Sunday, December 31, 2017

The Last Post of Twenty Seventeen

I wanted to record all of my makes for twenty seventeen - so that's what this post is about. I'm spending the last day of twenty seventeen and the first day of twenty eighteen sewing.

Some stats:
I made 50 garments this year. A number that I'm a little surprised at because that pretty much works out to a garment a week!

5 Simplicity 8059 cardigans
5 Cashmerette Concord short sleeve tees
5 TNT long sleeve shirts
4 New Look 6340 dresses
4 Cashmerette Concord tee dresses
2 Cashmerette Turner dresses
2 Maxi skirts from my TNT pattern
2 pairs of pants from my TNT pattern - one wide legged pair & one regular pair
1 Cashmerette Turner Tunic
1 Vest from Butterick 6389
1 Top from McCalls 7095
1 Top from Simplicity 8094
1 Top from Butterick 6486
1 Cashmerette Concord long sleeve tee
1 New Look 6430 tunic
1 Cashmerette Rivermont Top
1 Shirtdress from TNT shirt pattern
1 Style Arc Marilyn Dress
1 Saldana Maxi Dress from MimiG pattern
1 McCalls 7542 dress
1 Cashmerette Lenox Dress
1 Vogue 7271 maxi dress
1 Simplicity 2894 denim dress
1 Cashmerette Rivermont dress
1 Cashmerette Concord Tee maxi dress
1 McCalls 7481 jacket
1 Lil Somethin' Jacket
1 Sweater Cardigan from Vogue 9980
1 Simplicity 8303 denim coat


Pattern companies used:
Cashmerette (17), Simplicity (7), New Look (5), McCalls (3), Butterick (2), Vogue (2), Indies - MimiG, StyleArc, Lil Sumthin (3), TNT (11)


Garment types made:
Dresses (15), Tops/Tees (13), Shirts (6), Cardigans/Vests (7), Jackets/Coats (3), Skirts (2), Pants (2), Maxidresses (2) 


I'm not surprised at the number of Cashmerette patterns used but I am at the number of Simplicity patterns since I have a harder time acquiring them. I don't visit the craft store often - okay I boycott it - but I've made 12 pieces from Simplicity & New Look patterns this year, pretty amazing.

Going into the New Year:
I do want to make a bunch of long sleeve Concord tees (fabric set aside for these) and an ambitious 12 versions of my TNT long sleeve shirt (fabric set aside for these too!). Other than trying my hands at jeans since I own the Cashmerette Ames Jeans kit...anything goes!

I'm going to finish up the selfish sewing for my daughters and maybe make a few pieces for the granddaughters but that's still up for grabs.  

I plan to sew from the fabric collection more this year - using my motto "Sewing Saving and Using what I got!" I have some amazing pieces of fabric that I've collected over the years and I really want to have them in my closet instead of on my fabric shelves. But I'm not giving myself a requirement that I'm not buying fabric cause please y'all know how that works out...LOL!

I want to wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! I want to thank you all for following my sewing journeys, for leaving comments, for encouraging me and for giving me helpful advice. I hope that we all have amazing sewing journeys in 2018!

Lastly, I wouldn't be me if I didn't say something about what's going on in the USA. I kept thinking that I wouldn't add anything but I have to be true to who I am.  So I hope that we as a country can come together and end our divisiveness, that we realize we are global citizens of the world and not just America first and that we as Americans all VOTE in the midterms so that we're ALL well represented in our government!

#Don't Normalize Hate!  #Love trumps hate  #Love thy neighbor as thyself 

...see you in 2018!




74 comments:

  1. A happy and productive 2018 to you too, Carolyn. Like you, I'm aiming to use what I have in 2018. There's some good stuff in there, it deserves to be used and appreciated, not stick in a cupboard!
    And as an Australian who takes a keen interest in what is happening in your country, amen to your second last paragraph.

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    1. Paola - we've collected these amazing treasures now we should make them into the beautiful garments we imagined! Happy New Year!

