As with any anniversary I tend to get extremely sentimental and reflective. I feel so blessed to have sewing as a hobby that I'm SO passionate about. Ok, I 'm absolutely obsessed with it but you know you are too (wink)! I'm delighted to use have the ability to work on projects that help to improve my skills and help me get one hour closer to reaching my TEN THOUSAND SEWING HOURS goal!!! And I love the notion of giving back and using my skills to make garments for other people or even inspire them. Sigh.......needless to say my heart is very happy and I'm so excited for what the next year will bring. I hope it's full of many more challenges and that I grow tremendously as I strive to hone my craft.
I love the projects I've been taking on but I definitely want to push myself more next year. I'd love to get to the point where I'm getting 2 projects done a week or 3 within a 2 week period. I'd love to stock my closet full of pants and jackets I've made myself. And I want to do much more sewing for my little girl. Those are just a few of the goals I'll be pursuing in the next year. So please expect bigger and better things as I try to raise the bar a little higher this year.
Ok, enough with all of the mushiness (smile)! To commemorate this milestone, you know me, I LOVE to give things away!!! Tis' ALWAYS better to give than to receive.
This year's giveaway is a SUPRISE!!!! Come on, you love those. Trust me, it will be nice. I'll announce exactly what it is by the end of the week.
To qualify for the Giveaway you need only do 2 things:
1. Become a follower if you're not already.
2. Answer the question below.
Question: What sewing related skill have you greatly improved on this year and which skill(s) are you planning to improve on next!
That's it!!! Plain and Simple! I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, December 7th.
My Answer: I feel like this year I've really improved in my ability to fit myself. I like to wear alot of fitted dresses and tops so the skill of pattern tweeking is a necessity for me. I've recognized the common fitting issues I have with commercial patterns so it's easier now to go ahead and correct the issue on the pattern before I even do a tissue fit or muslin. I used to really stress about the fitting but I really feel at ease with it now and feel much more comfortable fitting dresses, skirts, and shirts. Where I'd like to improve my fitting is with pants. Although I've sewn a few pairs of pants before, I'm still working to tweak the fit perfectly on them. I hope by this time next year that fitting pants won't even make me break a sweat!!! I also want to make several jackets so I can make them flawlessly.
Ok, that's it for me. Thanks again for visiting and following along with me. I'm looking forward to another exciting year of sewing!!!!
I'm already a follower..
ReplyDeleteI'm really a sewing noob so I've had improvements all around. I'd have to say over the past year my attention to detail has improved, and I'm more mindful of what I'm doing. I've learned how to match patterns and make hems straight, I've also learned about placement of darts, and a little about tailoring (thanks to "sewing club"). Actually this monthly sewing "club" that I've gone to only twice now has seriously improved my sewing. Just goes to show that having a teacher can help!
Hopefully I can start to perfect fit over the next year, then I won't need those tailoring skills so much!
Congratulations on two years of blogging. You are such an inspiration with your positive attitude and your lovely creations. I haven't made great strides in my sewing this year as I have mostly been sewing my TNT patterns. It is time to branch out again and develop some new TNTs. One area I have improved is in using other stitches on my serger besides the 4 thread stitch. I have discovered that the 2 and 3 thread stitches can make a nice narrow finish to an edge. I've also gotten better at adjusting my coverstitch machine for different fabrics. Thanks for the chance to participate.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary, been so nice having you around. I will say I have improved my fitting skill, especially skirt and dress, with both, I know exactly where to add or subtract tissue.I am about 90% with pants fitting with minor issues here and there. Like every other person I am still a WIP and I hope to improve my skill in the coming year.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty certain I'm a follower, but you are definetly in my Google reader, so hopefully that counts...
ReplyDeleteI have greatly improved my free motion quilting skills. In fact, I had never even tried it until this year, and now I am rather good.
I would like to learn to better alter patterns- like to adjust for my sway back, or grade out from small shoulders to too big tummy. I can make things that look close to rtw but they have all the same issues that make me hate rtw.
