Monday 31 December 2012

2013 sewing mantra


Good afternoon! As it's the last day of 2012, it seems like the perfect time to go through my sewing plans for the new year ahead. My sewing mantra for the year is very simple and can be summarised in three words: SEW MORE DRESSES! I love dresses: I love planning their construction, I love making them, and most of all, I love wearing them so more dresses it shall be.

Aside from a whole parade of dresses, the other plans I have up my sleeve include:

- Two pairs of trousers. One using Simplicity 3688 with the Margaret Howell "trousering" and one pair of Colette pattern Juniper trousers with a nautical spin.
- A denim Kelly skirt,
- A bow necked blouse or two
- Something in yellow…

And that's it! I don't like making rigorous sewing plans so we'll see what else turns up along the way.

Another goal for 2013 has also got me very excited. Here's a clue…

Seven year old Jane, providing glamour amidst the badlands of mid-seventies Liverpool 

Yes, I'm hoping to reprise my title of 'Hula Hoop Champion of My Street 1976' by taking up Hula Hooping again. I love the fact that in this photo, despite my mum's best efforts - nice dress, matching hair ribbons, shiny shoes - I've obviously stamped my foot and insisted on wearing Bay City Rollers socks…

I did a Hula Hoop class a few weeks ago and was hooked. Father Christmas brought me an exercise Hula Hoop (weighted for extra fat burning and consequently a bit of a killer) so bring it on! I'll be whittling my waist down so I can actually zip my dresses up, having eaten more than my fair share of pies over the festive period (ahem).

So there you have my small but perfectly formed plans for 2013, both sewing and non-sewing related. I'm also looking forward to reading your blogs, participating in a few challenges, meeting up with fellow bloggers and generally having a fine sewing year. Happy New Year! x

23 comments:

  1. I have a hoop, too, that my brilliant hoop queen (serious serious around the world hooper) friend made me. The problem I've always had with using it is that you must use it outside. Otherwise, crash, boom, bam. Maybe this is the year that I'll start using it, too.

    Seriously, Jane. You should see her body!

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  2. Sounds like great plans! My mother likes to hulu hoop too and after many years without practice can still hulu better than me. She even has the old hoop she used as a child.
    Love the picture of you! What a little cutie! Good luck on all your goals for 2013! I look forward to following them!

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  3. Oh good luck with the hoop, my daughter has the same type - I appear to lack the required skills! I love the photo, I have some of me with exactly the same hairstyle. Happy New Year :)

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  4. Excellent plans! And excellent for us that you'll be sharing your creations with us! Happy 2013!

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  5. Hurray for sewing more dresses, dresses are the best. I tried to hula hoop recently, I was hopeless, or should I say hoopless!! ha ha. Good luck with all you goals and happy new year xx

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  6. oh I love the photo Jane you look so cute. Isn't hulu hooping fun, I keep meaning to go to my local class but I never have the time so I just do it in my living room, trying not to bump into anything haha!

    snap my plan is to make more dress's too! I only made one this year! so I'm determined to make up for that next year.
    happy new year to you too :)

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  7. Jane, me too! I've missed sewing dresses having concentrated on wardrobe staples, therefore will also be rising to more dress sewing also....like the idea of hula hooping as a way to get trim! And with your history and experience you're all set for some fun! Happy new year Jane....I very much we get chance to meet up again xx

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  8. Excellent plans! I adore dresses and may have to sew at least one pair of trousers due to the freezing cold Canadian winter I live in.

    Happy New Year!!

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  9. From a fellow Jane & hula hooper: YOU GO GIRL! I love to hula hoop & won the title at my high school for the longest hooper (45 minutes). I made my own & love it. I can only hoop standing still though. I wish I could walk or do more than one hoop at a time. I guess there is a new goal for me.

    Keep us posted of your progress. Check out these videos. Inspiring.
    http://youtu.be/j46ll2_jR7k
    http://youtu.be/vWyfxWD-hlc

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  10. Can't wait to see what you get up to in 2013 Jane!
    I'm doing a meetup and swap in Walthamstow on the 19th of January if your free lovely!
    Would be great to see you!
    Happy new Year x

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  11. Oh, Jane, how fun! I was hoop champion in my neighborhood as well! There are no hoop classes at my gym, but I may have to seek one out. I love everything that you made last year. You and I both love black, white, gray and red. If we lived on the same continent we could wear each other's clothes! Did you do that with your friend growing up? It really expanded my wardrobe! Thanks for all the inspiration and the wonderful posts this past year.

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  12. Go Jane, go! Cute picture, too.
    Have a fantastic 2013!

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  13. I love the simplicity of your 2013 plans Jane, you're going to nail them judging by the amazing year you've had! I also adore your hula hoop picture...good luck taking it up again...what fun!!!

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  14. My mom was a hula hooping champion too, but it seems that the genes did not get passed on to me, as sadly I'm hopeless at it! Your seven-year-old picture is too adorable for words! And the sew more dresses mantra sounds just fine to me!

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  15. Excellent plans! I just love the idea of hula hooping for fitness - so much fun!!

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  16. Exercise hula hoop? Why have I not heard of this before?!! I was a bit of a demon with a hula hoop myself back in the late 70s (two hula hoops at once anybody?)! Good luck with your sewing and hula hooping plans, and I LOVE that photo. :)

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  17. When I was wearing RTW I could never buy a dress that fitted so didn't include them in my wardrobe. But having sewn a few recently and realised how easily they fit into a working wardrobe, I'm with you.

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  18. I agree wholeheartedly with not having any regimented sewing plans, spoils the fun. I am also of the more dresses camp - I certainly plan quite a few more, but also want to make a pair of pants that fit comfortably - hmmm we shall see now to find the perfect pattern. Looking forward to seeing your creations in 2013!

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  19. YES TO MORE DRESSES! Ahem, obviously I am going to think that. And Jane, are we going to get a photo of this hula hoop in action? I do hope so! x

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  20. Yay for plans!! More dresses is always a good start, but I can TOTALLY see you in some nautical Junipers! :)

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  21. Hi Jane this is my first ever post having only recently acquired my daughters old laptop. your clothes always look fabulous. I usually make separates but am intending to make more dresses in 2013. I discovered Goldhawk road last year after previously buying fabric in Walthamstow market. Looking forward to seeing more of your creations

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  22. Hula hooping is my main form of exercise. Love it. I make my hoops from 160 psi pvc tubing.

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  23. Jane that photo is great! I recommend the hula for waist trimming, I have one but can only use it in good weather as it's quite big and when I try to use it indoors it hits the furniture! Did you see Grace Jones singing 'slave to the rhythm' at the Queen's Jubilee concert? whilst doing a little hula all the way through - awesome. Bethx

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