Happy New (Gregorian calendar) Year!!
So, are you a sewing planner?
What does 2020 hold for your sewing?
Sometimes I feel that I spend more time planning my sewing than actually sewing it. I have dozens of pages of plans and lists and tables of when I might fit in which projects.
But the truth is, I don’t actually make sewing plans with the expectation of following them.
More often than not, I don’t.
For me, the purpose of planning is to get the projects out of my overly-excited mind and safely away on paper, where I can evaluate their viability more objectively. I need to see if I’m just as excited about my ideas in 2 weeks time as I was when the idea first jumped into my head at 3AM.
My endless listing habit also enables me to make little annotations and develop my ideas further.
The purpose of sewing plans, for me, is to take control of the stream-of-consciousness-sewing-excitement which would be running non-stop through my brain otherwise.
Which is why this post is not going to be about my sewing plans for the year, but more about my sewing goals.
And, my sewing goals for 2020 can be summarised pretty easily.
Sew less.
Sew better.
Sew smarter.
Sewing less
So, it turns out I sewed a little over 50 garments for myself in 2019.
2018 was about the same.
Clearly, I need to slow it down.
I’m already struggling desperately for space. I have reached a point where I consume FAR more as a sewist than I ever did buying RTW (I would never have purchased 50 garments a year!!)
So the main aim for me is that I want to be sewing less, but better and smarter.
Buy less
The first component of sewing less, for me, is buying less fabric.
Which is genuinely difficult for me as I feel that, over time, it is a love of textiles, more than anything, which drives my sewing practice.
I would love to be able to just go on a fabric buying fast.
But I know that this would not work for me. In the theme of the new year, strict fad diets are likely to have less long term impact than slow, steady changes of habits.
Plus I’m soon traveling to Australia for the first time since THE FABRIC STORE opened in my hometown, so I just have to hit that up in person.
But I have a few concrete ideas to try to curb my fabric consumption by making tangible changes to habits, rather than placing an unrealistic expectation to simply turn away completely from something I love.
The first is very simple.
No buying fabric when I should be sleeping.
I suffer from stress-related insomnia at times and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve purchased fabric at 4am in the morning as some kind of desperate, hopeless trade off: I will be unable to function entirely tomorrow, I feel like I am living in a fog, but at least some gorgeous fabric is winging its way toward me.
An unhelpful habit of seeking a false form of consolation which I need to bring to an end.
So no more buying fabric after midnight. If I need it, I will still need it during work hours.
My second rule is to try to buy fabric one piece at a time.
My spending habits often involve me wanting to buy ONE piece of fabric. But then I will think, wait, let me just see what else this store has at the moment and I end up adding 1-2 other pieces of fabric, which weren’t by primary target, to the basket. It’s those “basket filler” fabrics which often stay in my stash for longest. And which impact my capacity to sew through my stash.
After all, I can sew through a new piece of fabric in a week. But 3-4 new fabrics in the post represents a months’ worth of sewing.
So, my aim is really to buy fabric one at a time, as much as possible. Yes, shipping costs will make it more expensive, but I have a suspicion I won’t really miss the “fillers” too much.
My final change to buying practice is not to purchase during sales. Again, I find that the fabrics that linger for the longest in my stash are things the I have purchased on sale.
So, I will not give in to the allure of 20% off. Of course, if there is something I want or need and I know a sale is on its way, I will wait and purchase on sale. But I will no longer go and look at websites simply because the sale is on and I don’ want to miss out.
That bargain is ultimately of little value if it spends years languishing in the stash.
Sew better
So, if I’m sewing less, the trade-off should be that I’m sewing better.
There are, of course, many ways to conceptualise this.
I already feel that, for the most part, ever since really reflecting on my style after Me Made May in 2019, I’ve been pretty satisfied overall with how I’ve been actively think about my wardrobe as a whole and building something more cohesive, reflecting the style I wish to portray.
For 2020, I want to keep this happening.
I also want to really take the time to think about how I can make a project the best it can be. I’m not talking here about French-seaming it or actual sewing details but bigger picture visions.
