No, the turn of the calendar won't miraculously turn any of us into someone brand new. It won't change the core of our character or anything like that. But I certainly believe that there is power in new beginnings. How many times have we told ourselves "tomorrow's a new day"?? Is not accurate just because it is :) It's really a new opportunity!
Personally, this year is FULL of positive, exciting, life changing (mostly for other people but I get the benefit of sharing in their joy!) events. Weddings, graduations, starting college (My baby!)...2015 was so hard and full of low points. I'm really looking forward to this fresh slate!
What does that mean sewing wise? Well, a sewing room reorganization to start.
I scored this IKEA 4x4 Expedit shelve with all 16 bins for $50! It was a great deal and even though I don't want to use all of the bins they will come in handy for some basement storage.
Clear bins on top: These will store mending, UFOs (which I don't generally have a lot of) and possibly my small yarn stash (we'll see)
Row 1; Prints: Suiting, light weight wovens, medium/heavy knits, light weight knits
Row 2; solids: same order as above
Row 3; empty slot will have more suiting (I have a lot!), denim (there's more), more solid ponte, lace & mesh
Row 4; woven scraps, knit scraps, fabric for muslins , nice fabric (e.g. not muslin fabric) that isn't for clothing for myself (fabric earmarked for PJs or something for the kids)
This is not my entire stash. The rest is in storage bins in the basement. When I moved into the living room, I hated my fabric all being in the basement but had no money to put into any storage solutions. Eventually I brought up a plastic shelf and brought up some fabrics that were intended for upcoming projects. When the seasons changed, i rotated those out to include more seasonally appropriate stuff.
Now, I will probably always keep the coating stash in a bin as it's all so thick and I have several 3-4 yard cuts. I will bring up the rest of the suiting and denim...
The new cutting area!
When my husband asks if I need a ____ from the school, I almost always reply "YES!". He mentioned later that I wasn't using the table and I let him know that I'd find a use for it and now...boom!
It rises to counter height so it's now my "support" table for cutting. I can keep all the clutter off of the cutting table now and be able to use the full surface all the time.
2 baskets for upcoming projects
bin for scissors
basket for pattern weights
basket for measuring tapes and a seam gauge
basket for rotary cutters
cart for random stuff related to cutting (haha!)
On the wall is the cool little Singer wall hanging that I got on clearance one day at Hancock. I am so cheap so spending $12 was a LOT but I loved it so much that I had to have it. The hooks are too big to hang the rulers from (which is what I was thinking initially), so it's mostly decorative.
I had to update my up-close pic after thinking to hang my French curve!
In the next month or so I'll buy a few sets of sheers to hang but I am loving sewing right in front of the window. THE LIGHT!!!!! Eeek!
Task lighting on the table and the small lap on the bookcase puts out quite a bit of light. The cart under table has serger thread and then randomness (some cleaning still needs to happen).
The bookcase is a WIP.
I have an open bin with elastics and one with zippers and will bring up my bias tapes. I also have a tackle box with buttons, hook & eyes, etc.
I also plan to hang the thread racks.
The pressing station
The lamp there is the main room lighting. It's a very bright daylight bulb. The steamer was also a score from my husband's job.
The seam roll, ham, spray bottle and bottle used to refill the iron...and then chalk liner, snips, scissors, interfacing, steam a seam, Wonder Tape...all that good stuff.
The 2nd shelf needs cleaning to make room for notions and underneath are patterns that need to make their way downstairs to the file cabinets.
Aaaaand then there's what you don't see! Hahaha!
This living room is so huge!
In this pic I'm standing with my back right against the ironing board.
I plan to make a small seating area - nothing formal - probably two comfy chairs and table or a futon or something.
Whew! That was an epic New Year's Day project!
Goals
Patterns:
I am a pattern stasher. There. :) I have lots of storage and now that I have the file cabinets the pattern stash doesn't feel so out of control. I still want to buy thoughtfully though.
There was a time where I nearly bought every pattern in a new release. Now it's much easier to cherry pick what I actually like and/or want to sew.
I plan to try more of my Style Arc patterns and to sew SOMETHING from the handful of Jalie patterns I have.
Fabric:
I will definitely be buying less fabric this year. I'm just too budget strapped to do much stashing. I really want to keep sewing down the stash a bit but won't discount buying fabric for specific projects. For example, I really wanted to sew another version of S1364 but couldn't really find anything that I WANTED to use for it.
Budget:
I will probably sit down tomorrow and figure my new personal budget and decide what will be allocated for sewing.
Skills/Plans:
1) I enjoy wearing floaty tops (chiffon, charmeuse, etc) but I decided to abandon those fabrics because UGH! But I like wearing them!!! :)
I "solved" that issue by sewing with rayon challis. But every single time I sew solid-colored challis it's a disaster. So I may as well give it a shot with what I really want to use. I can see a few silk blouses in my wardrobe! :)
2) I need to conquer my anxiety and sew a blazer!!!! I was too overwhelmed by the Burda. There were a gazillion pattern pieces and I just put it all away. I really want/need a black blazer and know that I can buy something but the fit won't be right. I need to make one.
3) Sew at least 6 Burda patterns in 2016; not necessarily from new issues. Just to ensure I am using the collection
4) Sew a prom dress :-O eek! She's settled on a shape that's almost a dead ringer for a pattern from one of the Burda wedding dresses. There's a couple of McCall's/Vogues that I would prefer but I had my prom already ;-)
I'm going to start the muslin sometime later this month.
5) Make pajamas! I have amassed a nice bit of stash to be used to make pj's but have I? nope. And then I bought those from Target and loved that they were rayon and pretty prints but they don't have enough butt room! :) I need a full butt adjustment! This is continuation of my defunct loungewear plan.
6) Sew a summer wardrobe that I actually want to wear! I hate summer for clothing. Weird, I know. I prefer fall. Love fall. I always feel over or under dressed or I spend the entire summer wearing the same 3 dresses.
I plan to have the prom dress finished by mid-April and then I will start sewing a summer wardrobe; for work and play. I need dresses, shorts, ankle-length pants and tops.
Overall, I predict a slow down in output mainly because of 'big events'.
*I'll spend who knows how long on the prom dress and prom is the first week of May
*I plan to go to Pattern Review weekend which is the second week of May
*June is graduation/grad party
*July is my birthday and a wedding
*August is my husband's (40th) birthday, another wedding and MOVE IN DAY! for college
And then hopefully after all that I can churn out a trench coat to be used for fall.
