12 in 2012 - End of Summer Update

After completing a few pieces over the summer, I thought I'd have another update of my 12 in 2012 list.

Priorities and the like have changed, which is no surprise as that's life, right?  The biggest changes in terms of what I have completed come from my oilcloth sewing class, but the great thing is that I've made some really practical pieces that I've got a lot of use from.  I'd been needing the perfect Stationery Bag for ages, but had automatically dismissed the idea of being able to make it myself - far too complicated, right?!  Wrong!  I loved making the bag and am really proud of it, so the lesson from that, I suppose, is that maybe I should think about making the things I need as well as the things I want.

c. 1890 Corset V&A

A new massive factor has also appeared on the horizon in terms of my plans for what I will make over the remainder of this year: I'm taking a Level 2 City and Guilds Certificate in Corsetry, starting next month!  I can't wait to do this course - a friend has just finished it and her sewing skills have come on in absolute leaps and bounds, and she's made some great pieces.  I was considering doing the course, but the clincher for me was meeting the tutor at the fascinator class - I got on really well with her, she's friendly and knowledgeable and - one of the most important things for a teacher, especially in the creative arts - incredibly encouraging.  We chatted and she gave me information about the course and what it involved, and I was sold then and there!  Over the (academic) year, I'll be making an underbust corset and a 'Victorian style' corset (that's the wording on the qualification specifications), and I think I'll also be able to make a bra, as well as lots of samples of various construction and decorative techniques.

So here's the updated list with completed items crossed off and new information added in this mauve colour.

Clothes to Make:

1. Skirt 1 - I've got about 2 metres of the Shoes! fabric left and would really to make a skirt from it ... I've got a peplum skirt in my head, a la So, Zo.
2. Skirt 2.
3. Skirt 3 (high-waisted skirt using Butterick B5466 - started in black silk dupion.)
4. Blouse 1 (anchors fabric, vintage pattern).
5. Blouse 2 - still finishing the silk crepe blouse.  This might be a disaster thanks to my dodgy facings.
6. Cropped jacket (vintage pattern, silver-grey dupion).
7. Dress 1 (New Look 6000).
8. Dress 2 - Retro Butterick 5748 in the Shoes! Fabric.  Done!
9. Underbust corset (this was another dress, but has now been changed as an underbust corset will enable me to wear other dresses I already own!).
10. Men's waistcoat.
11. High-waisted trousers.
12. Coat (McCall's 6442 - the hood, the hood!!).

Not Clothes to Make:

1. House thing 1 - (changed in light of the sewing class I completed over the summer) Awesome Oilcloth Bag of Stationery and Sewing Storage Goodness.  Done!
2. House thing 2 - (changed also because of the class) waterproof picnic blanket.  Done!
3. House thing 3 - patchwork cushion cover.
4. Pattern weights.
5. Apron 1 - for that giveaway I mentioned aaaages ago!  Started.
6. Wild card - flower fascinator.  Done!
7. Wild card - oilcloth tote bag.  Done!
8. Yule present 1 - Kindle cover for lil sis.  Done!
9. Yule present 2.  I'm making a patchwork quilt for a friend's soon-to-be-born baby ... I'd better get a move on!
10. Yule present 3.
11. Yule present 4.
12. Something pretty!  Laptop cover.  Started.

New Things to Try Making:

1. Men's clothing.
2. Trousers.
3. Piping.  I think I might do this on one of my corsets for my corsetry class!
4. Actually completing an item from one of my vintage patterns - still working on the disastrous silk crepe blouse.
5. Actually completing an embroidery item!  Working on laptop cover, which is machine embroidered.
6. Doing some more advanced fitting/pattern altering techniques as needed (eg, grading up one of my vintage patterns that is quite a bit too small).
7. Knit a garment (so far I've made a scarf and a snood). - Still working on that jumper!
8. Outerwear.
9. Patchwork.
10. Making a lining.  Retro Butterick 5748 is lined.  Done!
11. Underlining.  I've changed this because I realised that I've already done underlining (in my 18th century stays!).  So this is now a corsetry-tailored goal, involving something I've previously been a bit scared of: using steel boning!
12. Hand-picked zip (they look so lovely and seem like a relatively simple technique to use for a bit of couture luxe).  Retro Butterick 5748 also has a hand-picked zip, so this is double-done!

Many Thanks - The Liebster Blog Award

Wow, first off, I need to say a massive thank you to Suzie for passing me (and four other bloggers) the Liebster Blog Award!  (Check out her other nominees!)

To re-use her description of the award:

"the origins of the Liebster Blog Award are somewhat unclear but the general consensus is that it means favourite or dearest to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers."

I really don't feel worthy as I've been a very poor blogger of late, but I am so grateful to Suzie and to all my readers for sticking with me and offering such supportive words.  Thank you all - despite my writing degrees, I cannot express what it means to me when I get your kind comments, but know that they are truly appreciated.

... So, mushiness aside!  The rules for this award are:

1 - thank your liebster blog award presenter on your blog.

2 - link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.

3 - copy/paste the blog award on your blog. 

4 - present the liebster blog award to 5 blogs with 200 followers or less. 

5 - let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment.

Well, I've covered the first three, so now it's time for the difficult part.  I read a lot of blogs, so narrowing it down to three ... and checking that they've got fewer than 200 followers?  That's a tall order ...