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  2. Happy New Year Carolyn. What a great sewing year 2017 was for you.

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  3. Happy New Year, Carolyn. You were an amazingly productive sewist in 2017. Bravo.

    Adding my same sentiments to your closing thoughts.

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    1. Vicki - you've been following my sewing adventures almost from the start of my blog and I so appreciate it! Happy New Year to you and your amazing daughters!

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  4. Love your closing comments! So important to speak up and resist! I'm inspired by your year of sewing --I need to move beyond my tnt's. I wish I could learn to enjoy the fitting/muslining process, I always feel like sewing time is so limited that I just want to make something.

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    1. Margaret - lately it seems like speaking up isn't enough...🤔 on a sewing note, changing my job, changed my lifestyle and caused me to move outside my comfort zone where my sewing was concerned. I'm sewing different garments, revisiting skills learned long ago, and using different fabrics. This has enhanced and refreshed my sewing outlook.

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  5. Wow you've had a productive year Carolyn. I love you in red...I have told you that before. Enjoy the best of years to come in 2018!

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    1. Hey you don't look so bad in red yourself! Happy New Year to you too!

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  6. I hope for a positive and prosperous New Year for you, Carolyn, and a year of internal peace. Please keep on blogging. Amen, to your sentiments at the end of your blog.

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  7. Wow! I am retired and can’t seem to get nearly that much done. Of course, I don’t need work garments any more, but I still have an active life! When do you cull your closets? That is a problem I have. My closet won’t expand! Thanks for all your sharing, and I will definitely do my part to end the crazy divisions and I always vote! Happy New Year!

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  8. What a great roundup! I wish you happy sewing in 2018, and a wonderful year for all your family... and a year of positive change in the USA and elsewhere! <3

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    1. Miss Gillian - one of the best sewing things about 2017 was getting to interact more with you! You are amazing and hopefully 2018 will allow us to meet IRL! Happy New Year!

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  9. Thanks for another year of wonderful, inspiring posts, Carolyn! May 2018 be a year of truth and justice.

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  10. Great recap! Happy New Year Carolyn.

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  11. That's a lot of sewing! I've enjoyed following along the last few months. I like looking for the extras you add to make your garments distinctly yours.

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  12. Happy New Year and the best to you and your family in 2018 you have inspired me to do more in 2018 I am cleaning my sewing room/office today to get started thanks again

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    1. Barb - sonthrilled to hear that you are cleaning your sewing room so that you can sew in it. That's amazing!

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  13. Thanks for your blog and for being you- creative, thoughtful, thorough, generous, and humorous. Most of all your warmth shines through. You've had a beautifully productive year and look great in your makes! Thanks for your parting words about voting and overcoming our polarities. We have more in common than sewing, which is pretty wonderful in itself. Happy New Year Carolyn.

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    1. Wendyrb - yes I believe that more binds us together than divides us and we must hold fast to that! Thanks for following along and enjoying my sewing journeys and Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  14. Happy New Year to you too, Carolyn. I love the first pic of you at the top. Some denim, and classy and chic all the way. I hope the last election in Alabama showed what can happen. The African American women let their voice be heard and that was wonderful. My hope and prayer is that all voices can be heard in 2018 and that voting numbers will go up, way up. Have a wonderful sewing journey in 2018. There will be lots of us sewing right along with you.

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    1. Paula strid - my prayer is that it's not just black women who vote against the wrongs that are being done to ALL Americans. We know what we have to lose and sometimes I wonder why others don't see the injustices being committed against them? I wonder why they think these injustices won't affect them...

      Onto sewing, I'm thrilled that you will be sewing right along with me into 2018!

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  15. That is very impressive! I hope you have a Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing what you make in the New Year.

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  16. Happy New Year! love all your denim creations and congrats on finding a new work/sewing style that is perfect for how you live now. I'm looking forward to see what you come up with in 2018.