For example, I’ve had in my mind the idea of making the Fibre Mood Susan Dress in a fluid drapey stripe for many months now.
Near-enough-is-good-enough Beck would have found the closest thing to the stripe I am imagining and have made it by now.
But sew better Beck is going to wait until I find the exact stripe which is running around my head. And if I can’t find it, I will figure out how to use Spoonflower to create it myself.
Whilst I don’t usually care too much about how my insides look and this is unlikely to change, sewing better, for me, is going to be really about taking the time and not rushing to ensure I’m really thoughtfully executing my vision to the best of my abilities.
Connected to this, I really want to try to stay focussed. You see, I have a tendency to fall down rabbit holes.
For example, in 2019 I wanted to make Avery leggings.
So I made THREE pairs and I also bought a range of fabrics to sew an accompanying active wear wardrobe update.
Most of those fabrics remain unsewn.
I wanted new pleat-front work pants, so I sewed 3 pairs. They are all fantastic, but I don’t wear them all that regularly cut, well, three pairs of pants in similar colors are a lot!!
When rabbit holes tempt me, I need to try to remind myself that one-at-a-time will get me there just as fast. If I really needed those three pairs of legging, I would still make them eventually.
Beware the rabbit hole, Beck!!!
Sew smarter
But my primary objective for 2020 is to try to sew smarter.
Again, there are a myriad of ways this could be conceptualised.
I’m aiming to focus on a couple of things.
First, I want to think critically about the patterns I am sewing.
Before embarking on a project, I want to look at my style mood boards over on Pinterest and reflect on my wardrobe gaps and think about whether the pattern, as drafted, is really what I need. I want to think about whether I can modify the patterns I am about to sew to elevate it from “good enough” to “perfect for my specific needs”.
This may even necessitate the sewing of muslins more often (although not all the time – I’ll forever be a quick and dirty sewist at core!).
My other sew smarter resolution is that I will not buy a new release pattern until at least one week after it is released. After all, these are PDFs. They aren’t going anywhere!! Knowing that I get easily swept up in the hype, I need to give myself some space before consuming. Really, most of my goals this year are really just about tempering my worst personal tendencies!
My other tangible goal to help me sew smarter is to only buy and print patterns one project in advance.
At one point in 2019, I planned out a few months worth of sewing and purchased all the patterns and printed them.
Always prepared, right?
Half of those printed patterns are still sitting in the corner of my sewing table.
I change plans.
A lot.
New ideas and options become available. For example, I have a cut out version of the paper pattern of the Morris Blazer by Grainline which I abandoned after the release of a better option: I loved the Fulton Sweater Blazer even more.
Although I’m yet to actually sew either.
Again, patterns aren’t going anywhere. To avoid that pile of printed but unsewn patterns which seem to mockingly haunt my sewing table, I will only buy and print for my next project.
Two, at absolute most!
Another thing I am interested in exploring in 2020 is whether there are any apps and tech solutions which could help me keep better track of in vs out of my fabric stash and collecting some data on what I actually wear day-to-day. I feel that there are some real insights to potentially be made but I’m also a tad scared (of both getting started and of the potential results!!). No promises, but I’m curious to see if there is anything out there which might help me to sew smarter?
Anyone use anything?
2020 on the blog
Speaking of my sewing practice more generally, I also have some objectives for the blog this year.
I love writing this blog – regardless of whether anyone is reading!
So I want the blog to continue. And with as close to it’s current posting frequency as possible.
But, if I’m slowing down my sewing, well, it’s simple mathematics.
I will need to make an effort to blog things other than completed makes to achieve that objective.
There is so much possibility in this regard: I’m really excited by it.
I am thinking about things like reviews of sewing books/magazines, work-in-progress blog posts, posts about issues related to our sewing practice, posts reviewing which me-made garments are most worn and why.
Which ones I’ve ended up tossing in the bin!!!
Would love to hear what you guys think about this kind of content and if there is anything else you would like to see from me.
And, indeed, if your response is “don’t waste your time, I only want to see finished makes”, feel free to tell me that too!!
