The Rigel Bomber and Looking Ahead

I've joined Ginger and many others in the Rigel Bomber sewalong. Hopefully, sewing the Rigel Bomber will be easier than deciding what fabric to use. I guess that is the problem with such a large stash. Finally, I have narrowed my choices to two.

This is a cotton sateen, purchased from Fabric Mart last Spring with ribbing yardage from Sew Baby. I bought the fabric to make pants. While I think pants would be super cute in this fabric, I doubt that I would wear them very often. The zipper was purchased to make the Bomber which never happened.

This is a wool sweater knit and theory cotton to make the sleeves.  Both fabrics are from Mood. The zipper and ribbing are the same as choice #1.

My concern about Choice #l is the fabric is the same as the Bomber made by Shanni.  Only the zipper color is different. I'm not sure about using the sweater knit although interfacing it should make it work. I bought this fabric to make a cardigan. Yesterday, I decided to use the polka dot cotton because I just love it. After all, I gotta decide or the jacket will never happen. Maybe I'll just go for the Copy Cat Award of 2015. I just hope that Shanni believes that copying is the highest form of flattery.

The year 2014 was the worst ever as far meeting goals. It wasn't a bad year but far from the best. My major focus was getting my arm and shoulder flexibility back. I can't believe that it took me a year, but I'm 95% there. It only hurts when I do a lot of fabric cutting. My strength is slower at returning. Would you believe 3lb weights? It is an improvement from inability to lift a gallon of milk. Don't ever break your arm! (not that anyone would plan on doing that crazy thing) Although I made a few garments that I like, I didn't finish many. I would stop working on a garment because the task was hurting that arm. (That's my reason and I'm sticking to it.)

I broke the Ready to Wear Fast in August. I needed shorts to wear on vacation and could buy them for $5. There was no way that I was going to be able to sew them. My goal to blog about the garments I made was a failure. I still have 3 garments finished that have not appeared in the limited activity on this blog. They will be coming soon. As I set out to do in 2014, one of my goals is to blog about finished garments soon after completion.

Goals for 2015:

1. Focus on garments for casual, everyday wear. I need to think more about how often I will wear each garment I make.

2. Finish the bra making Craftsy course.

3. Finish 3 quilts. I have one quilt that needs borders and another where all the blocks are completed. The third is a block of the month that is offered by my local quilt shop. It is a wall hanging of downtown DeLand, FL where I live.

4. Improve knitting and crocheting.

5. Make progress with sewing room organization.

The Results are In

I've been pondering my 2009 accomplishments (or lack of) for the past couple of days after tallying up the results. The year 2009 was okay for me with lots of ups and downs. There were few big "ups" and lots of non-serious "downs". I even thought about the value of doing goals which are only met partially. I decided there is value is reviewing at least once a year and deciding the direction for the new year. It's kinda like a pattern guide sheet. They are written to be used but followed only if it makes sense at the time. So, on with the results:

1. Each season I will make at least 4 co-ordinated garments from my current stash. For Winter, I will finish the 11 garment SWAP (in process) by March 31. I figure the best way to handle my fabric buying addiction is to work on projects from my stash.

I finished 9 of the 11 garment winter SWAP, 3 for Spring (with buttonholes remaining on the 4th), all 4 for Summer, and never even thought about a wardrobe for Fall. While the wardrobe planning does help, I do get bored about the 3rd or 4th garment and move on to other things. I think that I need to focus more on outfits. Maybe I could handle one wardrobe doing the year. I pulled out some beautiful fabric for this year's SWAP. While the colors co-ordinated, the type of fabric did not work together for a plan. I finally decided that I really didn't want to do it. The major purpose of this goal was to reduce stash which did not work at all. Fabric seems to talk to me with screams of "take me home", "the colors are perfect", "I will go with.....", etc. etc. I love my fabric stash but it simply cannot grow in 2010. The only person that I know who is concerned with stash build-up and actually conquered it in 2009 is Shannon. Maybe I will try her approach to earning dollars by excercise. At least, I would keep track of dollars spent which will scream "don't" and may be louder than the fabric.

2. I will check that have enough run-around clothes (go to the store, soccer games, etc.) and fill in the gaps with mostly easy-to-sew garments.

This goal was almost accomplished as a lot of what I made fit into this category. I still need to sew a few more of this type of garment - a couple of pullon pants and a few t-shirts would complete it. Maybe I need to follow Gwen's "stack and whack" approach or is it "whack and stack"? Whatever....I'll cut out the pants and t-shirts so they'll be ready to sew when I need a break from more challenging projects. (There's not going to be any new patterns that look simple for my easy-sewing time.)

3. In the beginning of the year, I will focus on polishing basic skills and progress with new techniques. By the end of the year, I will make at least one tailored jacket and/or coat. I really want to make a coat and won't feel like a real seamstress until I do.

I worked on this goal all year but didn't get as far as the tailored jacket and/or coat. I plan on that happening in 2010.

4. I will play Tim Gunn: clean out my clothes and make some basic black and white garments.

Tim Gunn has the right idea (I think). I did clear out some of my clothes closet but didn't finish it. There weren't any black and white garments made. I do have the fabric and patterns :). This goal will carry over to 2010.

5. I will improve my computer skills. At a minimum, I'll figure out what is going on with my Sewing Reviews and complete a storyboard.

I did figure out the problems with the Sewing Reviews but haven't done them regularly. That will change in 2010. I appreciate the reviews others do and want to give back as much as I can. The storyboard was not done, but I did figure out the problem. I have a 5-year old, very faithful computer but it's too old to handle the new programs that I have. It could be updated with more RAM and a new graphic card, but the cost is high and the fix temporary. I'm having a new computer built and will tackle all the re-installing programs "joys" in the near future.

Overall, I completed 30 garments which is 6 more than 2008 and more than I thought I'd done. I had a couple of months where I was a sewing maniac (wonderful times!!). I used 56 yards of fabric and bought a lot more than that. The breakdown is:

17 Tops
7 Pants
3 Skirts
2 Cardigans
1 Dress

The goals for 2010:

1. Earn purchases for my hobby by excercising ($10 for every hour). This includes all purchases -fabric, patterns, notions, and accessories.

2. Make a vintage dress.

3. Make 6 jackets and/or coats (includes cardigans) using tailoring techniques on at least one.

4. Finish organizing my clothes in the Tim Gunn fashion.

5. Learn to knit and complete at least one something.

6. Enter one Pattern Review Contest.

Now that the goal "guides" are listed and the wonderful holiday festivities are over, I'm ready to get to work on a , hopefully, very productive new year. Hugs and kisses to everyone who has left a comment on my blog. Those comments mean soooo much.

Happy New Year!!!!