What can I say? It just wasn’t a year for sewing. Despite acquiring a spanking new sewing machine, despite having loads of ideas, despite having a stash that holds many, many possibilities, I have done next to no actual sewing.
A lot of this is that I’ve been tired and stressed. This year has been a tough one at work, and personally. Sewing’s taken a back seat, because something had to. I know that moving into 2016, I need to be kind to myself. I hope that will mean I get the sewing love coming back.
One thing I have done this year, that should help with that, is enroll on a Garment Making & Pattern Cutting course. It’s one of the courses run by Surrey Adult Learning, so I get a staff discount! I’ve had to miss quite a few sessions because of work, though, so I guess it all evens itself out! It’s basic stuff, all about using a block, and how you can manipulate the darts to get the right fit, but I have found it really interesting, and it’s been good to learn how to do things the right way, and take my time with them. It’s been very soothing and mindful, which is just what I need.
A very tinkered-about-with pattern
I did do a bit of refashioning for Christmas. On a whim, while I was in Primark, doing my last minute shopping, I bought myself a long-sleeved t-shirt (£3.50), plus a set of bead bracelets (£1). The bracelet set consisted of about 8 sets of beads on elastic thread, of varying sizes, from 4mm diameter to tiny seed beads and bugle beads. So all I needed to do was snip the elastic and make sure I caught all the beads in a bowl, before they scattered all over the place!
Of course, I decided to do this on the 23rd December, on the night before I was going down to my sister’s for the Christmas festivities. And I totally forgot how long it takes to bead stuff, even when it’s relatively light beading. So I ended up staying up till about 5am…
The All Night Christmas Top
It’s already given me ideas for cannibalising other jewellery to tart up my extensive range of cheap Primark t-shirts. So maybe you’ll be seeing more of these, if there’s anyone still reading!
And now, I think it’s time for a glass of prosecco. Cheers to all sewists/seamstresses/sewers, may 2016 bring you all you could wish for yourselves.
Béa's Sewing Adventures 
Happy New Year, Bea! It’s funny, 2015 wasn’t a sewing year for me, either – one dress, that needs re-fitting… I do like your re-fashioned T-shirt though, very inspired! Here’s to our Sew-jo returning and a happy & creative 2016 🙂
Thanks Sarah, hope your sew-jo comes back soon too! Wishing you all the very best for 2016!
Love what you did with the beads! Cheers and Happy New Year to you!
Thanks!!! I only wish I’d started a bit earlier in the day! But hey, it wasn’t a work week, so I could have a lie-in the next morning.
Good luck to you in 2016, I hope it brings you a wealth of exciting opportunities!
Happy New Year! So glad you are back! I’ve missed your beautiful creations. I didn’t sew from June to November either, so maybe it was just 2015????!!! X
And a happy new year to you too, Amanda, I’m looking forward to feeling a bit more creative.
Keep on making your own gorgeous creations too!
Happy New Year! We all have our successes and fails. Hope you have a better year this year!
I was a bit surprised at how little I’d sewn and liked this year- your beaded top is worth stealing- lock the wardrobe!