It’s nice to pause and reflect back over the year before looking forward to the new year, so here are my highlights and lessons from 2016:
Highlights
- Ceramic buttons!
I don’t have any plans to continue ceramics at the moment, but a highlight for me has been making ceramic buttons! So far, I have only used one (which may be part of the reason I have decided to leave ceramics for the moment from my stream of hobbies) but I have plans in the new year to use more of them.
- Free machine embroidery
Free machine embroidery has increased the use of my sewing machine greatly. Since taking a 10 week workshop at the beginning of the year, I’ve struggled to stop! I find it very fun and an easy way to personalise makes without the use of an expensive embroidery machine!
- Man Engine Stitch
Following on from my discovery of free machine embroidery comes my most focused project using the method – The Man Engine stitched. It took a day – from editing a photo on the computer which I took in St Austell – to stitching the design onto calico.
- Instagram
I hadn’t really used instagram until this year and I have found it a great way to connect with other crafters and keep up to date with designers and artists. - Poppy Playsuit (by Sew Over it)
The Poppy Playsuit is my favourite make of the year garment wise (just a shame that the UK isn’t ideal weather-wise for it!)
- Upcycled pouffee
The new cover for the inherited pouffee makes me smile!
- Baby showers mobile (from Chloe Owens All Sewn Up)
Probably the longest and probably the most complicated make of the year! However, it does look nice now it’s finished (and I should have started it much earlier than I did)
- Upcycled t shirt cushions
Another Christmas gift make to be shortlisted are the t shirt cushions. They came out much better than expected and it has been great to get them out of my stash!
Lessons
- Sewing with knit fabrics
The main points I learnt were to use stay tape to stop seams stretching too much and to use a walking foot.
- Starting presents much earlier!
I did learn this lesson a long time ago, but I still struggle to adjust my working pattern accordingly! A couple of years ago, I made everyone’s gifts well in time for Christmas. It hasn’t happened again, but it will be something I strive towards in 2017. While I always argue that I need the deadline looming to be motivated, I am going to try new methods to get that motivation working much earlier to make it less stressful! - Don’t always follow patterns blindly
I had trouble making the baby showers mobile by Chloe Owens as the fabric glue made it too hard to attach the flowers at the end. In the end, I had to adapt the pattern anyway.
