Year end review (just for laughs)

OK, time to review all my (cough, cough) lofty sewing goals for the year and see what (if anything) I actually accomplished.  Here they are:

•  Organize my sewing space - and keep it that way!

I reconfigured my bedroom storage closet so I have a lot more shelving, and that helps.  But my sewing table is a continual struggle to keep neat and tidy.

• Sew every day, even if it's only for a few minutes

Nope.  But I look at my sewing stuff every day...

• Make muslins more often

I'm definitely doing this, with mixed results.  I expect that now that I have slopers that fit me, I'll have a lot more success in the future.

• Finish at least one garment per month 

How about every other month?

• Finish my daughter's Halloween costume by mid-October

This one doesn't count, because I couldn't get her to decide what she wanted to be until we were on vacation to Seattle in late October.  She went as a bunny rabbit, wearing a costume made from a large bath sheet with a bunny hood on it (gift from her great Aunt Sally, not sewn by me).

• Spend less time READING/BLOGGING about sewing/knitting, and more time sewing/knitting 

Um....yeah...about that one...

• Figure out some way to make money sewing, or teaching sewing - and DO IT!

I *did* this - I've talked with the director of my daughter's school, and if I can get my stuff together, I may be teaching some afterschool kids' classes, or even some evening classes for adults in 2011.

• Sew more clothes for my daughter 

I'm definitely sewing more for her, probably 2/3 of my finished items were for her.

• Stop buying mass-produced crap clothing (including thrift store stuff that doesn't fit well); buy local/handmade products whenever possible 

I'm still shopping at Goodwill, but for things I can refashion.  Mostly for my daughter, though.

• Make myself a great fitting:
• woven blouse
• winter coat
• pair of jeans
• bra

The blouse and coat are now within striking distance.  The jeans and bra will have to wait until 2011, I think.

• Work on improving my skills and learn how to:
• insert an invisible zipper
• sew on Slinky knit so it doesn't look like crap
• use some of the tools/notions I haven't used much (or at all)
• make great buttonholes 

I've given up on the Slinky knit sewing, mostly because I don't really love the fabric.  But I've practiced quite a few zippers and buttonholes this year, and I think I have greatly improved my skill in those areas.

Though it wasn't on my list, my big achievement was taking the moulage workshop with Kenneth King this year.  I am really looking forward to working with my slopers to create the best fitting clothes I've ever made. (Stay tuned for my 2011 sewing goals...)