Looking Back on 2018...

The sewing in 2018 has been much better than the previous year.  It was a busy year but I still found time to sew which felt really good.  Here is my favorite pattern from 2018:

This is The Magic Pencil Skirt pattern by Pamela's Patterns.  I made this skirt three times this year.  Once in a herringbone knit, one in a stretch woven, and once in a cotton jersey.  In all three cases, I made a size medium.  The herringbone skirt is a little bit big.  The cotton jersey is too big and I intend to take it apart and restitching to make it smaller.  The stretch woven skirt is really my favorite.  It was the last skirt that I made and the change that I made is I took larger seams fitting it a little bit closer.

My least favorite item this year was: 

This is the Uvita Top pattern by Itch to Stitch.  This is a free pattern.  I used a really nice knit that I found in the stash and thought that it would be perfect for the pattern and it was kinda.  My issue with my top was that it wouldn't stay put.  It wanted to move upward.  I did make a change to the top by adding darts instead of making a muslin I just sewed it up.  I think this may have been part of the issue. In general, this type of issue would indicate there wasn't enough room.

The most requested items that I had this past year was shopping bags.  I made bags for my son and my husband.  The pattern used was from The Creative Thimble website and is listed under the freebies.

This year I joined up with a group that had a goal of sewing 50 yards of fabric for the year.  I didn't think it was possible but I did end up sewing around 70 yards of fabric.  Unfortunately, I purchased around 57 yards.  At least, that is what is on my spreadsheet.  My actual goal for purchases was zero but sometimes you just don't have what you're looking for in the stash.  I will say that I was much more mindful on purchases this year.  I'm happy that I actually sewed a little more than I purchased.  I will be following this group again for 2019.

How was your 2018 sewing?  Did you accomplish what you wanted to accomplish?

Happy Stitching!

Shopping Bags...

Back in February I made shopping bags for my husband.  They have been very useful every single week.  Our grocery trips always end up with us going to multiple stores.  Grocery shopping is such a chore. 

Now, my son has requested his own shopping bags.  So, I made him two using the same pattern as the bags made for my husband.  He doesn't drive so he will need a sturdier bag to carry things from the local Dollar General.  Yep, that will be his grocery store throughout the summer.  Since they are the only grocery store in the little town where he is living.  They do carry basic refrigerated items and a large selection of canned goods.  Although some of his friends might take pity on him and take him to the next town to Walmart.  There will be no summer bus service to Walmart provided by the school. 

Here's the bags that I made him:

I'm sure if he wants more he will request them. 

This is the last of the yellow/blue stripe fabric in yardage form.  This fabric could yet show up again in quilt blocks.

Happy Stitching!

New Shopping Bags...

A few months back my husband requested additional shopping bags.  How could I turn him down?  He rarely asks for anything.  So, I purchased some fabric which turned into stash because at that point in time we were in the middle of all the events of 2017.

In mid-January, I asked him to pick the style of shopping bag he wanted and it was the Fabric Shopping Bag from The Creative Thimble.  Check out the free patterns that are available and while you're there check out the other patterns, too.

I have made this pattern before, way back in September of 2008. Wow!  I didn't really realize that it had been so long ago.  Here's the review at Pattern Review.  Here's my newest versions:

I do plan on making a couple more.  That way each vehicle will have at least 4 bags for shopping.

The instructions for this shopping bag is super easy.  You just need the fabric, a ruler, marking pen, and scissors.  Of course, a rotary cutter will work, too.  There are a couple of things that I did differently with this set:

1.  Topstitched the top edge of the bag.
2.  Topstitched the handles within 1-inch of the edge.

We'll see how these changes work out.  The only other thing that I had thought of was to add a hanging loop.

What do you think of the new bags?

Happy Stitching!