It's that time again! After making sure (almost) all my sewing projects were photographed and put on the blog, I always enjoy rounding them up for a year-end post, where I can look at them all in one place and see progress or spot repetition.

 

This year featured a lot of variety, which I like! There are classic 1930s silhouettes, WWII era dresses, and a few full-skirted 1950s styles.

 

1940s novelty print umbrella dress, 1950s Easter dress

 

I also made several projects from the late '30s/early '40s, which is not surprising since it's a favorite fashion era of mine.

  

sage green copycat dress, Christmas dress

 

Lots of color variety shows up – browns, blues, purple, gray, black, teal, red, pink, gold, and more – including an unheard-of yellow dress! I always thought I couldn't wear yellow.

Green was a major theme this year as well.

1930s yellow 2 piece

  

1940s house dress, late '30s rayon dress

 

While a lot of these photos are backyard shots, I did have fun photographing this New Look dress at a castle! I definitely want to  continue seizing better photo opportunities when possible.

 

I used a variety of fabrics as well. While a lot of these are quilting cottons or rayon suiting – no surprise since those are my favorite types of fabric – I also made projects using cotton twill, linen, lighter rayon and cotton weights, satin, chiffon, wool blend, corduroy, and even polyester knit of all things!

 

gray plaid dress, gingerbread skirt

 

I was fairly good about keeping away from fabric sales… With a few exceptions, I didn't buy much fabric this year. And a lot of the new fabric I did get was from a local thrift store at very cheap prices. While that still adds to my shelves, it doesn't cost much money, so that's at least a partial win. 🙂 But more than half of my projects this year were major stash busters or used fabric I already had.

 

1940s almost sailor dress, 1950s sweater dress

 

I made another hat!

 

Last year one of my goals was to be varied in color choices and experiment more with trims. I definitely met both those goals. While I have a lot to perfect yet with my embellishment skills, at least I've made a start! From regular applied lace trim to lace insertion, attempts at soutache, freehand embroidery, beads, top stitched bands, and self appliqué, this year's roundup shows a lot more creativity with embellishment than previous years. I really love it!

 

 

I also tried 3 way color blocking for the first time.

1940s 4th of July dress

 

Another goal was to make several 2 piece outfits, or mix-and-match 3 piece sets. This goal I also certainly met! I made quite a few 2 and 3 piece outfits this year, of various kinds.

 

1930s dress, skirt, and jacket

1940s twill summer suit

 

1930s gold linen dress & jacket

 

I also was more creative with styling and photographing the mix-and-match sets to demonstrate their versatility.

 

1940s pinstriped summer suit

 

One of my 2 piece outfits was a remake from an earlier dress that was poorly constructed and no longer fit me. Remaking is very rewarding, and takes less time, usually, than starting from scratch. I have a whole drawer full of pieces to repurpose or remake, so I should do more of that!

 

My final goal was to make at least one nice, time-consuming garment with hand work like beading. That would have to be almost my last make – my Christmas dress. It featured by far the most elaborate decorations, with hand applied soutache, embroidery, and beads. Yet decorating the yoke still took only 1 extra day, so not quite as time consuming as I had envisioned.

 

 

Still, it's nice to see how most of my goals were met or exceeded! A very encouraging start for the upcoming year.

Of course, not all of these turned out perfectly. Several have major fit issues, or flaws that are hidden or disguised. But overall, it was quite a profitable year of sewing. Some are definitely favorites, and I was very pleased with how most of them turned out.

 

1940s purple print dress, 1950s black rayon dress

 

Some of them I only wore once or twice; others I continue to wear a lot! Some of them have gone downhill with frequent washing and wearing, depending on the fabric quality. It's always interesting to see which sewing projects I actually end up wearing the most.

 

1930s house dress, New Look house dress

 

Most of these I used new patterns for, with a few repeats from earlier years. But I only made one pattern twice for myself this year.

 

1940s Vogue pattern in plum wool, in gray gingham rayon

 

A few unexpected things happened this year in the sewing realm. For one, I made a half dozen commissioned dresses for other people. First time sewing for customers.

  

Some of my commissioned garments.

 

I pieced a quilt top! And I've always hated quilting! I would NEVER have dreamed I'd tackle and enjoy a quilt. The quilt is not completed yet so it's not quite a finished project, but almost all the sewing part is done, so I have to include it. 

  

 

And I have to mention my newest sewing friend – a vintage Singer Rocketeer in an original cabinet, which I found at an antique store and happily brought home. It makes the hours I spend at the machine much more enjoyable!

 

I don't really have any special sewing goals this year, except the general ones of continuing the trends already started, and more experimenting with embellishments. Several of my projects were made from vintage fabrics, and I would really like to sew more with vintage fabric in the future. I have some nice pieces that need to be given new life – and the quality is just so much more satisfactory.

 

classic white blouse, 1940s dotted Swiss dress

1940s asymmetrical skirt

 

I knew I had sewn a lot this year…some months I was finishing a project a week. Yet even I am surprised at the final numbers for my personal projects! 8 1930s makes, 13 1940s, 2 New Look styles, and 6 1950s were added to my closet. Since 7 of those were 2 or 3 pieces, that adds up even more!

  

1940s brown rayon dress, 1950s formal outfit

 

One sort of related goal for this winter is to finish getting my sewing space the way I want it. My sewing room is at one end of my bedroom, but I have some ideas for making it prettier and more practical. I was also given a vintage knitting machine which I would love to learn how to use to make vintage style sweaters!

Otherwise, I intend to relax and see what the new year brings. There are always brand new ideas crowding to the forefront of my sewing queue, but I certainly hope to finally give life to some long-awaited projects and favorite hoarded fabric too. I always try to improve my modeling and styling, and intend to master my hairstyles this coming year.

2019 may not be as productive, but that's ok. Sometimes there are higher priorities and the threads of hobbies need to be dropped for a while. Sewing, like life, goes through seasons. The important thing is to take what comes and enjoy the process.