So, on the last day of the year I like to look back upon some of my favourite sewing creations/outfits/pictures for the year, one for each month…
January
Some stats:
Number of garments made; 73 items, counting each set of 1 bra + 2 undies as one item. This includes 15 items that I made for family.
Knitted garments; 5
Garments re-fashioned from old clothes; 8
The same number of items that entered my wardrobe also exited my wardrobe, so I’m holding steady on numbers there. I ruthlessly got rid of a few things that didn’t get worn at all this year, and I’m getting better at letting go of really old things that are past their best, yay! There’s still room for improvement there, though 🙂
Also, this year I took a picture of my ootd every day and totted up the totals. Why? because stats are very dear to my analytical little heart 🙂 This year 95.6% of the clothing I wore was made by me. This includes all my underwear, socks and hosiery. Woot!
The remainder comprises scarves given to me by family, and my old MetalicusTshirts and Country Road cardigans that I still love and cannot bear to part with.
I have eschewed buying RTW for 5 years now. Yay!
Favourites: top place just has to go to my Alabama Chanin ensemble. I’m HUGELY proud of this outfit, and feel very sort of high-end and couture-y when I’m wearing it. Funny I know, since the fabrics are quite humble and ordinary in themselves and it is not extraordinarily eye-catching upon a casual glance. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it 🙂 I also really adore both my Swedish dress and my blue ray dress.
Probably the biggest thing for me this year has been that I made for myself shoes! two pairs of rudimentary shoes, or maybe three counting my slippers? OK then, just two 😉 They’re certainly not the most wonderful shoes in the world but I feel pretty proud of them and want to make a few more pairs sometime.
Just for the record though, I’m definitely not giving up buying RTW shoes. Gotta leave myself something!
Fails… haha, well there were a few less than fantabulous moments in there, ahem. Some honourable mentions:
My pale coffee jeans, which sadly turned out to be beige slacks after all. The fabric felt weirdly stiff and crackly and plasticky against my skin, and there was a slight camel toe issue that I worked on a couple of times but which remained stubbornly unfixable. Binned.
My leatherette baseball skirt; it’s the second leatherette skirt I’ve made that never felt right. I think maybe leatherette skirts are not very me. Fortunately, Cassie took a shine to it and it now lives in her wardrobe. She’s worn it several times too, so yay! Handballed.
My raspberry Alabama Chanin tank dress. I already covered the problems in the blog post. It’s in the process of being hopefully improved upon and fabulous-ifed as we speak. Working on it.
I enjoyed keeping my daily outfit blog and I think I may still continue doing it again next year. The photos are not super high quality, definitely of the no frills variety; but I’m OK with that since it’s just like a quick visual thing for me to see how my outfit actually looks from an outside eye. That’s a very helpful thing sometimes. Some days I find an ensemble especially pleasing to me, which is good. Other times I’ve realised that the outfit I’ve been wearing all day is actually pretty meh, if not downright awful. *sigh*
So that’s it for another year! I’d like to send out a huge mushy thank you to everyone who reads my blog and who takes the time to comment, thank you! It’s not so long ago when sewing my own clothes felt like a very lonely hobby. So I’m hugely grateful to have “met’ so many lovely and inspiring like-minded creatives… and yay! for the internets for enabling us to connect and support and cheer each other on.
See you all in 2015!
Good morning,
i like it all, especially the may 🙂
Have a good year
Christine
A very impressive output for the year. My very favourite is the Alabama Chanin ensemble. I love the colour and marvel at your patience. Wishing you a happy and productive year in 2015.
All the best for 2015 Carolyn and thanks for sharing your fabulous creativity, you have made some really stunning outfits during the year!!
Great post! You're such a successful sewer who always shines in own made clothes. I wish many many happy things will come to you and to your family in 2015.
A vintage year for your sewing, Carolyn! I too love the Alabama Chanin pieces – beautiful in every way. Wishing you a very happy 2015 x
The ultimate calendar girl! I like April best.
Happy new year to you. Thanks for sharing all the fantastic outfits. I love how you reuse old chlothes to make new ones. I think my favourites are april and september though.
Happy New Year ~ 2014 was a great sewing/creative year, and 2015 will be even better …. J
Another impressively productive year. I like the white dress (May) in particular, but if I were offered any of your makes I would be thrilled. Also, I am impressed by your avoidance of RTW for so long! Well done, and I wish you a very happy and productive 2015.
HNY to you, I look forward to all your makes in 2015.
Hi Carolyn !
I'm always impressed by your talent and creativity!
My favourite for 2014 is your blue-ray dress. This is a great success for me (but I think this is mainly because blue is my favourite colour…)
Happy New Year 2015 !
