Friday 3 January 2014

2014: the Year of More Dresses

Every year I seem to get more and more enamoured with dresses. For my New Year post last year, I had just one main resolution - to sew more dresses. I think I only actually managed to sew one more dress than the previous year, but the quantity doesn't interest me. The important thing is that I loved making them and loved wearing them throughout the year. So much so that I'm going to keep exactly the same resolution for 2014.  Is that boring? Yes. Do I care? No! I already have no fewer than four new dress patterns to tantalise me for the time being, one for every occasion...


The girly dress

After the success of my last Peony dress I'm hoping the Emery dress by Christine Haynes will produce a similar shape.  Ooh look, a bow! And a collar!!




The knit dress

The Penny Pinafore is a fab looking princess seamed knit dress and the second pattern release from Kitschy Coo. I've been living in knit dresses over Christmas so this will be a perfect new addition, maybe in a brightly coloured double knit?

The slinky party dress
There's hardly any occasion (actually change that to no occasion) where I would be required to wear a slinky party dress, but how can I not make the Georgia dress from By Hand London?!


The denim dress
I have a cunning plan to make a dress version of a pair of jeans, which for me would be a denim shirt dress. I can't believe I haven't made one already actually as I love shirt dresses and I love denim skirts. The combination of the two almost has me passing out with glee! McCall's 6696 is my pattern of choice.

So they're my first four dresses of the year, with many more to come I'm sure. As far as improving my dressmaking skills go, I have just the one thing on my list - master the full bust adjustment. Or to be more accurate, actually do a FBA, the only reason I haven't done one before now is pure laziness so there's no excuse really!

Sewing my own clothes really does keep me sane, so as long as I continue to sew clothes, enjoy making them and actually wear them, I'll be happy. If I manage to get to a few meet-ups with fellow stitchers in 2014, I'll be even happier!  Here's to a happy, healthy and successful sewing year to you all, wherever you are. Happy New Year! xx



49 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Jane! Looking forward to your sewing adventures in 2014! I totally live in dresses exclusively so will be watching with interest! Sewing and making keeps me sane too :) there's been a few moments in recent times which have been less than perfect, but I'll cheer myself up by thinking about the current sewing project, or planning a future one. My resolution for 2014 is to actually blog about what I make for a change! x

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    1. Thanks Lulu! The first two weeks of 2014 will be a bit trying for me for lots of reasons, so thinking about sewing dresses will definitely keep me sane! x

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  2. I have the same resolution as you, actually I have a plan called "A dress a month" for 2014... Lady Skater dresses planned (I love this pattern, I already made it 4 times...), and the same patterns as you, except for the Georgia dress, it's just not my style at all... Good luck with your resolution in 2014!

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    1. Thank you and good luck with your dress plan - it sounds great! x

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  3. Happy New Year! I'm all about the dresses - particularly wrap dresses because they require almost no fitting, they feel like you're wearing pyjamas, and everyone thinks you look really fancy when you wear them :) I love the Christine Johnson pattern...

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    1. Ooh you've just reminded me of another dress pattern to ad to my list - the Sew Over it Wrap Dress! Thanks Jenny! x

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  4. Happy new year to you! More dresses is never a boring resolution, no matter how many years you have it. I love your ideas!

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    1. Thanks Kelly. I'm with you all the way - in fact I might just keep the same resolution every year! x

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  5. Lovely, lovely dresses! I have the top 3 patterns and can't wait to make, but I also love the McCall's shirtdress. Delicious stuff ;o)

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    1. Thanks Marie! Can't wait to see your versions, we can be dress twins! x

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  6. I'm finally going to stop being lazy this year and learn to do an FBA, too. Bring on the closet full of well fitting dresses! :) Happy New Year!

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    1. Ah good, glad I'm not the only lazy seamstress out there! Good luck with the FBA! x

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  7. Those are great dresses, and if I had a waist I would sew them myself :)

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    1. They're all lovely aren't they?! Thanks, I can't wait to make them. x

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  8. Happy new year to you! I finally realised last year that being a tad vertically challenged (5ft 2in on a good day) I look far better in dresses so yes, I agree wholeheartedly with your plans! I'm also a little scared about doing a FBA which I know would make the fit so much better (somehow managed to get the zipper give a hunchback effect on my peony!) will have to get up the courage to give it a go! ;-)

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    1. Sounds like we're very similar shapes (and height!) I think the reason I had to do the massive back darts on my last Peony is because the back was bigger than the front to allow for my bust (I also had a hunchback effect!) I know for a fact that a FBA would have sorted the fit out much better, so I've only got myself to blame! Good luck with yours! x

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  9. Happy New Year to you! I know I'm completely biased, but I love the Emery pattern! After my usual adjustments, the fit is amazing. I love it. I can't wait to see your Emery!

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    1. I LOVE your Emery dresses, especially the first one with the circle skirt! I'm a bit dubious about such a gathered skirt so I may well have to copy that idea for my first version. Thanks for the inspiration. x

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  10. Great idea! I just live in dresses, so much easier in the morning when there's only one item of clothing to choose.
    Looking forward to seeing your finished dresses!

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  11. Yay! I just love all your creations and can't wait to see your fun dress plans!

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    1. Aw thanks Debi! Can't wait to share the finished dresses, x

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  12. Here's to dress power!! The first four offer unique characteristics for different occasions- sound planning! I'd love a dress up excuse for the Georgia too... Or the gertie bombshell which I need to revisit.... Love the shirt dress pattern too ... Great find. Happy 2014 to you too!!! Xx

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    1. Yeah, dress power! We'll have to make our own occasion to wear Georgia/bombshell dresses! Xx

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  13. Happy New Year Jane - your dress choices are just perfect and I cannot wait to see the finished dresses. Have a wonderful weekend, big hugs
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  14. I approve of this resolution! Your choices are pretty fabulous too...
    Can't wait to see what you come up with!

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  15. I LOVE the Emery and am gutted I've discovered it whilst pregnant, so am going to have to wait ages to make it! Can't wait to see yours - and the others!

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    1. I love it too! Never mine, it's such a timeless design, it can be your first project after you've had your baby! x

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  16. Hooray for dresses!

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  17. Happy New Year to you too, Jane. I look forward to seeing the beautiful dresses you'll make in 2014.

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    1. Thanks Adrienne, here's to a good one, x

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  18. Happy New Year ! Loving the sound of a denim shirt dress !

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    1. An endorsement from the dress queen herself!!!!!! Hoorah!!!!! xx

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  20. I mainly live in dresses so think this is a great resolution and nice pattern choices - I made an Emery just before Christmas and it's a lovely pattern!

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    1. Oh that's good to know, thanks Ruth! x

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  21. Happy New Year! Looking forward to seeing your progress :)

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  22. Happy New Year! I can't wait to see the finished results. I love your versions of Peony.

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    1. Aw thanks! I'm hoping the fitting of the Emery dress will be less troublesome than the Peony! x

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  23. These are all so lovely! Fantastic! I received the Emery dress pattern as a gift-- I'm excited to see what you do with it! It's so sweet!

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    1. Thanks Sonja! I've got so many versions whizzing around in my head for the Emery dress, I hope it turns out ok! x

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  24. Those dresses are definitely winners! I have not made them yet, but have seen other sewing bloggers makes and they are really lovely.

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  25. I love McCalls 6696! A good choice to practice the FBA! : )

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  26. I've pinned McCalls 6696, I like the sleeveless version. It'll look lovely in chambray too. I've just bought the Anna pattern from By Hand so I'm hoping to make that this year.

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