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Top 5 of 2013: Reflections and Plans

Tuesday 31 December 2013

Hola!

Yesterday saw my Hits and Misses and today we are onto Reflections and my own little variation "Plans".

Reflections:

This year saw some big changes for me - picking up sticks (the knitting kind), renaming and re-styling my blog, and finding my obsession joy in crafting again. Here is what I learnt this year.

1. Rowing my own boat:

I have never really jumped on bandwagons. I have worked to try to remain true to my style (for momentary lapses of reason see my Misses) and in a way simply row my own boat. I feel like it'd be really easy to jump on every new pattern release, be it Big 4 or indie, and just go a bit cray cray. But truly, I have not seen any this year that are truly my style or that I didn't already have a similar version of. I have adored following other fantastic bloggers and their interpretations of these, but still they are for the most part, just not me.

2014 will see me keep on with trying to stick with my style (don't ask me to name it), and if the right pattern comes up, purchase I will.

2. I'm a 70's kind of girl

I am constantly drawn to the 70's silhouette, especially dresses and skirts of the a-line variety with clean, long, lean lines. They simply suit my body type. And I am OK with that. I love expanding my ridiculously growing stash of pre-loved 70's patterns and have been so fortunate to be thought of when Mums and Grandmothers are clearing out. Anyone wanting to offload unloved 70's patterns? I'm your girl.

On this note: Jillian, you are not so suited to the sometimes billowy, flouncy, ruffled 70's monstrosities. DO. NOT. GO. THERE!

3. Fitting? Meh, not so much

I am destined to sew sacks/garments with minimal tailoring. I truly am the worst kind of student. My motivation wanes at the first hint of effort. I do want to learn tailoring and fitting techniques, but I just gotta find the time. I really don't have oodles of spare time to devote to my crafts as it is and then taking additional time to learn stuff seems like an investment I can't afford... yet I know I will create get better garments as a result.

Right, Jillian, it's time to finish, and apply, that dastardly Adjust the Bust course.

4. I. ADORE. KNITTING.

I really, really do. I have busy hands and I find myself drawn more and more to the gentle art of knitting to satisfy my restless hands syndrome. It really does fit my sensibilities and my tagline summer sewing and winter knitting simply feels like a good fit (see what I did there? Fit? Never mind). I find winter sewing to be of the too challenging persuasion (see 3 above) and this results in radio silence for my blog and frustration for this here crafter. I've found my niche.

5. Planning... hmmm

Planning and lists and promises all seem like a good idea at the time, but leave me with a sense of guilt and anxiety as I get tempted in other unplanned directions. I love reading others plans and so thought perhaps it was time to make my own. But truly friends, I prefer a more organic approach. I plan on no or little planning in the future.

Plans

1. No Plans

I plan to give myself a break and make few plans. This does not mean crafting will grind to a directionless halt, in fact it will free me to just get on with whatever takes my heart's fancy. And that feels good.

I do already have yarn and patterns for my next winter knitting projects! I've never wished summer away in my life, but yeeha, bring on knitting weather!

In the meantime, I plan on lots more gorgeous sewing projects.


And to finish up, here's to a brilliant New Year, full of happiness, peace and love for you all. Oh and the deliciousness of new projects and the freedom to create... that'll do me. How about you?

I'm off to do a bit more of this...
...before real life (otherwise known as back to work) sets in.

9 comments:

  1. Nice words lady! It's all about doing what you love and what makes you happy! Btw yesterday I was given an Enormous box of patterns from the mother of a colleague that looks full of 70's goodness, so I will be sure to let you know if I see stuff you might like! Have a great ny and summer break. Thanks for all your awesome comments on my blog this year :)

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  2. Great reflections and I love your (no) plans. Just like Sarah - thanks for all your supportive comments on my blog. All the best for a great year in 2014 including plenty of crafting x

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  3. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! You lucky, lucky girl. If there's a shirt dress pattern in there it's mine! I love your featured shirt dress in your hits and I need one of my very own! Did they do shirt dresses in the 70's?

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  4. Thanks Kirsty. It truly is lovely to start a conversation with other awesome bloggers. It might not be IRL, but that can easily be fixed by the arrangement of a sewing catch up! Maybe this year in Sydney?

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  5. Gabrielle Corbett2 January 2014 at 00:44

    Awesome reflections - I am in total agreement with you on points 1 and 5. I'd love to be able to knit but hands absolutely hate it. And no plans for summer sounds perfect - hear. hear!


    I have to echo the others too - and it's long overdue - but thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my blog. You make me feel like a star!


    -G x

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  6. I like your "No Plans" plan. I pretty much did that last year - in effect, taking some time off of making plans. Now I feel refreshed and ready to organize myself again!

    Hope you have a wonderful 2014 - in everything you do! Also, I'm jealous that you are biking by some water. We're buried in snow!

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  7. Yep it's weird to think that somewhere else in the world it's snowing! It's been a great few weeks over Xmas and New Year. Pretty great weather for biking and beach going!

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  8. Gabrielle, you are a star! My hands also take a while to adjust to long knitting projects, but they do and I love the results! Loved your reflections and plans too BTW, we seem to be quite like-minded ;)

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  9. Yes! I'll definitely come up to a Sydney catchup :)

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