On to 2020
So, all in all, these sewing goals aren’t exactly rocket science!
I’v tried to be common sense.
To break it into a few concrete, actual steps I can take and see what impact it has on my sewing practice.
I’m also going to re-read this post at least once-a-month to remind myself what I have committed to!
So, 2020, let’s see how this goes….
What about you?
What are you sewing goals, hopes and dreams for the year?????
I love to read the “sewing misses” posts at the end of the year. I like to think this isn’t schadenfreude. I think it’s that it’s interesting to get the longer term review of how the item fitted into someone’s life especially because the items often look great in the original blog photos. So personally I’d love to read more of these on blogs. PS Thanks for taking the time to blog!
This is definitely something I want to do. It’s so true that first impressions and day-to-day wearability can differ greatly. I’m hoping to try to do quarterly round ups of how my garments are actually working in practice!
Love these goals! I can help keep you on track with these and you can tell me to get off Instagram and go and sew already!
I’m looking forward to reading your ‘other than finished garment’ blog posts too. I love a post mortem that looks back at finished pieces with the benefit of hindsight; I think we can learn so much from it. Such an exciting year to come!
Deal! Let’s try to help each other out!! And so glad you’re not a bot for once!!!!!
I’d love to see works in progress posts. I find it really inspiring to see someone actually doing the work, not only the glam pics of finished projects. And to join the choir I’d love to see more of the bloopers (or wins for that matter) what holds up, what you’d do differently. And also an evaluation of your goals, maybe mid-year? to see if it worked.
All great ideas!! I’ll add them to the list!
Enjoyed reading this. Think your plan is insightful it will be enjoyable to read about your journey. I also love the idea of talking about how much you wore the garments. Thanks
Yes please to keeping up the blog broadening the range of topics! I love reading your posts and find them honest and entertaining, and very helpful if I’m considering making the same pattern. Reading blogs is so much more satisfying and informative than clicking ‘like’ on an Instagram post. Can’t wait to see what you make this year!
Hi there! People are definitely reading!
I haven’t blogged for long, and I’m not consistent enough to keep an engaged audience so I can’r compare blogging now to it’s glory days… but I know I for one love reading blog posts more now than ever. And I’m finally finding my voice and more confidence to write more often. I do share the feeling of “talking to myself”, but I think that’s because compared to IG interaction on the different blogging platforms is far from excellent and this put people off commenting. All this to say: please keep blogging! We’re here!
To the point of your post: I can so very much relate. I have a strong minimalist streak which clashes terribly with my desire to make and learn more about sewing. I am much less prolific than you, but still the conflict is just as strong. I am trying to find pleasure from other thing: making planning a part of the sewing project rather than prep; spend more time researching fabrics and buying more slowly; challenge myself to use what I have… but most importantly I want to try and sew for others. I have come to realise I love sewing more than I love owning the garments, so an easy fix to avoid personal overproduction is to share! I’ll see how it goes, it might be i’ll end up quite dispassionate, but it’s worth a shot!
Looking forward to reading more of your 2020 sewing adventures!
Thanks for leaving such a thoughtful comment. I think finding joy in other parts of the process will also be key to me slowing down too! I haven’t yet reached a point where I really, really want to sew for others but I do think it’s something that might happen one day (just after I have my dream wardrobe, right???)
Ah this was a great post, I like your approach for sewing goals! I am planning to make a quarterly planning each season this year and plan only a few projects. I love challenges like Make Nine, but my plans and ideas change so much throughout the year that they aren’t really making sense halfway through the year…
About other blog content than just makes: I’ve been updating my sewing blog regularly for about 2 years now. My ratio of makes/sewing related posts is about 50/50. And I notice the ones NOT about the makes, receive the most views. After all, a garment is pretty personal and not everyone relates to a dress in the same way as I do. One of my most read blogposts is actually about where to buy good low-budget sewing supplies cause we Dutchies are cheap, hahaha!
Also, have you considered destashing a little by selling the fabric you really don’t use anymore?
