Plans for 2013

For 2013 I have decided that I want to be a better blogger.  2012 was a bust with blogging so I will definitely try to do better this year.  It’s something that I miss, and it’s a great way of tracking what I actually accomplish in the course of the year.  I was freaked out when I saw the amount of posts I actually accomplished last year.  It was just pitiful.  **Note to self, schedule more time for me and not everyone else.**

Here are a few of my sewing goals for 2013 so far.  The list might grow as the year progresses, but right now, this is what is on my mind:

 Work more from Burda patterns.  I think I say this every year and I'm doing better, but this year I really want to sew even more from my stash of Burda magazines.  I am going to commit to making at least one pattern every other month.  If I can make one every month that would even be better.  The directions are spotty but if you have a fairly good sewing background, you can muddle through.  The patterns are very well drafted and the fit is spot on for me.  To show you that I mean business, the first pattern I worked on for 2013 on New Years Day was, 9/2012, No. 107/109 which I wore to work on Wednesday.

My review is coming up in an upcoming post, but here is a sneak peek.

I would like to sew more for others.  I did a little bit more of that last year and the people that I got a chance to work with were fun to sew for.  I liked doing it because it educated me on the different types of shapes that people have and it really made me think.  It was kind of cool learning to work with a different shape that was not mine.  I’m working on a coat for my mother right now.  I think I mentioned the coat in my last post.  It is McCall 6456, View B.  

I’ve been working the pattern out in my head and the placement of the fabric.  I have already made one fabric change during the thought process, but I think I like it even more now than before.  

The other side of the quilted mosaic print looks like this

 I’m almost ready to get started. After the coat is complete I’m going to work on a hat and Henley shirt for Mr. D.  His birthday is coming up in February and I’d like to have these 2 items done in time for that, we’ll see.  I also have an unfinished coat that I started for myself last year that I want to finally get completed.

I only need to sew the lining sleeves to the lining of the coat and do the finishing touches.  I don't know why it has taken me so long to finish it up when I'm actually in the home stretch.

 I was looking through my wardrobe the other day assessing it for what I actually need and don't need.  For the past year and a half or so I've been making my clothes and not buying from the store unless I really had to.  It has been working out very well for me and it feels good knowing that I can actually put clothes on my back that look decent and well made.  I feel that the the quality in clothing in the stores has gone down and the pricing is just ridiculous.  And, unless the item is purchased in a high-end store, boutique, Jones of New York, Talbots, The Loft, etc., you really have to look through the racks for something worthwhile to purchase.  Anyway, after assessing my closet, I think it's lacking in the jacket category. For me that's good because I’d like to focus more on making more tailored/structured and labor intensive garments.  I love the easy stuff, but I also like working on projects that make me think and work a little extra harder. The benefits in the end make me feel really good about myself knowing I was able to accomplish what I set out to do.

Another major goal for me in 2013 is that I have to try and cut back on buying fabric and work more from my stash.  I think I say this every year, but I really mean it this year.  I swear I have a warehouse to shop from right in my own home and I don’t really need anything except for the occasional zipper, bias binding, snap, etc.  So, unless I can’t find it in the house, I’m going to make do with what I have.  I think this should also count for pattern shopping as well, because I'm starting to notice that is starting to get out of hand as well, and I need to slow down.  I have a subscription to Burda, but hey, that’s something I’m already signed up for and the issues have been pretty good lately, so I’ll leave that alone.  Plus, their patterns seem to be pretty much on trend for what I'm seeing on the runway or close to it anyway.

I want to work on doing a little designing/pattern making.  I don’t know what I’ll accomplish in the coming year, but anything is good on that front even if it’s copying something I see browsing online or in the fashion magazines.  I also want to make use of the classes that I purchased on Craftsy.  That site is blowing up with some really good classes I want to make use of.

In knitting and crochet thoughts, I have a few things (2 sweaters one knit and the other crochet and a Dr. Who scarf for a girlfriend) that I need to finish up that I started at the end of the year before the holidays.  After I finish them, I can sit down and start working on some ideas that have been muddling around in my head.  

Aside from these thoughts the only other thing that's been on my mind is losing some weight. I did so well last year until I gained it back. Well, I plan on jumping back on the bandwagon this weekend.

That’s it for now, but I’m sure as I think of something, I’ll add it to the list.  What are some of you planning for this year?  I'd love to hear what you're got planned.

Happy New Year and Happy Crafting!!