New Year, New Sewing Goals!

 Maybe you make sewing resolutions, maybe you don't! If you do, there are a few ways to approach sewing resolutions. You might want to think about these questions when deciding on your sewing goals for 2022.

1. What do you want or need? This can provide direction for creativity or identify gaps in your sewing knowledge or wardrobe.
2. What have you learned from previous successes and failures? If you have UFOs, why are they unfinished? Maybe it's time to put that UFO back on your to-do list.
3. What values are important to you? Are you working towards a capsule wardrobe? A more ethical one? Are you on a budget? Working within your personal constraints can paradoxically provide opportunities for greater growth.
4. What do you wear all the time? Are you interested in copycat sewing?
5. What types of things do you really LOVE making? What do you dislike making? If you hate making pants, you don’t have to put them on your list just to feel like you conquered some new technique.
6. Are you influenced by the seasons? Maybe your Make Nine list only includes summer patterns. Or winter woolens.
7. Look at your calendar. Time isn’t found, it’s made. How much time can you make for each of the projects on your list?
8. Do you want to stash-bust? Why or why not?
   
   
9. Is there a completely new-to-you type of project that you want to explore? 
10. Do you have time and patience to explore new techniques, fabrics, or styles?

1. MakeNine Challenge

You can adopt the #MakeNine Challenge that started life on Instagram as "Best Nine." In this challenge, sewists plan to make nine projects over the course of a year that is depicted in a 3x3 grid. The joy comes in being able to check off those projects as completed during the year or provide feedback for not completing a project. If you've been saving photos of patterns, fabric, or fashion inspiration, you can use one of these apps to help you refine your sewing project ideas. 

If you're not ready to commit to specific sewing patterns or projects, you can create your list of MakeNine Challenges by focusing on types of projects or project themes. This could give you more latitude to sew an A-line cotton skirt instead of a guipure lace skirt that requires couture-level techniques when you're not quite ready for that. Or maybe some Ghillie pants to use up sewing scraps.... Or maybe not. 

You can download a PDF from Home Row Fiber Co. for your projects here. Make Nine Worksheet

2. New Year's Resolutions

For this one, you create a list of what you want to accomplish in your sewing journey over the next year. You can listen to a podcast on sewing resolutions, read 

Reddit has a number of sewing resolutions that might hit uncomfortably close to home.

I will not start a sewing project three hours before I need to wear it for a special occasion.

I will not save every tiny scrap of fabric on the off chance that I "might be able to use it someday.”

I will actually pin everything, even if it’s “just one straight seam how hard could it be.”

I will not buy new fabric until I’ve at least started the project I bought the last fabric for.

I will actually check how much thread I have in my bobbin before I start sewing. Every. Single. Time.

I will make a muslin instead of wondering why all my projects suck don't turn out as I expected.

I will try to keep my sewing room neat. It doesn’t have to be spotless, but it does have to be navigable.

Using the questions posted above, you can develop sewing resolutions that work for you.

3. Too much fabric, too many patterns, and nothing to wear. Maybe you just need to sew with a plan (SWAP). Planning what to sew is just as important as resolutions or challenges. Maybe you have some special events coming up in 2022. Rather than waiting three hours before those special events to cut out and sew your projects 😂, you plan ahead and enjoy the sewing journey, unless you love those adrenaline-filled last-minute sewing projects. Anita by Designs discusses this on her blog and this approach to sewing might appeal to you. 

I love the concept of creating a sewing project kit. By keeping everything together in one location until I have a chance to sit down and sew, I create less opportunities to lose or misplace the small bits and pieces that I need to complete my project. For sewists who do production-style sewing, cutting everything out in advance and pulling projects to sew as you have time may be one way to accomplish more sewing.

You can download sewing planners from many locations simply by searching for "sewing planner." You can also purchase sewing planners on many online sites. Seamwork offers a visually appealing sewing planner for free. This sewist uses a bullet journal to track her sewing projects. 

However, no matter which system you decide to use to track your sewing goals or intentions this year, don't substitute organizing activities for actual sewing! 

If you have sewing intentions for 2022 or advice for other sewists, let us know in the comments! 

March Roundup, Make 9 Progress, Spring Fling, and More Sewing Randomness

I have promised to blog my sewing adventures to help cheer you along in your sewing journey.  First off, I know everyone says this, but, can you believe it is April? We have already blown through the first quarter of the year.  Jeez, I guess I better actually start thinking about starting my resolutions!