Good point, more general posts are likely to be of more general interest! I also think I’ll have to get google translate to work to read your post about cheap sewing supplies! As for a destash, I actually had everything ready to go for one earlier this year then had to have an emergency surgery and put it on hold! In all honesty, the amount of work it will talk to create and chase up invoices, pack and post just isn’t something I have right now. Maybe in the future! Or if you know of a nice Dutch fabric swap event….
Yes please to a broader range of topics; I’m interested in all you mentioned: works-in-progress, post mortems, reviews of sewing publications, life in Belgium… Looking forward to reading what you come up with in 2020!
Oh Beck, I SO FEEL YOU on everything you’ve said inracet this post .. I too (and I’m older than you by quite a bit..) still struggle with resisting the lure of the ‘shiny and new’ when it comes to patterns ans fabric. Your goals are wonderful, and I plan to nick them! In addition, I’ve just recently started documenting my makes in journal which has croques on every page. I glue in a swatch of thd fabric used, smetch the garmeny, and make notes of the pattern, size, mods etc. I’m hoping that even the less successful makes will serve an educational purpose for me.
Here’s to a less wasteful 2020!
That sounds like the journal of my dreams! What a great way to keep track and make the planning part of the experience too. And, as for age, I’m pretty sure I’ll still be tempted by the shiny and new when I’m 100 or so!!!!!!
I relate to ALL of this: your post and the discussion. Yours are sewing words to live by. I so wish I wasn’t a selfish sewist. I just can’t seem to drum up the excitement when sewing for others. One of my solutions is passing on garments I’ve made that aren’t quite right to my sister or daughter, but that doesn’t make a dent.
Please keep blogging and posting!!
Thanks for sharing! On the rare occasions I do sew for others it’s not as bad as I was expecting. But still, it’s usually a year or so before I do it again! Perhaps when time isn’t such a precious commodity it will seem more appealing. In any event, I’m sure your family members are thrilled by your “not quite right” items!
You are a sewing machine! I didn’t make anywhere near that much and most of it worked for me. I’m adding more workout gear and just starting to make yoga pants since that’s what I seem to wear a lot. I do need to source the right fabric for that but I haven’t found much in NZ yet. My main sewing this year though is likely to be for my husband and boys. Youngest is very long in the leg but slim, so trousers are hard to find that are long enough and don’t fall off his hips. Eldest is easy to buy for luckily. Dh however is short and solid; he needs new trousers both for work and casual, so I have a small pile of suitable fabrics out of the stash and some Burda patterns ready to cut out for his new size. My wardrobe has most of what I need now so it’s time to focus on the other family members.
That’s a great sentiment. Maybe one day I’ll feel the same!! And activewear fabric is really tough to find – couldn’t find good stuff in Europe so most of mine was from Blackbird, so not local to NZ!!
I’m definitely a planner! I’m also much more into the process of making something than the finished item. (Which resulted in lots of “when did I ever think I’d wear this?!” makes when I first began learning to sew…)
I’m trying to turn this into more of a feature than a bug by really enjoying the process of planning projects and thinking about how they’ll work in my actual life, so your post really spoke to me. I want mine to be digital and accessible from most places, unlike the actual sewing. I’m just starting out with a few tools that I hope will be useful and interesting — though, honestly, they’re each kind of a process in themselves!
I’m gradually adding my clothes to Stylebook, which has a number of wears tracker and a cost-per-wear calculator (I haven’t used that, but others like it; I’m more interested in some of the outfit planning parts.) And I’m starting to add planned sewing projects to it as well, so I can see how those pieces would work in outfits.
I also decided to try MyBodyModel’s custom croquis, so I can see what something might look like on my body. I’ve never drawn much, but I figured I could manage a rough sketch just for me. I’m trying that in the Sketches app, since something about being able to erase so easily appeals to me.
I believe there was a Love To Sew podcast episode about tracking fabric stashes that might have more tool ideas for you? Thanks for the lovely blog!
Thanks so much for sharing this info. I will definitely check out style book to see if it will work for me. And re-listen to that love to sew episode! I love the idea that the planning part can be a feature and not a bug!!
I can relate to (almost) all of the above. I hope you don’t mind if I make some of your resewlutions mine.