Happy Blogversary Victoria.
ReplyDelete+I am a follower, and proud of it! :-)
+I have improved in 2 main ways this year-one, I am sewing more items which contribute to my overall wardrobe plan. This season I am working in dark reds, browns and taupe. Secondly, I am continuing to work on stitch accuracy so my seams and topstitching are pretty.
+I am planning to work through some techniques in Couture Sewing by Claire Shaeffer
Happy Blogoversary! Two years are a long time and I am a follower of your blog since I found it in the net.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love to sew and I am sewing since 5 years. This year I learned to handle better different fabrics, I mean difficult fabrics like really thin silk and very thick faux furs.
Next year I will try to make perfect fitting pants. I have never sewn pants because I like to wear dresses and skirts. But now I will try.
Just left a comment and I think it was eaten! Happy anniversary. Just said that I think my overall level of competence has improved - but nothing dramatic. (Of course, it was more articulate in the eaten comment...)
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog. This year I think the skill I have improved is slowing down. Now maybe that isn't considered a skill by some, but it definitely has improved my sewing. Next year I want to improve fitting myself.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm probably your most distant follower (can you say it that way?) since I live in Finland! I found your blog a couple months ago and really enjoy to read your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteThis year I sew myself a swimming outfit a learned a lot about working with extreamly strechy materials. Next year I would like to become better in making winter outwear.
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI am already a follower but the skill I would like to work on this year is..... fastenings! Yes I fear zippers and buttons like they will give me the plague! ANd to make it worse, I no longer have my own comfortable machine but have to use my Mom's one that I am not familiar with :( Many a project have stopped because of these little items!
Fitting is also a skill but let's not scare myself too much at once :)
Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
Congratulations on Two years! I always love to see what you create!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary! I am so glad you blog!
ReplyDeleteI've greatly improved my fly fronts (still room for improvement though.)
I really need to understand invisible zipper insertion.
A mystery Christmas sewing surprise - how can I refuse to have a chance at peeking inside your pressie....
ReplyDelete#1 was way toooooooo easy - have been following you for awhile now, and enjoy your posts. 2 years - WOW!!! I am still on my 'L' plates in the blogging world.
#2 - Well, that really gets me reflecting doesn't it? Improved on...just seeing sewing in general for what it is - a great creative outlet in what would otherwise be a very busy life. The skill of just sewing in a very personal space and time is a skill in itself, no matter what level sewer you are.
Skills for next year would be to take the leap, become more adventurous and committing to challenges, not just watching from the side-line.
Happy 2nd Anniversary - looking forward to your 3rd, 4th, 5th...
Please count me out of the giveaway. Just wanted to wish you a happy blogoversary! I'm a quilter, so I've really stepped up on my cutting and piecing skills this year. Major growth there.
ReplyDeletePlus I learned two new methods -- thread painting and applique.
Happy blogoversary!!!!!!
Happy blog-anniversary! And, please, count me in, I like surprises! This year - mostly fitting. Next year and I believe all the years to come - to improve my stitching line (it`s never so straight as I want).
ReplyDeleteI have gotten faster... Much faster
ReplyDeleteI would like to learn how to correctly line garments. I am a bit of a 'rigger'. I want to be able to take off jackets and not be ashamed
2 years! Awesome and congrats!! I love the idea of a mystery giveaway - don't be too surprised if I steal it...
ReplyDeleteI think the thing I have improved on the most this year is fitting, and giving myself permission to make a muslin and take the time up front to get a good fit instead of just running with scissors, as it were. This coming year I am determined to make a tailored jacket - padstitching and the whole nine yards. We'll see how it goes...
I gotten much better at finishing my seams. BIG thing...I've become obsessed with making the inside of my garments look as good as the outside.
ReplyDeleteI, now, have to work on fit. It's tough making a dress when your bottom is 3 sizes larger than your top.
