Sewing diaries, and other inspirations

I had this for my birthday last year, and decided to track everything I made through 2017... I am seriously at risk of running out of space, and there's still some time to go... this is really handy to review the makes, but more revealingly:  how I choose to make things... I am trying to get into the capsule / more carefully curated wardrobe idea, but noticed that I am still pretty much fabric driven... and also pattern driven.... and also blog inspired - in that I read a fantastic post and decide I have to make something similar. Right now. And then there's the frantic holiday/ occasion makes...
I subscribe to Seamwork (and have finally made up something, as part of my Autumn wardrobe) and occasionally pick up other mags if I like the look of the free pattern. If there's a Fabric sale, I have to conscoiusly think about NOT buying on impulse. My 'sewing room' * is beginning to fill up with the 'to do' pile, and I run the risk of losing interest in a fabric if something more interesting comes up...I am running out of corners to hide stuff, and also wardrobe space to hang the finished articles! Why is it that handmade - even if you don't like them- are harder to part with!

I am also not a particularly slow sewer, I have very little free time at the weekend, and also once I get started, have an urge to rush to the end and try it on, there's a real sense of anticipation: will it fit, how will it look... it's such a gamble, sewing, and can be such an expensive mistake!

Looking back though the diary now is a good reminder of what I have,  and makes me wonder why I have the 'What to wear' dilemma, and also clearly shouts out: 'you need to plan a coherent wardrobe of makes!'
I hate fitting, just because it's difficult trying to do this without a fellow sewer. The spouse just isn't up to it. I hate unpicking, remaking or things going wrong in general, I don't think I'm alone in this one. I'm also not great making for other people.... I have to say that the mistakes are getting fewer, I think I am learning to choose fabric better, learning what suits me and also, little by little, refining my skills...I like to have more challenging patterns, but also want to make things that are in fashion, and when you look around, shapes and styles are pretty simple out there.  So there you have it, you can find me , on a Friday or Saturday afternoon, in my own private sweat shop! Every now and then there's a perfect rainbow of happiness when, by Sunday afternoon, something turns out better than expected  & you just know you will wear it to death.

What drives your makes? Have you tracked your makes with a diary?

*for sewing room, read also Laundry room, dumping ground, spare bedroom

How it all began...

Hello! I'm Elaine, I  thought I'd give a little history of my sewing life...I feel I have a lot to thank my mum for, as she was the one who sparked the creativity when we were young. There was always something  to make in the summer holidays: shell mosaics,  paper mache, drawing, painting, etc... and she was always sewing clothes for herself and us. I think my earliest  memory of homemade clothes were red anoraks for my sister & I which were finished the night before we went on holiday! Certainly sewing with a restricted time frame seems to have been passed on... Mum also started a soft toy home business, which we all helped with, turning through and stuffing teddies, rabbits and bean bag mice. We had the old Singer hand machine, which used to belong to my Nana.

I love the engraving and paintwork

Mum and Dad have recently moved house, and I chose to adopt the old machine, purely for nostalgia, but, wow! It's so heavy! I made loads of clothes in my mid-teens, and briefly considered a career in art and design, instead, settling for travel. I got my first machine when I was around 17, a Brother, which was pure inspiration to have a go at anything. When I married (yes, I made the dress!) & got our first house I started making curtains and blinds. So, that was 30+ years ago! I have to say there has been lulls in the sewing love... time, space and kids meant that it just wasn't possible...but not just that. .. there was a real nosedive in fabric shops, and affordability. The Internet has vastly changed that. My sister and I discovered Tilly & the Buttons blog and that restarted the drive to get making again, buzzing round London seeking out new shops. I got a new Janome machine just before Sewing Bee aired, and for once felt I was ahead of the game! So here we are, and I have realised that fabrics and sewing are a real addiction for me... things don't always work out, but that's also part of the charm. I've also realised I've become a bit of a fabric tourist when we go away as well! So, join in the journey with me on the highs and lows of making & creating!