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    1. Happy New Year to you too Beth! I love forward to seeing what you create in 2018 too!

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  17. I started reading blogs a little over a year ago. Your's was the first and I found so many others from your list. But yours is the first I open. I adore you and all your sewing. Please keep doing what you are doing and how. I wish you all the best in the new year. I too hope everyone gets out and votes. Jean

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    1. Jean - thanks for faithfully following along this year, it's so appreciated! I hope you have a wonderful New Year!

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  18. Happy New Year!!! Here's to sewing in 2018!!!

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    1. Deborah - yes to lots and lots of sewing in 2018! Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  19. I guess it would be redundant for you to join the 2018 RTW Fast! :) You were so prolific in your sewing in 2017 I can't imagine you felt compelled to buy ANYTHING (other than patterns and fabric of course :) )I have joined this challenge - great fb group on this already :) I'm on a serious FAST for 2018 of RTW, fabric AND patterns. I know that sounds a little crazy but honestly I have enough patterns and fabric to clothe me for a lifetime. I'm actually hoping to keep this up until my 65th birthday (Nov 2019). Happy New Year to you Carolyn! I always look forward to reading your posts and seeing what you're up to!

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    1. Kathleen for as much as I sewed I still bought quite a bit of RTW so I'm not ready to enter the fast just yet! So even though I did have a good sewing Year I'm still working my way through sewing my entire wardrobe. I'm sure you are going to have an amazing 2018 sewing and participating in the RTW fast. Thanks for following along on my sewing adventures. Happy New Year!

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  20. I wish you a happy and healthy 2018, Carolyn, and join you in urging everyone to vote and come together for positive change!

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  21. Ah, I'm so proud that Cashmerette Patterns were your most used! What an honour.

    And as a newly minted US citizen I CANNOT WAIT to vote in the mid terms and be a part of positive change in this country.

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  22. I love your productivity AND the garments you made! Enjoy your sewcation, and Happy New Year!

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    1. Vanessa - thanks for following along on my sewing journeys this year and for faithfully leaving comments. Thank you! And Happy New Year to you and your family!

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  23. Another great sewing year! You are always so productive, I wish I could be the same. Happy new year and best wishes for a prosperous 2018!

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    1. Until I counted it up - I didn't realize I'd done so much sewing for myself so if you'd asked me I would have said I wasn't that productive either. So maybe you were more than you realized...cause I remember you making some awesome garments in 2017! Happy New Year to you too!

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  24. I am moving house in 2019 so I need to sew from the stash ONLY this year! Watching events in the USA closely, our own bonkers UK Gov is driving division and huge income disparity. 2018 needs to be better, will be better. Good people will prevail but sometimes it feels very hard. Thanks for your blog Carolyn, what a productive year, peace and good health to you and yours.

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    1. Heather - moving always makes me reconsider my fabric collection so I understand! I hope you have an amazing year and that things work out for your government in the UK since y'all are going through some huge changes this year too! Happy New Year!

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  25. A VERY productive and creative year you've had Carolyn.
    Happy New Year

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  26. I went back and read your first post of 2017. You were sick and had lost your sewing mojo. You sure got it back! Very productive year. And may love, peace and tolerance win out!

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    1. Sydney - thanks for referencing my first post of 2017 cause it made me go back and look at it too! I accomplished none of my goals stated in that post. I bought fabric like a mad fiend in 2017 from just about everywhere. I broke the pattern vow too but at least I did slow down on purchasing patterns. Lastly, it must be a new year thing cause I'm laying here sick in bed, as I type this.

      Thanks for following along on my sewing journeys and Happy New Year!

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  27. I so enjoy your blog Carolyn, and your productive output and enthusiasm for life. Your long red floral dress is absolutely one of my favourites. I also empathise with your views. It's a poor show when we are embarrassed by our leaders. Sending you love and best wishes for 2018.

