Monday 6 January 2014

Goals for 2014

It's taken me a while to work out what my goals are and I think doing the other Top 5s first really helped me work things through in my head (which is probably the point - clever Gillian! )

1) The Happy Wardrobe Project - Getting a better idea of my personal style

I'm a bit of a schizophrenic dresser. There's no dress code at work so anything from jeans to dresses goes. I have a smallish child so unlikely to start wearing heels and smart clothes at the weekends. I love a vintage look (anywhere from 50s to 70s) but given my lack of interest in ironing I won't be wearing blouses everyday! But I want to look good and put together and to get back to a personal style. I used to have one before I had N and convenience/ low maintenance clothes become more important! 

So my plan is to snap a pic (probably a phone/mirror pic) each morning and consider how I felt and looked in the outfit. Was I happy to choose it or was it a desperation choice on an "I have no clothes" day?  I'm also going to note down if there's something I wanted to wear but had nothing to go with it - for example I know I have one navy tee and lots of bottoms I wear it with so if it's in the wash it stops me wearing other things.

I am planning to do this for a couple of months in colder weather (now) and again in the summer as I know I will find major differences.  I won't blog about it all the time, but will maybe do a monthly round up/ learnings.  I think it will really help plan my sewing which is another thing that worked well for me this year.

I really like my colour palettes so will continue to use those which will hopefully cut down the orphans. I am also intending to start some new pinboards with inspiration outfits - maybe I'll even make some copycat outfits!

As was writing this, I remembered a post that Tilly wrote about finding your personal style which I really liked and I guess some aspects of the plan above I have remembered and taken from this. If personal style is a consideration for you this year, you can read it here.


2) Find my TNTs



I love the speediness of sewing repeats - they really work for my time-strapped life!  I am hoping that the plan above will allow me to find what my happy clothes/ styles are and make more of them!  It will also allow me to evaluate new patterns and decide if they are right for me or destined to sit in the pattern box, and find fabrics that work for the sort of clothes I want to make and wear.  I made quite a few this year - loads of Cake (as documented on my hits post), 2 Kelly skirts (only 1 blogged so far!), and 2 Renfrews.


3) Learn new skills



Doesn't everyone have this on their list? I don't want to get stuck in a rut as an OK sewist who still makes loads of mistakes.  As I'm totally self/blog taught I'm sure I make loads of basic errors in sewing and fitting.   For example I can bind a seam but it just doesn't look as neat and pretty as it could (as you'll see if you look closely at the construction pics from my Blue Christmas dress!).  I really want to take an intermediate dressmaking class as I think it would really help me to improve. I'm going to look for a class and find the time to take it. If i can't I will take some Craftsy classes.

4) Use better fabrics


As a beginner sewist I was scared of spending money on fabric in case i messed it up, and as a result some earlier makes haven't stood the test of time - fabrics going bobbly, interfacing wrinkly, colours fading. I want to change this in 2014.

The Minerva Blogger Network allows me to try out fabrics that are perhaps more expensive than i would previously have chosen and I can really see the difference with these nicer fabrics (can't wait to show you my next few makes that I've just received my fabric picks for!). I'm never going to have an unlimited fabric budget but if I know a garment will be finished, will fit well and be worn, I can spend at least what a RTW garment would have cost.  So if a RTW high street dress costs £30-40 (not unreasonable) I could potentially spend £10-15 a metre on fabric plus notions (we all know factoring in a cost for our time spent making won't work!).  Also it's a hobby budget as well as a clothing budget.  Sounds like I can buy some more fabric then!


5) Make trousers

Source: Colette patterns, Butterick, Named

 If you have read my other top 5 posts this will come as no surprise at all. I planned to do it last year and am determined to conquer them this year! I'll be going back to my Juniper muslin and tracing out the bigger size probably in February.  I'd also like to make Named Jamie jeans and Gertie for Butterick capris.  Lena from the Sewing Space has been teasing us with sneak peeks of her new trouser pattern too and it looks great!  I'd really like to take the Seamless pledge but while there is still a big part of my wardrobe I don't make I don't see how it will work.


I do have a 6th thing (yes, I know it's supposed to be 5, but it's my blog, my rules, right?) and it's probably the most important thing of all. To be kind to myself.  I have a busy life, small child, full time job, long commute and a big hobby.  If I blog less often as a result, or take time off from sewing to do other things, I am not going to beat myself up about it.  As long as everyone is fed, wearing clean clothes and happy, the world won't end if I don't have anything to blog about for a week or two.  Or if I don't clean the kitchen floor (#sewdontclean).

Here's to 2014 and a great sewing, blogging and generally being healthy and having fun year for everyone, whether we fulfil all our goals or not!

28 comments:

  1. Great goals - good luck with each of them! I love the Happy Wardrobe idea!

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    1. thanks jennifer! i'll let you know how i get one with it!

