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New Year Resolutions - Update 2

In this post I made some crafting resolutions for 2021, and in this post I followed up on them - as the year is now very rapidly drawing to a close I thought it would be good to check in on those resolutions! 


1. A new project: making myself clothes

Back in January I was determined to start making myself clothes, and I think it is safe to say I have nailed that one!

Katharine, a fat white woman with long brown hair, looks into camera wearing a half finished blue pinafore
My current work-in-progress: another York Pinafore dress in this gorgeous swimmers fabric

I have now made myself two pinafores, two dresses, a skirt and one top, as well as adapting ill-fitting shop-bought garments. I've also made several garments for my kids and an apron for a friend.

Katharine, a fat white woman with long brown hair, takes a selfie in the mirror. She's wearing a white top with one sleeve attached which she's showing off with an outstretched arm. She's smiling happily

Working on my first top, the Ashton, and very pleased that I got sleeves to fit!


2. Finishing something: cross-stitch

Partial success here. I did finish the embroidery for my friend's son, a little later than his 7th birthday but only by a month or so. But my original plan to finish my wedding sampler will not get done, as between now and the end of the year I have to finish the #JDQBS embroidery as well as Christmas sewing.

A completed cross stitch sampler lying flat. The embroidery is brightly coloured and features boats, a train and small animals


3. Learning new skills: dressmaking

I have definitely learned a lot of new skills while pursuing goal 1 of making myself clothes! I've become much more confident in a variety of aspects of sewing, although I still feel like a total beginner and have a long way to go! Next up I plan to learn more about pattern alterations and getting a really good fit. I'm keen to have a go at drafting my own patterns and making myself 'blocks', standard templates customised to my size that I can use to create different styles of bodice or skirt.

Fabric squares laid out on a table

In my original New Year's Resolutions post I mentioned learning about quilting and making a quilt from my daughters' baby clothes. I have started to work on this now, the photo shows my most recent test of design - I'm finding the colour combinations are the hardest thing to get right! In the example above I don't like how the two orange squares at the top draw the eye upwards so I'm going to replace them.


4. #StashDown

Nope. Big fail. Now I have to say this isn't a fail because I keep buying fabric, but because people have got wind of my hobby and keep giving me more fabric! Old duvet covers, aprons, clothes - and recently a friend of my mother-in-law was clearing out her stash and I ended up with a huge pile of beautiful fabric! Oh well, I can't really complain!

A pile of different fabrics, laid on the floor. There are multiple colours and textures including pale pastels and dark wools

Some lovely additions to my stash courtesy of someone else doing #StashDown!


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