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    1. Kate - thanks so much for your kind words especially since your crafting journey has been so varied and diverse this year. I'm a one note song and you're a multichord one. I've enjoyed watching you try new endeavors and appreciate it that you are a fan of my work. Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  28. Best wishes for a healthy, peaceful 2018. I had no idea that you could have made 50 garments. Amazing, and I love following you, your blog and your ideas. Thank you. Rhonda

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  29. A happy, happy New Year to you!
    What an impressive list of sewing done. I look forward to further inspiration from you in 2018.

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  30. Lovely look back at your garments for 2017. Best wishes to you and your family for a happy and healthy new year. Amen to ending divisiveness.

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  31. 50 garments?! You have most definitely had a productive year. Red is your color - you look gorgeous in red.

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    1. Tomasa,

      Happy New Year! I have to admit to being surprised by that number. I thought I'd sewn less pieces than that but those t-shirts add up.

      Thank you for continuing to visit my blog and leave comments. They are so appreciated!

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  32. I cheated and highlighted the top 5! Now I want to go back and see what pattern company I used the most! I'm excited for 2018 and thanks for the reminder on the concord T, I need to get on it, I've only made one. I hope to have a few TNTs and master pants/trousers.

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    1. I have set aside about 5 pieces of heavier cotton knit to make more long sleeve concord tees cause it's so cold here, I need as many layers as I can get! I really wrote this post for me because I wanted to see how much I'd actually sewn in 2017. I was surprised...very surprised.

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  33. Carolyn, thank so very much for your analysis, awareness, and generosity. Your blog teaches and inspires me. We are the change and let's keep up the great grassroots work!

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    1. Golden Star - I'm just a small ripple in the pond. There are people out there advocating for real change and I salute them because without them my ripple would mean nothing! Thanks for following along on the blog and Happy New Year!

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  34. Happy New Year Carolyn, wishing you a fantastic 2018. You have had an amazing year this year and I look forward to seeing your makes in 2018.

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  35. 50 garments in one year is amazing. I can't seem to get two a year made. All are beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing what you do in 2018.

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  36. Happy New Year Carolyn!! Your productivity is a great inspiration to me so I look forward to seeing what you will make this year. I'm always excited when you announce intentions to sew more from your stash as I think this is something we all hope to get better at!

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  37. You had an impressively productive year in 2017, Carolyn! Happy New Year and may it be even better than last year! I'm looking forward to reading about your new sewing adventures.

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  38. Congrats to 50 garments! What an inspiration, love your blog! Your first picture with the jeans and jacket is fab, did you make them? The red dress beautiful.
    Agree with your closing thoughts!
    Janice - sewer & knitter

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    1. Janice - the jacket was me-made but the tank top and the jeans are RTW. Jeans are on my list of things to make this year!

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    2. I had the same question about the jeans, they look great on you. Since I'm doing the 2018RTWFast, I may have to join you with making jeans this year. Thank you for all of the encouragement to sew! Love your blog!

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  39. A phenomenal output considering you have a full time job. Just out of curiosity do you have a spare machine in case the Janome has problems (I had a peek at your sewing space and didn't see one).

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    1. Gernella - I have a Janome 6600P and a NH/Janome 8000 as my back up machines. I only pull them out to use when someone is sewing with me or I take my baby to be serviced. And yes, they are stored out of sight in the sewing cave.

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  40. Just discovered your blog, it’s terrific! Sorry I’m so late to your party! Thanks for sharing your work. Keep up the brilliant work! Cheers Kate

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  41. Excellent wrap up post - from beginning to end! Excited to follow along with all of your makes in real time for 2018. :)

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    1. Amber - I'm so thrilled that you are sewing and blogging again! Believe me I will be following along on your sewing adventures!

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  42. Your end of the year list is always amazing and inspirational. A happy and productive new year for both of us! I finally got off my ass and joined a local action group dedicated to changing Congress at the mid terms. I agree with you completely. All of our votes count and we should all be registered to vote. Without that we can't have a say in how our country works.

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