As we enter into the last week of the year, I’m going to do a few posts to wrap up my experiences. First up? This list of hard earned lessons from the past year.
This wasn’t the greatest year for my sewing. I got a new diploma and a new job, and adjusting to the schedule changes has cut into my sewing time. Consequently, I need to be more focused in my making!
1. No more wrap dresses or tops.
For some reason I keep making wrap dresses, thinking to myself “I will wear this!” when the truth is I always think “No to anything that involves possibly accidentally exposing my underwear” and wear something else. In addition, because I am very high waisted/long torsoed the wrap never hits at the right place for me. No more of these.
2. Sometimes it’s ok to be in a rut.
I’ve made a lot of dresses that have my favorite sillhouette (full skirt, fitted top) over time. This year? None. I felt a little bit like I was in a rut, but it’s possible that I like these styles because they look the best on me. I think the high percentage of unworn garments this year goes along with that. So even if the fashion world keeps insisting that slim, body conscious skirts are the trend, I will realize that I don’t feel great in them, and make something else.
3. There is no such thing as too much frosting.
I’ll link to Tasia’s discussion of cake vs frosting in our dressmaking. If cake is the basics (pants, t-shirts etc) and frosting is everything else (pretty dresses etc) then I think I’m ok with making more frosting. I can buy basics. Yes, searching for pants is annoying, but not as annoying as eating up my limited sewing time with something that just doesn’t make my soul sing (note: I will still make interesting pants, but no basics!) In addition, I find that my life requires a rather high percentage of frosting anyway. This holiday season I’ve already run through all of my fancy dresses and started wishing I had more, and while the holidays are the busiest time for me they are by no means the only time I have to dress up!
4. It’s ok to take a break sometimes.
Maybe it’s the blog thing, but I’ll tell you that I feel sort of guilty when I’ve not got a work in progress. I do my best work, however, when I make a project I love rather than sewing just to be working on something. This is my hobby, not a job! I am… sort of OCD in general, so I really struggle with this issue. So if I want to take a week to paint my bathroom, or I have rehearsals every night til late, I need to not feel guilty. This one is a work in progress.
I’ll be back soon with the breakdown of my projects – it’s taking a bit to write!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
Jessica, I could have written these too, especially the frosting part! Sometimes I feel bad about not wanting to sew basics but then I remember that I don’t even really wear basics – so sewing frosting is actually what suits my life better. And it’s what I enjoy, and I want to spend my sewing time doing something that I enjoy! I’m looking forward to seeing full-skirted dresses from you in 2013 xx
I agree with all of these! I am very much a frosting sewer too. And on #4, my favorite blogs to read are ones that focus on quality over quantity of posts. So never feel bad for not posting if you’re not into it. Also, sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder. 🙂
Its always helpful to reflect on things and make a plan. You’ve got a good list here for yourself.
I am a total lurker, but I am breaking rank. I love you for WHEN you respond, NOT how often you respond!!! If you need a break, you take it! I (we?) will be faithfully waiting here when you return! No judging here; no guilt!
This all makes perfect sense to me, and I can relate to it. Except maybe the frosting part. How wonderful to have a lifestyle that requires more frosting!
I am totally with you on buying basics and making frosting. I do make a few basics, but yeah, if I want a black pencil skirt I can buy one!
These are all great lessons, and I’m learning them too! I started reading your blog when you were still sewing lots of those fitted top, full-skirted dresses, and I thought you looked absolutely fantastic. It’s actually one of the things that inspired me to start sewing myself, and golly, if I didn’t go and make myself a whole slew of dresses with the same silhouette! I’m just jealous that you actually have a good reason to make lots of frosting! I hope you keep doing what you do (and taking breaks) without feeling guilty…we all need them sometimes!
it’s good to sit back and reflect about what actually gets worn and what you’ve learned through it all. my own sewing has skewed toward the “cake” side of things, but that doesn’t mean i don’t enjoy seeing others’ “frosting”!
Jessica. It’s good to take a break and look at what you’ve done, want to do and stop doing.
Now’s a great time to reflect on what direction you want to pursue in the New Year.
I like how you’re giving yourself the time to do this.
really excellent points, all of them. i think i’ll adopt them for myself as well!
A nice summary of a year- I like the idea of a frosting focus. I find such joy in sewing these pieces that the cake is such a slog. Mmm cake!
Great to hear your thoughts – and I agree with so much of what you say, except that I haven’t found the silhouette that works best for me yet!
I’ve also found that although I probably need more cake than frosting, my efforts at cake are often failures because I am just not interested enough to make basics (like t-shirts) carefully. So I’m now all for buying the cake, sewing the stuff I want to sew :-). Who wants to waste their free time doing something really boring?
Oh and as a reader I am also absolutely fine with fewer posts – take a break when you need it and don’t let the blog drive you! Have a great 2013…