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  2. What a brilliant post! I love your Happy Wardrobe Project idea! it sounds so much more appealing than a Capsule Wardrobe, or any of the other terminologies!
    I can related to all of your goals, and if I wasn't pregnant, I'd be joining your quest to make trousers and improve my skills. As it is, I'm agreeing with your 6th goal. A hobby should be fun, and the minute you start feeling guilty about not doing it, is the minute it becomes a chore!
    Your comment about about your fabric budget overlapping with your hobbies budget made me laugh out loud. At work! :)

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    1. thanks helen! a capul;se wardrobe sounds a bit too organised and "not me" so i thought i;d go for something more flexible! you could always go for maternity trouser makes? katie at kadiddlehopper did a great tue a while back on converting normal trousers to maternity one. and steph from love teach sew has made a great ma\ternity wardrobe!

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  3. Your Happy Wardrobe project sounds like a wonderful idea. I could do with something similar myself.
    I work from home part of each week and find myself wearing the same few outfits over and over until I'm bored to death with them. I need to work on creating some new pieces that are of similar style and comfort to the ones I reach for all the time so I've got a bit of variety.

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    1. thanks sam! i do the same when i am at home - comfort over style. hopefully i can find comfortable AND stylish! the second part is exactly what i was thinking when i came up with this - make more of the stuff i wear!

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  4. Great & achievable goals! I especially like your #6 - you don't need self-inflicted pressure and stress. =)

    Your makes from last year were wonderful and I enjoyed watching you improve with each one. I look forward to seeing what you make this year!

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    1. thanks brooke - i have learnt so much from you and the other sewcialists ideas and encouragement!

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  5. Hi Joanne, Great post, all sounds very achievable and sensible. I loved your Fall sew-along makes and your Christmas Minerva dress. You will have a happy wardrobe this year ;0

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    1. thanks maeve - i will have that happy wardrobe!

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  6. Another excellent set of goals! The Happy Wardrobe sounds like a brilliant idea - it's something I suffer from a lot. I make/buy things but often don't have anything to wear them with and so they just get abandoned. Good luck!!

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    1. Thanks very much! Sounds like you need to sew outfits to avoid wardrobe orphans. Sunni did a good series of posts last year in case you missed it.

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  7. No 6 sounds good. As do all your other goals and I owe you a massive apology as I thought you were in my reader but I was actually keeping up via Twitter! All fixed now though :)

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    1. Thanks vk! I found the same about a couple of other bloggers recently. It's easily done!

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  8. Third attempt at commenting aargh, wish bloglo in would sort out the problems they're having today! I really like all your goals Joanne. I'm with you on the TNT's- I think that'll be essential for be this year too. I'm also with you on ironing & always happy when I see things that are low maintenance on the ironing & washing front!

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    1. Thanks Kathryn! Bloglovin seems to be playing up for a few people at the moment. Can't wait to see your tnts!

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  9. I really like your ideas for finding your personal style. I feel like a schizophrenic dresser myself and your plan sounds like a great remedy!

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    1. thanks meigan! feel free to join in if you like!

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  10. I love the sewdon'tclean. There's an excellent card someone once got me and on the front is a very glamourous lady who say, "I clean my house by sweeping a glance round the room" :)

    This all sounds ace and I can't wait to see it all play out xxx

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    1. #sewdontclean is a "thing" on twitter as well as a personal mantra! that card sounds ace!

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  11. Definitely some good goals here! I'm sure you can easily get used to upping your quality of fabric. It's hard to go back after! ;-) and definitely be kinder to yourself. Its so easy to be self-deprecating but really there is loads to be proud of!

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    1. Thanks Amy! I can see myself developing a posh fabric habit quite easily!

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  12. Great goals! I worked on my wardrobe last year, I have a bit more clear view of what I want and need, although I haven't put it into practice yet. I know that blogger RetroChick also had a guide for finding your personal style.

    Regarding fabrics, I've read two blog posts that has helped me with buying more quality fabrics. First; don't compare your work to H&M, if you must compare the quality should match that of J.Crew or similar (don't remember who this was). Secondly, if you buy expensive fabric and it doesn't work out, you've learnt something from your project, so the money could be considered a course in your hobby (Lena of The Sewing Space, just a few days ago).

    Here's to happy 2014 sewing!

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    1. thanks helena - look forward to seeing your wardrobe plans! i'll have a look at the blog you mentions. those are both great points to enable me in the posh fabric habit - i thank you (but my bank account probably won't!). good luck in 2014!

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  13. These goals are fantastic! I especially cannot wait to see your finished trousers :)

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    1. thanks meg - i really hope i can get them done this year!

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  14. Great post Jo! Your happy wardrobe idea is great, I might borrow your idea if daily photos - it's a really good one for working out what works for you. And I've been doing the cost calculations recently too and totally agree with you.

    Good luck with your 2014 makes!

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    1. thanks other jo! i hope it works for you too! looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

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