Sewing Year in Review

At the end of every year, I like to take a look back and reflect on all my sewing projects and consider my plans for the new year. I’ve been in the habit of doing this for some time now, I guess it’s kind of like making New Year’s sewing resolutions.

There are many ways to do a sewing year review. Some people keep track of their projects using sophisticated methods like excel spreadsheets. There are also sewing planner books you can use. But it can be as simple as writing everything down in a notebook or keeping a special album in your smart phone photos that is labeled “Sewing Projects.”

Regardless of how you keep track or conduct your review, I find the process of doing it so helpful. It’s really encouraging to see not only the quantity but also the array of projects I’ve been working on over the last year. Look for themes and trends in your sewing projects. Is there a colour that you tend to gravitate to? And then I ask myself, did I get to the projects I wanted to? What are my WIPs (works in progress) that I should prioritize to complete? And what new skills would I like to focus on in the coming year?

Looking back over my 2020 projects, I feel like I’ve gotten quite comfortable with my Janome Skyline S9. I absolutely love this machine. I’ve really settled in to working with complex embroidery designs on this machine.

A few of my favourite projects involve working with vinyl. There’s no room for error but the embroidery designs really “pop” on this medium.

This project bag gets a lot of use these days. Not only do I love to sew but I also love to knit and this is a great bag for holding my current knitting project.

And then I also made this bag earlier in the year. Some of you know I have Basset Hounds and show them myself. This little bag was meant to hold all my ringside gear. Although I haven’t been able to use it yet.

Maybe one of my goals for 2021 needs to be to use colours other than purple?? Nah – more purple, I say! I agree, Ed. 

I also put my Janome Skyline S9 to work for this embroidery project that was done as a secret gift for a friend. It was a collaboration of favourite, inspiring sayings that I quilted together and is meant to literally wrap our friend in our love and support.

I also completed a lot of sewing and quilting projects this year.

At the beginning of March, I felt called to make this wall quilt hanging and put it up in my window. Who would have thought nine months later I would be back to working from home again.

And like most of you, I have made my fair share of masks.

These window masks have a lot of benefits and I know of many people who are using them so others can see their lips move or even just a smile and expression.

And these 3D masks are what the window masks are based off of and are my go-to mask because they don’t fog as much as pleated masks and other styles.

I estimate I made over 200 masks since March. Not as many as some but I really just wanted to help out family and friends as we all do our part.

I also made time for apparel sewing this year. I made a few dresses for myself and my daughter, but I’d love to branch out to other clothing pieces.

2021 Sewing Goals

If there is one area that I’d like to spend more time on in 2021, it is in the area of apparel sewing. I love the idea of making something that is one of a kind and unique. And in particular tailored to one’s own one of a kind and unique body type!

I currently have the pattern cut out for a tailored jacket – which feels like a major endeavour but I am feeling called to dig into a more significant project such as this. I’ll keep you posted on this one. It’s a little scary to start cutting precious wool exterior fabric and silky lining fabric but it’s just fabric, right? I can always buy more. How else does one learn?

And I’d love to do more sewing with knit fabrics. I’ve shared a little on here how it still feels like a new area for me but as my daughter gets older – she just turned three – knit fabrics are often ideal for play and comfort. And there are some lovely knit fabrics out there to explore.

Do you ever do a year in review on your sewing projects? What areas have you really excelled in for 2020? And what are you hoping to focus on in 2021?

Wishing you all the best of the season to you and yours!