewing details.
2) Make fit changes to the pattern.
I started by adjusting the fit as I sewed. Figuring out how to transfer these changes to the pattern is a real game changer. It’s the start of developing tried and true patterns to use again and again with design changes.
3) Know your figure.
Are you short waisted? Need a full bust adjustment? You will have to change nearly every pattern to fit your non-standard body. Some of these adjustments will be obvious, but others are things you probably never noticed about your body like forward shoulders or one hip higher than the other.
4) Make a muslin or mock-up of a pattern before cutting into your fabric.
This can feel like a chore, but it’s useful for testing new techniques and learning about fit. Developing slopers or sewing multiples of a pattern are strategies for avoiding making a toile. The most important thing I’ve learned from reading other sewing bloggers is to find some basic tried and true patterns.
5) Keep detailed notes on projects.
I usually do things differently than the instructions, and a year later when I want to use the pattern again I won’t remember what I did.
6) Use the right fabric for the project, in a print or solid you will want to wear.
I made a lined summer dress from quilting cotton and it was too heavy for my liking. Knowing the difference between a pattern that needs a fabric with drape and one that needs crispness will increase the likelihood of a successful outcome.
7) Learn new techniques so you can make clothes with the features you prefer.
You may prefer a different type of pocket than the pattern provides, or a waistband with partial elastic, and you need the knowledge and experience to make your custom garment.
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I’ve also enjoyed keeping a record of my home sewing, embroidery and cross stitch projects, as well as the occasional knitting and crocheting.
As far as blogging goes, will I reach 200 posts? Maybe not, but I have a few more ideas and I’m going to continue for a while longer.
Stitch It Again 