What an impressive list of sewing accomplishments! Wishing you a wonderful New Year!
Dear Carolyn, you are a sewing idol!! It's always a joy for me to see what you've made and read your blog post about it. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year!
As always, you are such an inspiration! Look forward to seeing what you make in 2015! Meanwhile, have a very Happy New Year!
Such a productive and beautiful year! I truly enjoy your blog, so glad you are keeping it up again this coming year. I learn so much from you!
your quantity is remarkable but the quality is what draws me in. Thanks for sharing your sewing and I look forward to what you come up with in 2015. Happy New Year !
Happy New Year Carolyn!
Than you for being a CONSTANT source of inspiration Carolyn! Happy New Year my dear friend!
Enjoy your style and blog. Happy 2015 New Years!
Great , I wish you a very happy new year !!!! KISS
Happy New Year Carolyn! I look forward to another year of your fabulous makes.
Happy 2015, Carolyn! You made some amazing clothes this year – look forward to next years creations!
Happy New Year to you! So glad to have found you because you are a constant inspiration to me!
Happy New Year ! I have loved seeing your amazing creativity during 2014 and am really glad you are continuing on in 2014. Your photos are great, you have an eye for interesting but uncomplicated backgrounds that allow the subject (you) to shine in the image.
Here's to an amazing 2015 to you and yours, Carolyn! 😀 😀 😀
Happy New Year Carolyn. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful creations during 2015.
I enjoyed reading your blog and seeing all your creations this year 🙂
Happy new year – thanks for being an awesome source of inspiration and a gracious visitor to my little bloggy corner! 🙂
Happy New Year – you have made some great pieces in 2014.
thanks for all the posts, – so very very inspiring – i am still amazed that you took on making the shoes and they look fantastic! looking forward to what comes next! Happy new year
Happy New Year! I have adored reading your blog and watching you create. So inspiring and creative! Thanks for sharing your journey with me, Carolyn. I want to be you when I grow up!
Happy New Year Carolyn. I have loved reading your journey through 2014, charted in sewing and clothes and look forward to seeing where the thread will take you in next.
May 2015 bring out the best in our sewing world……best wishes Carolyn for another year in inspiring us to keep at it!
You have picked loads of my favourites too. I think the patch ones are the ones I like the best. Just genius. Jo x
Happy new year! I've loved seeing all your makes this year buy if I had to pick favourites I think the patchwork pink tshirt and the White dress with patchwork would be up there! Looking forward to seeing more of your makes in 2015!
Showing the year in review really highlights the fact that you have a defined and lovely style! Can't wait to see what next year brings! Happy New Year!
Your blue ray dress is just divine! One of my all time favorites from you. Happy 2015!
Happy New Year! Looking forward for another year of great and inspiring creations! Speaking of which, I was so impressed by your Alabama Chanin garments that I decided to give it a go 🙂
Thank you for sharing your makes all year. They've been a little burst of bright and inspiration.
And how did you get your co-model to pose so well? She is WELL trained.
Here's to a great 2015 🙂
Happy new year Carolyn! Your makes are always so inspiring. And I am always on the hunt for sweater bobble fabric now. One day I'll find it!
Happy New Year Carolyn. I have enjoyed looking at all your wonderful creations throughout the year and I love the way you have developed your own unique style. Your blog is inspirational. Can't wait to see what 2015 brings.
Wow, you make so much! The OOTD blog is a good idea. Might do that myself (or not) 🙂 Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Carolyn and what a year you have had. Impressive amount of garments and love seeing your creativity and unique style. I look forward to following along in 2015.
I love your blog and adore Alabama Chanin. Having said that, July's top pick makes me swoon. That dress is an absolute stunner on you and my personal pick of the year. AC was a close second.
Your blog is one of my must reads; you are so gifted.
thank you so much Mary! 🙂
I especially love your April Trench!
Such a wonderfully productive year! May 2015 be as good
Everything you made is beautiful! Here's to more beautiful garments in 2015!
I love your January make! I was inspired by it when I saw it and made my own version in late 2014. I tried to find this post so I could link back and couldn't! It made me doubt my memory. But there it is, in all it's gorgeousness.
I can't believe you didn't include your Magicka robe, anywhere in this post. Such a find for moms of kids all ages. Making my 31 yo one now, thanks to the link you posted. He doesn't play, but he likes what he sees 🙂 Can't wait to see what you do in 2015. Love your posts.
You had a great 2014! I always love seeing the variety you make. Here's to a great 2015!
Very interesting blog. A lot of blogs I see these days don't really provide anything that attract others, but I'm most definitely interested in this one. Just thought that I would post and let you know.