I’ve started documenting what I’m wearing with an app called “your closet” to see what I actually wear from my me-made wardrobe and how often. Tha app also calculates the cost per wear of each item if you enter how much it cost you. It can also generate outfits, packing lists,… if you’re into that. I’m on Android and I dont’t know if the app runs on iOS.
Please adopt any of these resewlutions that work for you! I’d be honored!! I’ll look into the app, thanks for sharing. Just the kind of info I needed!
Hi Beck, as I’m all about mindful sewing, your goals are 100% up my street! Remember that tracking the goals is the easiest way to stick to them. I hope you manage to keep on top of them, but don’t give yourself too much grief if not.
I wanted to add my 2 cents on the fabric tracking. From personal experience with the wardrobe tracking, a simple Excel spreadsheet is actually the quickest and easiest way to track anything. You don’t need an app or anything more complicated. Just start with the column headers of what you’d like to record and see if that works for you. You can even add pics if you want to. I use Google Sheets and you can access that on your phone if you need to do it on the go. I don’t need pics as most of my fabric is plain (not printed) and I can remember what they are without them.
Have a great 2020!
Thanks for the tip! Indeed, since it is really only in and out that I’m interested in, I worry that an app like trello could be overkill! A spreadsheet could totally work!!
Hi Beck, I’ve been down your sewing rabbit hole. After my body settled into the new “normality” after kid #1 I made 27 things in 5 months and subjected hubby machine noise every. single. night (I used to sew in the dining room). Same as you, I never ever bought much RTW with that frequency in my life as I did fabric – some still sitting in boxes years later.
A few ideas on sew less – for resisting sales, try unsubscribing to email lists, forces you to work harder to look for things. I also find a lot of satisfaction in shopping my wardrobe. When I have an idea it’s helpful to see what outfits it could make! Sometimes so much imaginary shopping means I get over the need to sew it.
Finally, we are here and reading your blog 🙂 Your colour palette and style is lovely and defined, and even if you are living in a fog after a 4am wakeup you still look fantastic in your me-mades in the daytime and we will admire them on the internet!
Thanks Kate, feels nice to be reminded I’m not alone. The rabbit hole is real and it feels like as my size and style change, I’m still not quite getting it right! So I appreciate your reassurance. I’ve also started to look into some tracking tools based on some suggestions in these comments and I feel like that’s maybe a useful way for me to channel my “rabbit hole” energy! And You’re totally right – unsubscribing is key. I’ve already cut down from 20+ fabric store/indie pattern email subscriptions to 2-3 but somehow I still always hear about the styles on insta! I just need to stay strong!
Hi Beck, enjoyed reading your plans and look forward to seeing and reading about your progress. I too have pages of sewing plans and lists of things to make but never seem to get round to them all as something new and shiny always pops up. I have been using the StyleApp since May and have found it very useful in seeing my most worn (including RTW) and least worn as a driver for what I should be making. For 2020 I have also decided to slow my sewing down and to try and use up stash fabric where possible (I have it all detailed on a spreadsheet including meterage, date bought etc) and then plan only to buy for the next project when I do go to buy.
Good luck x
Thanks for sharing! It’s so nice to hear about the tools others are using to try to achieve similar goals!! Good luck with your 2020 goals!!
Just found your blog, and this topic was spot for me. I’m not a fast sewer, so I really need to be more strategic about what I do sew … instead of just falling in love with a fabric or pattern without figuring out how/if it will work with the rest of my wardrobe. So I particularly relate to your desire to “sew smarter” and to cut back on impulse fabric purchases (my stash already overflows!).
So glad the message resonates with you! Let’s all sew smarter this year!!
When I first started sewing on a slightly more regular basis a couple of months ago, your blog was my rabbit hole – and I don’t mean it in a bad way, I just want to say that I almost methodically devoured it, one post after the other, because it seemed as if a really valuable piece of advice was contained in each one of these posts, even though at the beginning, all I had under my belt, sewing-wise, were pyjamas for my daughter and I wasn’t dreaming of even going near something like the Jasika blazer any time soon.
