Tabatha’s Top 5 Hits and Misses of 2013
Hi, hi, and a very happy new year to you all! I’ve been a busy little blogger recently, getting all my makes blogged before 2014 rolled around, and I didn’t quite get chance to write this before New Year. I had trifle to make, you know? Priorities.
This post isn’t to show you a finished project anyway, or rather, not a new finished project! I finished my sewing for the year on the 23rd December, and my total number of completed projects for 2013 is 55! I’m really pleased with this, after all I did give birth in January and breastfed my baby and looked after a 3 year old too. My sewing productivity increased dramatically in the latter half of the year, because I’ve managed to get the children into a good, and predictable napping routine.
Of these 55 projects, 28 were for myself – 20 dresses, 5 tops, 2 pyjama bottoms and 1 pair of culottes. But this year I’ve made quite a few things as gifts for others (21) and I’ve had a few commissions and sales (6), which has been excellent.
Anyway, onto my top 5 hits and misses – idea courtesy of the lovely Gillian of Crafting a Rainbow. I’ll start with my misses as I want to end on a positive note!
- January 2013 – Simplicity 5366 Men’s Shirt – too big – my husband usually wears more tailored, closer-fitting shirts than this. I also accidentally did the buttonholes on the wrong side – oops.
Too big – such a shame
2. March 2013 – Sew Serendipity Monique Dress – too small – but the next one I made in the next size up was lovely and I’m really pleased with it.
The Serendipity Studios Monique Dress (a bit too tight!)
3. September 2013 – Simplicity 1610 jersey maxi dress – yuck, yuck, yuckity yuck. I chopped off the maxi skirt to turn it into a top instead and used the chopped off bit to make a skirt for my daughter.
I can’t believe I’m posting this picture again!!!!
4. December 2013 – Megan Nielsen Tania Culottes – I think it’s mainly my fabric choice that doesn’t work for these culottes. I’m tempted to try again with a rayon or similar.
Megan Nielsen Tania Culottes in Chambray
And that’s it – only four ‘misses’ for 2013. I was going to include my Colette Jasmine blouse but everyone who commented seemed to think it was nice and I’m still undecided – so I’m not counting it as a failure!
Now for the ‘hits’:
1. March 2013 – Colette Parfait Maxi – I love, love, love this pattern, and I love, love, love this maxi. I can’t give it much higher praise. I will definitely be making another of these in 2014.
Colette Parfait Maxi in Alexander Henry fabric
2. April 2013 – Sewaholic Pirate Cambie – This dress is ALL about the fabric. Sure, the Cambie is a nice enough pattern, but it’s the print that really makes this dress cool. The bad thing about this make is that because I made it so soon after giving birth, it is now too big, and is currently sitting in a bag in my sewing room completely unpicked and taken apart to be re-made in a smaller size. Hopefully I will get round to this at some point, because I really really do love it and I miss having it in my wearable wardrobe.
Sewaholic Cambie in Riley Blake pirate fabric
3. April-May 2013 – The Gertie Shirtwaist Dresses – I made two of these: one for me and the other for Julia for her 30th birthday. I conquered bound buttonholes and shirring by making them so I feel like they were a good achievement.
My first Gertie Shirtwaist dress in purple gingham
Julia’s Gertie Shirtwaist dress
4. October 2013 and December 2013 – Clergy/Clerical Shirts – I made these for my friend who is a priest in the Church of England, one black and one red. I drafted a pattern based on an existing shirt she had. I’m really proud that I was able to work out how to make these.
Black clergy shirt/blouse
Red clergy shirt/blouse
5. November 2013 and December 2013 – By Hand London Anna dress – I made five of these, but I’m only including my green version with a gathered skirt and my maxi version as my favourites. I really do love both of these. If I needed a tiny capsule wardrobe, these two dresses would be included without a doubt.
Anna with gathered skirt – front view
Anna Maxi dress
6. September – December 2013 – My self-drafted dress, made on my pattern cutting course. This dress is a real achievement for me and the making of it was a huge learning curve. I love it!
My self-drafted dress – front view
Cut-out back
So there you go. I am very pleased with my year of sewing, and I look forward to more in 2014!
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Great sewing! You have certainly come a long way with your skills. 🙂 Have a Happy New Year!
Thank you, and the same to you!
I love your self-drafted dress, that design is super cute!
Thank you!
Wow, what a great production line! You’ll be needing to move house to have room for extra wardrobes soon! It’s a good idea to have a round up for the year and take stock. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Haha, yes my wardrobe is nicely full but that won’t stop me from making more!
That Anna maxi dress is just beautiful. Happy 2014!
Thank you. Happy new year to you too!
So many great dresses! My favorite is the self-drafted one. Beautiful work!
Thank you Erika!
Even the “fails” weren’t spectacularly bad, so all in all that makes for a pretty successful year! And I’ve totally put the buttons on the wrong side on one of hubby’s shirts–I would guess that we all have at least once. 😉 I can see why the “wins” are in the win category, you made some lovely garments this year!! 🙂
Thanks!
Well done for working so hard and creating so many perfectly-crafted items xxx
Thanks for your love, help and support xxx
What an amazing year!
Made even better by getting to meet with you and other people from the online sewing community! 🙂
Congratulations for all the great projects you made in 2013! I love your self drafted dress! 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Nice lovely wearables, an admirable year!
Thank you very muchly! It’s nice to have done so much sewing for others, too.
Wowowowow! 55 items! How amazing. And such lovely thing you made too.
Now spill the beans, how does one get a baby on a reliable schedule? A desperate mommy wants to know 😉
Erm…well both of mine are really good sleepers, which helps. Basically I give Baba Tweedie lunch and then a milk feed shortly after and put him in his cot. I keep that routine every day & he often falls asleep before I’ve even put him down. Sometimes he’ll still be awake but I leave him anyway & within 5 mins he will fall asleep!
Haha, I love your face in the 3rd pic! Hilarious!
Your Annas are divine- your maxi version is the nicest one I’ve seen.
That is my seriously unimpressed face! Wow, thank you, that’s a big compliment!