Monday 6 January 2014

Happy New Year!




Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone has had a relaxing and fun break over the holidays.  I had planned to do a round-up post as I've so enjoyed reading all the Top 5 posts, started by Gillian of Crafting a Rainbow (thanks Gillian!  However as you can probably guess from the above photo I've been a bit preoccupied! Let me introduce our new arrival.  Our little baby is just the best and most perfect creation I could ever have imagined and I'm absolutely besotted with him!

Looking back over this year's posts I'm pleasantly surprised to see how much I've made, especially considering I haven't done any sewing for months.  This year I've made 3 dresses, 4 skirts, 4 tops, and 2 t-shirts, plus 2 baby blankets as presents (using Handmade Jane's great tutorial).  My most worn makes are the 'sailing I am sailing' scout tee, Wildwood Flower skirt, and my two Kirsten Kimono tees - here and here.  The stripy Kimono tee is already in the bin as I wore and washed it loads and the fabric didn't really last.  The bird one has a few stains on it - I suppose I better get used to that now haha! So I need to get to making some more t-shirts soon. There are only a few things I've made which haven't been worn much so I think that's pretty good going - the Winter Ginger doesn't fit great and I just don't think it's quite my style even though I love the fabric.  My Spring-time Elisalex was a great learning experience but I cut it too short and ruined the effect of the shape.  I'm so pleased I make things I wear a lot and am proud of myself for successfully taking part in Me Made May and wearing me-mades every day (my Flickr set from May).  New techniques I learned include lining a bodice (on the Elisalex) and french seams (on my Scout Tees and Tiny Pocket Tank).  

All in all this year has been a great learning year for me with sewing and a very eventful year in our lives.  As well as welcoming our wee one we also bought our first home and moved in the summer, on one of the hottest days of the year and with me 6 months pregnant!

So no big round up post here, instead I'll set out a few aims for 2014 - but I'll not be to hard on myself if I don't get round to them!

1. Andrea and Gail have started a Stash Diet which sounds great to me! It's quite loose which suits me as I don't really have many fabrics for making clothes for Harris and I'm sure I'm going to want to buy some! Anyway I'll lay out my Stash Diet rules in another post.

2. Take part in some sew-alongs.  However, so this doesn't clash with the Stash Diet I'm only going to do this if I already have the pattern or suitable fabric for a theme (such as the Sewcialists Pink April)

3. 2013 involved a lot of repeats of patterns and that is going to continue this year as my sewing time will be very limited.  I'd like to make some more Scout tees, have another go at the Elisalex, try and make a few Anna's for the summer, and maybe even attempt some Juniper trousers though I realise that's probably being very over ambitious!

4. Make something every month, whether for baby, for me, or for the house

5. Of course most importantly I'd love to start making some clothes for baby!



23 comments:

  1. Congratulations again! Harris is beautiful. I am impressed you plan to make clothes for him. I never made any clothes for my son. Is that bad? Great aims for this year. I look forward to seeing what you make!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Helen. Well, we'll see how many clothes I actually make for Harris! Though if Made by Rae does another Celebrate the Boy week this year that might help!

      Delete
  2. What a gorgeous boy - looking forward to seeing what you make for him :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jacq. He was a Halloween baby so there will definitely need to be a fancy dress costume!

      Delete
  3. Aaww Harris is gorgeous! Good work Kathryn. He's definitely you r best make of the year

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh he is so cute!!! Oliver and S have some cute patterns for boys, and Made by Rae has a couple great basic pants patterns. Can't wait to see what you sew up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kelly. I've already printed off the free trouser pattern from Made By Rae so I'm planning to give that a go this month.

      Delete
  5. What a cutie! 2013 was a heck of a year for you! I'm excited you'll be joining the Stash Diet :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw thanks Morgan! I'm sure I'll find some fabric and patterns for the swap too.

      Delete
  6. Congratulations on the best make for 2013! Can't wait to see what you make this year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kirsty! I always look forward to your makes too!

      Delete
  7. He is the cutest, and I am so happy for you! Looking forward to follow along in 2014 too! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a darling, perfect creation Harris is - congratulations, and wow that was a big year. I hope 2014 is a wonderful and very happy yet for your family :)

    Some issues of burdastyle magazine have brilliant baby / kids patterns - and the fit is really good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Gabrielle! I'll need to keep a look out for Burdastyle magazines. I have a lovely pattern book that Merche sent me so I'm looking forward to doing something from that too.

      Delete
  9. Congrats Kathryn! Awwwww Harris is such a cutie! Really looking forward to seeing him model the clothes you will be making for him!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Erin! I'm going to have to get a better camera as all I'm using at the moment is my iphone and Harris definitely deserves a 'real' camera!

      Delete
  10. Aw Kathryn, he is adorable! Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing your makes for him and yourself this year :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Late, as usual. Your "make" is the best make anybody could ever think of. Harris is the cutest!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Merche! I'm looking forward to using the lovely pattern book you sent me!

      Delete
  12. Aww Kathryn he's adorable! congratulations xxx

    ReplyDelete