I am now breaking my lurker status to tell you that I feel like you put my exact thoughts into words with this post! I have a considerable stack of fabrics that I don’t have time to sew anything out of, but each one of these fabrics either a) looked amazing and I *needed* to have it even though I had no idea what to do with it, and still don’t, or b) it was on sale/the last piece and if I don’t snatch it quickly, somebody else will (and, presumably, the world will then explode? I don’t know…). I work a lot and when I don’t, I’m often too tired to even prepare and cut my fabric, let alone actually see something out of it because I’m scared of making a mistake because I’m to tired…and the vicious circle continues! But I’m glad that I’m not the only one with these dilemmas! 🙂
Thank-you so much for coming out of hiding and commenting (although I spent about 3 years lurking around sewing blogs before starting my own so I love lurkers too!). Happy to be your rabbit hole!! And as for fabric, The struggle is real, right? You know, I remember one time when I missed out on a real ‘it’ fabric I wanted. I kept stalking it and eventually found it on Etsy. It came and it took more than a year for me to sew it. And when I did, I wasn’t sure it was even still my style!! All this to say that that scenario is probably more likely than a head falling off!! Hope the exhaustion improves and take it easy on yourself if you’re not up for sewing – it’s only a hobby! Best one in the world, but a hobby nonetheless!
(Looks like this post brings out all the lurkers haha – hi!) I love all of this. I’ve gradually started working on similar goals and really look forward to seeing how you get on.
My main issue is getting carried away with ideas and thinking that if I buy fabric for 3-4 different project at the same time I’m also going to sew them up before my next fabric buying urge hits me. Surprise – I don’t. I’m now trying to say no to adding fabrics e.g. just to get free delivery when I’m only after one piece of fabric and instead adding swatches of the other fabrics that have caught my eye to the order. I’ve found that it really helps me to either a) realise that I don’t really like the fabric for whatever I had in mind or b) decide that I do like it and add it to my ‘to buy’ queue for when I intend to use it or wait for a sale to come up, and I ideally have both a pattern AND time set aside to make it! Seriously, coming to terms with that I probably don’t NEED the fabric straight away and that I have time to order swatches first has been so good and freed up a lot of headspace.
Also, I can’t believe how many garments you’ve made in a year! You always include lots of useful information in your finished garment posts that others often don’t but I’m also always interested in mid-project posts, planning, good fabrics and how they wear, muslins (if you change your mind!), favourite garmets, how people set up their sewing space and even when they get their sewing done in the day. 🙂
Thanks so much for contributing. Those are great ideas. I actually tried the swatch thing on a recent purchase and it totally worked. Once I saw the swatches I didn’t feel the need to buy any of them whereas if I’d just added them to the order already, I would have been obliged. It’s a super tip!!!
I’m such a sucker for free delivery or stacked discounts, and you’re right, the ‘fillers’ are the pieces of fabric I ignore or avoid. One piece at a time – an excellent goal!
Another wonderful thoughtful post, I think it’s clear you don’t need to post a FO to make readers happy. 🙂 Also, my partner has stress-related insomnia too, and I’m sorry, that stinks!! I wish he’d solved it so I could tell you how.
Hehe, if he ever figures out a solution, please share!!!!
Love your goals for 2020. Good luck with them. I have to admit looking at that Susan dress, correct me if I am wrong, however I feel it is very similar to the Olya shirt dress, could you just lengthen that one and save money on the pattern?
It’s similar indeed! But I subscribe to Fibre Mood so I already own both of them!
I just discovered your blog and I’m hooked! Loved all the posts I’ve read so far, and I’m planning on reading them all one by one. I think it’s safe to say I would read wathever the subject, but I’d sure love some books/magazines reviews as well as feedbacks on your makes after a while (or some ideas on how to wear them).
I’m also hoping to sew smarter this year, thanks for the reminder!
Yeah, I’m glad you discovered and enjoyed! I’m definitely hoping to branch out more this year! Thanks for the feedback!!
Good luck with your goals. I’m the same about buying sale fabrics; maybe I should rethink my fabric buying strategies. 😐