My sewing goals for 2017 were:
1.) First Bustle Era Victorian ensemble (day, evening, bustle, and corset).
Status: COMPLETE
2.) Regency Ball gown
Status: COMPLETE
I only have about 3 pictures of this gown, and only two that survived the great computer crash of 2017 where I lost all the pictures I stupidly hadn't put in my Dropbox. I will post about this gown eventually, despite the fact it was way back in March, I still have a draft article that needs adding to. The sleeves need fixed, and I know exactly how to do it, but we'll leave that for 2018.
2.5) Regency spencer
Status: COMPLETE
Again, no pictures, apart from if you head over to my Instagram where I took a lot of process ones. I messed up the sleeve lining so this also needs fixed in 2018. Pictures hopefully coming soon.
3) Open project
Status: COMPLETE
Again, no pictures of blog post (wow, I've been an awful blogger this year, I swear they're all still in draft form). I had three options for this, an adaptation of a purple gown from season 1 of Victoria on ITV, that 11/12th century gown I've had on my list for at least 3 years (but which I am officially giving up on for now), and a fantasy.
I went for fantasy, and this was my first foray into drafting patterns from scratch. I'm proud of this project for many things, and hopefully I will catch up with this project in a blog post at some point in 2018.
5.) HSM challenges 2017.
Status: COMPLETE?
I wanted to do at least 7 of them, and only managed to do one. I must say, regarding this I've been , seen, and semi-conquered. Despite following rules for my job, it turns out I don't really like setting challenges like the HSM for myself. My sewing brain is always running to its own schedule, and it never fitted with any of the HSM challenges. At least I did one.
I'm actually really surprised. I managed to accomplish all of the goals I set for myself for 2017, and even added four new ones (18th century undergarments, which, you've guessed it, I haven't blogged about, or even finished for that matter....2018 is going to be a big year for catch-up, a regency open-robe which again haven't blogged about, Sew Curvy's Victoria corset kit, and my 1950s winter coat).
Now we come onto 2018. This year is pretty much the same as the two before. the Victorian ball (hopefully my last one for a while, and wouldn't be happening at all if my friend hadn't persuaded me) will dominate the first 4/5 months of 2018, but at least I already have a corset, and my Christmas project consisted of making combination underwear, so it's just design decisions to be made. And then after that I have free reign to do whatever I want.
1.) Natural Form Era ensemble (day and evening)
Lots of ideas. I've more or less finalised the design for the evening, but I have less of an idea about the day ensemble.
2.) Finish 18th century outfit
I started this a month or two back, and started with scaling up a pattern in Waugh (1776 pair of stays), and started drafting a suitable chemise, and then the Victorian ball took over at Christmas. The stays and chemise are almost complete, just binding and seam finishing to do on both, but I may make another pair of stays just for the fun of it. Next is a false rump, petticoat, and Pierrot jacket. The American Duchess's new book came out just at the right time for me. And in place of HSM challenges, I've decided to set my own with this one. The entire outfit will be from scaled up or self-drafted patterns. Not a commercial pattern in sight.
3.) Blog
As happy as I am that I managed to complete all of my sewing goals for 2017, I only blogged about 1 thing. Most of the finished projects are sitting in draft form on my Google account. My goal this year is to finish those drafts, and blog about all completed projects.
4.) Make do and mend
Possibly a little misleading. There are a few projects with problems that I know how to fix but haven't because I've only worn them once.
The sleeves on the regency ball gown need altered.
The sleeve lining on the regency Spencer needs fixed.
The seams need finishing on my 2016 Victorian ball gown; the cage bag needs re-done, and I need to make a day bodice from the remaining silk.
no doubt many other things.
So my goal is to fix all projects to date so they're in an acceptable condition (let's hope it's not as big a task as it sounds to me right now).
5.) Build a portfolio
All the greats have them, and hopefully in 2018 one not so great (me) will have one too. Now I've purchased my first DSLR camera and have scouted out a few suitable locations I really want to start doing photoshoots of the finished garments.
6.) Open projects
I found myself sewing faster this last year. projects I've allocated a month for only take 2 weeks, and so on, and because I jump from interest to interest I'm leaving this open to whatever takes my fancy at the time.
2017 was a big year personal life wise. No I haven't got married, no I'm not pregnant/had children, but I moved house, came to the end of my contract at work, and made the transition into being a PhD student. I'm almost afraid of what 2018 has in mind.
