Sewing Recap · 2016

Here we are at the end of the year already! I don't know about you, but I really love making lists, organizing, and evaluating my progress, so this time of year is a favorite! I'm busy doing my yearly fabric stash inventory and I've taken the time to reflect back on a year of sewing.

So it's time for another year-end recap!  Wow- this year really sped by and was a rather remarkable year in that it held SO much but also SO little.  Through it all, I felt like I had a distinct lack of sewing, but it is a bit heartening to see how many things *did* get accomplished this year!

In many of the aspects of life that I don't touch here on the blog, this was a difficult year of uncertainty and waiting.  It followed on the heels of 2-3 other not-so-great years. (but don't get me wrong- those years also held their own wonderful experiences!)  I feel like I'm finally getting my feet back under me and I'm so grateful for all the ways I've grown during this in-between season.

2016 held lots of changes, lots of decisions, lots of travel, and.... not as much blogging as I would have liked.  I had a dramatic up-tick in flash sales on the blog this year and they proved to be quite popular! Hooray!  I still love estate sale-ing, so look for more of those this coming year, and (maybe! hopefully!) more sewing projects. ;-)

My big change for 2017 will be a new job and I'm so happy about it and greatly looking forward to the reliable schedule!  I know it'll change a lot of things and potentially have a major impact on my blogging, but I'm super excited to see what 2017 holds and I can't wait to get started!  Hope the rest of you are enjoying the last few days of 2016 and I wish you all well in the new year!

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A lower level of inspiration this year meant that I ended up with several skirts.  If in doubt, whip up a skirt- apparently!  The floral skirt was a cheater project; merely revamped from a dress.  The green and plaid skirts ended up being vastly popular in my wardrobe (hurrah!), and each warranted 2 posts.


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As the year went by, I had more love for sewing so after my first rousing success with this vintage pattern, I knew I needed to make another!  The added bonus- the second one went so much faster!


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I had 3 projects with Penny Rose this year, and I think it's so funny that they were all in the pink/red range!  These were all such a great boost out of my rut and I'm so happy with how they all turned out. :-)

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The rest of the summer I focused on stash projects (the striped dress and the bathing costume) and finally getting around to some much-needed garments (the gingham dress for our "Gingham Day" picnic and the bathing costume for summer activewear!).

And finally.... I was a bit more busy than the blog will lead you to believe!  Here are some sneak peeks of posts I haven't put up yet....

1930s blouse and skirt, 1950s skirt, gold tulle skirt for Kathryn, 1940s rayon dress

I also made 2 more skirts (I told you I made a lot of those this year!), a blouse, and some pretty cute London-themed vintage PJs.

All in all- I guess it's not too shabby for a year of sewing!  Thanks for following along this year!

· Merry Christmas! ·

A very Merry Christmas to all of you, dear readers!  I usually share a selection of my favorite vintage holiday cards, but this year I wanted to share photos of a recreation that my mom and sister did a couple years ago!

This is a bit of a funny post to share, since it's my sister's dress and I was entirely un-involved with the entire process, however the finished result is so charmingly festive that I felt like you'd all appreciate it anyway. :-)

May you all have a happy Christmas!

The dress is made from a polished cotton twill, which is well-suited to the box-pleated, full skirt.  The plain bodice closes with buttons and the removable faux fur cuffs and collar match the pixie-style hat and muff.  A black sash and neck bow add a touch of contrast, and the black purse and shoes step in for the original green.

· Photos, as ever, by Kathryn! ·

· Golden Glow ·

The mellow golden leaves this year were the perfect backdrop for a new styling of my "practically vintage skirt" and it was just begging for a trip to the woods for photos!

I posted about this skirt in the spring here and one of the reasons I was so excited about this fabric is that I'm totally in love with every one of these colors. <3  After styling it toward the blue range over the spring, I was excited to pull out my best autumnal hues this fall!  My sister gave me this sweater as a "hand-me-up" since it ended up being a color she doesn't really wear.  Happily for me it's just perfect for my skirt!

The skirt was made from vintage cotton that we found at an estate sale a couple years ago.  Inside the folded pile of fabric were clippings from a 1950s catalog with plaid dresses.  I dearly wanted to be able to recreate one of them, but there was only enough fabric to barely squeeze out a skirt. :-/  Oh well!  Maybe that's why it was never made. ;-)

This outfit is a pretty good example of everyday attire for me- my faithful Mary Jane shoes, bobby socks, hat, and no brooches.  I need to remedy that last part and make it a habit! I do love a dear little brooch!

Those welt pockets were a self-designed feature and the fact that there wasn't a pattern almost drove me bonkers!  But it's good to be stretched a bit. ;-)

This blouse shows up in just about *every* skirt/blouse/cardigan post I put up, with good reason.  I love it.  Although I think a few more blouses might not go amiss either. ;-)

· Photos by Kathryn! ·