The last blog post I wrote was about my Frocktails dress which I made back in August 2019. It’s now January 2020…. not cool, really not cool.
Time for some honesty me thinks…after Frocktails I MASSIVELY lost my sewjo and, if we’re getting really honest, a bit of myself too. I’m usually a super driven person who always has to be doing something…I just stopped caring.
Living in a foreign country can be tough, and while I love living here, have an amazing partner in crime with Joe and don’t miss that British drizzle, I definitely miss my people. The USA and the UK, while speaking the ‘same’ language, are sooooo culturally different and that can make it incredibly hard to build the kinds of relationships and friendships you’re used to. I don’t know why but Frocktails really brought that home to me. I started to feel really suffocated here and did what I always do when I’m sad, retreat to books. Books are home for me, where I feel safe but also where I can go on an adventure! So instead of sewing, I was reading, and you know what, that’s okay!
Don’t worry, I haven’t given up sewing all together -“Greens don’t quit!”
I’m still massively struggling with the fit of my bodice, but I’m still trying and I thought, rather than share my usual in-depth, individual make posts, I’d just share a little round up of the last of the things I sewed in 2019 so I can start 2020 with a clean slate.
So here goes.
First up, one I am actually super proud of, that I finished before Frocktails and never shared. My Mrs Maisel inspired dress. This one perhaps does deserve it’s own post – before I start the next competition for sure! I used the Gertie Pencil skirt plus hacking a bodice from a generic McCall’s pattern. Fabric is a heavy Ponte thrifted from Habitat for Humanity.
Next, we have a nice easy one, the Pattern Scout Lulu Cardigan. I had a lot of fun making this one – as always, it doesn’t fit perfectly but I don’t care and wear it all the time. I used shark print interlock from Joanns.
Late in the year I spent a lovely afternoon with Mary from The Daily Sew, learning how to make a pattern from a favourite RTW dress. Once the pattern was made, I dug out some Girl Charlee green sweater knit from my stash and whipped this up.
I started to feel more ready to commit to another project and I really loved my Frocktails dress, so I decided to make a more winter appropriate version using mustard corduroy from fabric.com. I narrowed the shoulders a little too much on this one but I actually like change it caused in the cut. I LOVE this dress, I wear it all the time and I even got the chance to take it to the Mary Quant exhibition at the V&A, for which the pattern was designed.
Writing this has started to make me realise how much I did actually make and that my hiatus from sewing wasn’t as long as it felt!
In November I saw some beautiful sweat-shirting from Guthrie and Ghani that I just had to have. It took me a while to decide what to do with it when it arrived but finally I went with Toaster Sweater 2 by Sew House Seven. To make it even more cozy I added the thumbhole cuffs from Hey June’s Lane Raglan. This possibly my most worn make to date.
And last, but certainly not least, is my first self drafted garment- a skirt! I completed the Brooks Ann Camper Skirt Skills Class this year and this was my completed skirt. It has a faux button placket and fits me perfectly. Pretty good way to end the year – I just need to master the bodice stuff now! Hurry up with Tops class pretty please Brooks Ann!
You know what is super interesting and has only occurred to me after writing this; the things I made after my little break have all become my most worn makes! I guess it just shows you, there’s always something positive to be taken from a bad situation, or as Dumbledore much more eloquently puts it: “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
On that note, welcome to 2020 folks. I’m busy writing my 20 for 2020 and planning out my sewing for the first few months as my sewjo is back with a vengeance. Hope to share that with you all soon.
xxx