I too have reached a higher level of skill in fitting myself. It makes such a difference to wear well fitted clothes. Much reading and research in books, on dvd's and on the internet has helped. Plus, a custom fit body form was crucial!!
ReplyDeleteIn the coming year I would like to improve on my execution of the shirt collar with a band. I've been reading a lot of different methods to get it perfect and I find the method shown in the dvd that comes with Sandra Betzina's book Power Sewing Toolbox 1 very intriguing. I'm trying it on my very next project!!
Congratulations on your blogoversary! And, even more, congratulations on your improvement in fitting skills! :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Gwen
i am a newbie so zipper insertion is a big accomplishment to me. i hope to improve on my drafting skills.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversay!!!
ReplyDeleteI am a follower :)
I have improved on my sewing skills of "Patience" which I see makes a big difference in my finishing. Next year, I plan to be more productive in my output.
Until then, remember to be CREATIVE!!! :)
I am already a follower.
ReplyDeleteI think that I have greatly improved my ability to alter patterns to fit my body. I'm still tweeting my pants TNT. My dress sloper is a good fit at this point. I think I have a good pants sloper to work with. I hope to continue to improve my fitting and sewing skills in the new year.
Happy Blogiversary!!! and congrats on your sewing milestones. As for me, I have improved on my zipper installation and also feeling that I have finally found the right fit for pants.... at least for Simplicity 4273, the true calling will be when I try another pattern and be able to make the same alterations and achieve a great fit as well.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Victoria! Reading your blog has been so inspirational. This year I am finally becoming comfortable inserting invisible zippers. Next year I hope to stop running from collars with a stand,.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the Blogoversary! I'm a follower! I think this year I have become better at and more confident with my pattern making!
ReplyDeleteI have been following you for a while, although I do not comment very often but you have peeked my interest with the surprise gift giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteI was intimidated by zippers and would make my skirts with an elastic waist to avoid putting one in. However, I think I have finally come to master it (saying this with tongue in cheek-cause I do not think you can truly master any sewing technique). What I want to get a handle on is fitting myself- I have a friend who sews also and she is always getting on me about making my clothing too big. I am a plus sized woman and do not like my clothing tight and she says I overdo it.
I really enjoy following your blog, so thank you for sharing your sewing adventures and congratulations on this milestone!
ReplyDeleteThis year I spent a lot of time perfecting a fitting shell/sloper. Once I got it to fit just right, I then figured out how I would use it on other patterns to get a personalized fit. It was challenging and time consuming, but very interesting and useful. I promptly got pregnant and haven't been able to use it since the summer, but at least I've had the experience and I'll be able to do it again.
Good luck with your upcoming goals. As my mother always says--you can do anything you set your mind to.
Congrats on 2 years of blogging. Love to see what dresses you make as I am frequently picking out the exact same patterns !
ReplyDeleteAs for skills, I have been sewing a long time so can do most anything, but my resolution for next year is pants. Ok I can sew them fine, it's the fitting, eek. so my goal is perfectly fitting pants.
Emailed comment:
ReplyDeleteHey Vic...it's Jennifer Casey. So I took the time and wrote out a comment, and then blogger won't let me post it! UGH! I have been having a lot of issues with this lately! Anyway...here was my comment!
Congrats! I can't believe it has been 2 years! I have gotten much faster at garment construction, learned more about using my serger (rolled hems and such), have become more concious about my choices for what to make (what is going to be flattering and useful in my wardrobe), and apart from garment construction I have really learned a lot about embroidery and applique with my embroidery machine.
Things I want to work on this year...1. I want to make more garments. This year was a bit of a bust because I was too busy with graduating and getting married. 2. Learn more about fitting. 3. Learn more about techniques that will make my clothing come out better (i.e. correct use of interfacing, techniques, etc.)
Have a happy blogoversary!
Sorry I couldn't post it on your site! :(
Congrats Victoria. Two years is a long time to be commitment to sharing your sewing journal. Well done.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary!! Good luck with your giveaway!!!
ReplyDelete