• A fabulous writer, embroiderer and all-out lovely lady, Prue Batten of Mesmered's Blog.
• A lady after my own heart - Rowenna writes, loves sewing and digs the 18th century over at Hyaline Prosaic.  She discusses stitching, writing and her re-enacting with a wonderfully friendly voice.
• What's the time?  Why, it's Scruffy Badger Time!  Check out her stitcherous creations.
• A very stylish stitcher is our Catherine Daze.
• House of Nines Design: The most drool-worthy hats designed and displayed for your pleasure ... or your purchase if you're lucky enough to be able to afford one.  One day!

(Not all of these bloggers have a 'follower' list or total on their page, so I'm going by the figures on Google Reader - apologies if they're not 100% accurate!)

12 in 2012

Su Sews So-So has had a wonderful idea: instead of resolutions for 2012, she's making SMART goals in lists of 12.  12 seems quite manageable - that's one per month - and, of course, it relates to the year (clever, eh?).  Being a project manager, she explains very well what SMART goals are, if you haven't heard of them before, so I'll let you check out her explanation.

Funnily enough, when teaching my team tends to encourage learners to make SMART targets - the system helps you avoid making vague, unattainable goals that you lose momentum with because they will be done 'some day'.

So, I'm thinking about my goals, my plans ... What do I want to do in 2012?  I've already mentioned that I want to sort my wardrobe out in a coordinated way, rather than my usual, magpie kind of clothes shopping and making.  I've also been thinking about the fact that I didn't make any Yule presents this year (and I still owe my little sister a Kindle cover from her birthday - sorry, sis), so I'd like to make some gifts this year (and not have to rush to make loads of Yule presents in December).  Mr Magpie is still waiting for his waistcoat, which I've been too frightened to make, thanks to the fact that it's tailoring (which I have no idea how to do) and it involves some lush wool he chose, which is the most expensive fabric I've ever bought.  Oh, and it's a completely self-drafted pattern.  Scary stuff.  What was I thinking?

As for attainable, Suzie has 3 lists of 12 things (though she's made her list in a way that allows her to cover multiple goals with more than one item - sneaky!), but if to be realistic (and perhaps a little conservative) for myself, I was planning to stick to one or two lists ... but then I started writing them and found I could be sneaky and kill two birds with one stone, too!

Clothes to Make:

1. Skirt 1 (Simplicity 2413, paper bag waist).
2. Skirt 2 (slim skirt from a vintage pattern with inverted pleat at back).
3. Skirt 3 (high-waisted skirt from Simplicity 2654)
4. Blouse 1 (anchors fabric, vintage pattern).
5. Blouse 2.
6. Cropped jacket (vintage pattern, silver-grey dupion).
7. Dress 1 (New Look 6000).
8. Dress 2 (Macaron).
9. Dress 3.
10. Men's waistcoat.
11. High-waisted trousers.
12. Coat (McCall's 6442 - the hood, the hood!!).

Not Clothes to Make:

1. House thing 1 - throw (possibly involving patchwork?).
2. House thing 2 - doorstop(s)?
3. House thing 3.
4. Pattern weights.
5. Apron 1 - for that giveaway I mentioned aaaages ago!
6. Apron 2 - giveaway!
7. Apron 3 - giveaway!
8. Yule present 1.
9. Yule present 2.
10. Yule present 3.
11. Yule present 4.
12. Something pretty!

New Things to Try Making:

1. Men's clothing.
2. Trousers.
3. Piping.
4. Actually completing an item from one of my vintage patterns!
5. Actually completing an embroidery item!
6. Doing some more advanced fitting/pattern altering techniques as needed (eg, grading up one of my vintage patterns that is quite a bit too small).
7. Knit a garment (so far I've made a scarf and a snood).
8. Outerwear.
9. Patchwork.
10. Making a lining.
11. Underlining.
12. Hand-picked zip (they look so lovely and seem like a relatively simple technique to use for a bit of couture luxe).

As you can see, those 'new things to try' can be covered by items in the first two lists.  The clothing and non-clothing lists include things that are relatively quick and simple to make, as well as some more challenging and time-consuming pieces.  So let's see how this goes!

These are my 12 in 2012, what are yours?

Radio Silence, Laptop Woes

Hello my friends!

You may have noticed, particularly if you've been reading since JoaT, that I've been quite quiet since around February/March kinda time.  Well that's been partly because of all that uni work I kept going on about (I passed the course, by the way!  I'm a teacher!), but also partly because my laptop died back at the end of February.  Yeah, I wasn't impressed.  Thankfully, my harddrive was OK, so I didn't lose my files (I don't know what I would have done if I had ...) and doubly-thankfully, my gentleman has been good enough to let me use his laptop.  But, sharing a laptop isn't the same as having your own (for me, anyway - I'm a bit of a technophile) and I haven't been able to get the time to post as much as I'd like. 

But I've been saving up and my new laptop (which was a bargain!) is due to arrive on Friday - huzzah!

Welcome!

Hello there and welcome to my new blog!  This is the new home of all my stitchery projects, while my old blog, Jane of All Trades, will remain home to my writing on books and, er, writing.

I have lots planned for this place, including: an apron giveaway; straightforward calculations for half circle skirts; sewing with vintage patterns; a vintage pattern giveaway; 50s sewing with Singer; learning to knit; drafting a men's waistcoat from scratch; some words on 18th century fashion; playsuit love; experiments with piping; WIPs and probably some UFOs, too!

So, I hope you'll enjoy reading my scribbles and joining in with comments while I settle in to this new home.  I'm looking forward to it.