Spring Fling

The Spring Fling is a couple of weeks away and we are planning a fun one!  Have you sent in your reservation yet? Michele Parker is emceeing the event.  Austin McDonald from Fabric Place Basement is giving a speech titled “Some Assembly Required”.  A little birdie told me that Austin will also be bringing a couple gifts from the store as door prizes.

I will be filling you in on all of our plans for 5th Saturday events, and the 2019 challenge “Jacket Attack”. We will have our Spring Fling fashion show. Come ready to share your latest make! We will also have a table for a fabric swap, so bring in that piece of fabric in you stash that makes you ask yourself “Why did I buy this?”.

Make 9 Progress

I have now completed one garment in my make 9 fabric and am well on my way with the second fabric.  Fabric number two will be my Easter dress! It is a beautiful African Print wax fabric that I bought at G Street in my Spring fabric buying spree.  I am making the Cashmerette Upton dress. I have run into some problems with the bodice. The same problems I always have. I have a petite frame, with a big bust.  So I end up having to size up the bust, but size down the back and shoulders. In a sleeveless dress I also have to raise the armscye. I have had some issues, but I am getting there!

5th Saturdays

If you missed the 5th Saturday in March where Adrienne Bennett demonstrated embroidered buttons, you missed a fun time!  It was so surprising how truly unique and beautiful buttons can be constructed so quickly, and with not a lot of work. If you are not into hand embroidery, Adrienne also showed us some ideas for using an embroidery machine and flower foot on a regular sewing machine.

I hope that you can join us on June 29 for the Classmate Pouch Sew-a-long.  The class will be held at the Centreville Regional Library. Be on the lookout for a flyer coming to your inbox soon!

I am sure you have heard, but make sure you keep your calendars open for August 31 for our Quilts of Valor quilting bee.  We plan to have a grill out and lots of snacks to keep you energized as we make a quilt for a Veteran!

Sewing Randomness

The ASG will hold their Annual Conference in Danvers, Massachusetts on August 1-4.  Registration just opened up. Are you planning on attending? Let me know, maybe we can have a NOVA ASG dinner while we are there.

Stitch Sew Shop in Alexandria has moved to a new location at 1219 King Street.  I know Kalle is planning to load up that bigger space with lots of fabric and plenty of room for classes.

I know many of us follow sewing blogs.  Sadly, Vatsla Watkins from Fashion Behind the Seams passed away after having been missing for over a week.  I am not sure of all of the circumstances, but I do know that she has two small children.  My heart just breaks for the whole family. If you could, would you please send your prayers and good energy to her family?

Happy Sewing!

Rachel

Happy Sew Year! Are You Ready for The Make Nine Challenge?

The Make Nine photo collage is an Instagram phenomenon which posted users' "Best Nine" photos that received responses on Instagram. A group of yarn and fabric bloggers spearheaded by Rochelle of Home Row Fiber adapted this to become the "Make Nine Challenge" in 2016. 

The intent of the "Make Nine Challenge" is to move you to complete projects over an entire year. The Make Nine Challenge officially begins on January 1, 2019! 

Rochelle has some good advice for you:

This is a gentle challenge. It’s not one that you can fail. It’s meant to be flexible, a tool you can use to evaluate your motivations and needs for working towards specific things as the year goes on. This is meant to be a challenge focused on learning more about yourself and your making habits while achieving goals. Work at your own pace and join in at any time. – That’s it!

Questions to consider when you choose your projects: 

1. What do you want or need? Be forgiving about pattern choice, but get specific about what you want or need to make this year.
2. What is important to you on this sewing journey? There are many ways to categorize your nine projects: specific patterns from your stash; techniques you want to practice or incorporate into your projects; Craftsy classes you've purchased but haven't watched, let alone do sew-alongs; maybe even new sewing books you haven't read....This can be an adventure or it can be something more practical. It's all up to you. 
3. What do you love making? What do you hate making? There's no point in creating something that doesn't give you pleasure (even if it's a #failure in the end----it's still learning!).   
4.  Is there a technique, sewing niche, or style you'd like to explore? If you have the time and patience to explore, knowing it may not be something you like or wear in the end, this is a wonderful opportunity to grow and improve.

If you're up for this challenge, which begins officially on January 1, 2019, tag Rochelle on Instagram (@makeninechallenge) and remember your hashtag: #MakeNine so we can see all the wonderful projects everyone is working on!