** Edited: If you are posting Top 5 lists, you can now head over to this post and leave a link to your posts in the comments!**
Can you believe the year is almost over? Eeek! How did that happen? It does mean one good thing though – It’s time for the Top 5 of 2014 series!
I started this little tradition in 2012, and invited you to join me… and was shocked when people actually did! (I’d only been blogging for a year at the time, and the term “sewcialist” hadn’t even been created… I don’t think I was on Twitter, and certainly not Instagram… In other words, it was only 2 years ago, but a lot has changed.) Last year over 100 bloggers participated. I wonder how many will join in this year?
How does this work?
Take some time to celebrate your accomplishments by writing a series of Top 5 posts about your hits, misses, highlights, reflections and goals. The only rule is that there are no rules: You can change, adapt, or combine the posts in any way you want! I usually start posting my own lists midway through December, and finish up in the first week of January, but you can post at your own pace.
What are the post categories?
- Top 5 Hits: What have you worn or loved the most? (This could include TNTs or a special frock for a big event. It’s up to you!)
- Top 5 Misses: What went wrong or never got worn? (We all have those horrific fails tossed in a corner, right? Or the garments we wore for blog photos and never again? It’s time to ‘fess up!)
- Top 5 Highlights: Tell us about 5 non-sewing highlights of your year! (This is a new category this year, designed to celebrate your life beyond sewing! This could be about work, family, health, or your other hobbies.)
- Top 5 Reflections: Looking back, what have you learned about sewing or yourself? (We often focus narrowly on each project, so this is a chance to step back and appreciate the whole picture.)
- Top 5 Goals: What do you hope to achieve in 2015? (General or specific, what are you looking forward to trying?)
How can I join?
Easy! Just grab the graphic from Flickr, and start writing! You could also share on Instragram or Twitter using the hashtag #sewingtop5. Once things get rolling I’ll have a post on my blog where you can link to your list in the comments, and explore the links from other sewists.
That’s it! I hope you join in, in whatever way makes sense for your busy life. I always make new friends through this series, and get to know familiar bloggers better!
Are you in?
Crafting A Rainbow 
I probably SHOULD do this challenge… it might be good for me to reflect on last years sewing and think about what is next… I can’t promise anything except that I look forward to reading yours!!
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I hope you do join in! I’m curious to see which of your clothes really get worn, and which didn’t become favourites… and you can always do one big combined post, or skip some of the lists is time is tight! 😉
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I love this challenge and reflecting on the past year of sewing. Such a great idea Gillian!!
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You’ve had an amazing year of sewing! Did you even have a blog a year ago? I’m so glad we’ve gotten to know each other! 🙂
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I had a blog, but I didn’t sew or blog about it there! I’m so glad we “met” too – and it was because of this series you put on last year that I found you! 🙂 Yay!
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Sheesh. Time really does fly! I feel like I just finished reading the Top5 of 2013 posts!
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This has been a big year for you! With lots of waiting for things to happen there in the middle… You know, I should have mentioned in the post that knitted items could be included too, because really, so many people do both! Can I convince you to join in too?
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This is a good list of questions you have. I’m always nosey about what gets worn (and what doesn’t) beyond the blog post… I look forward to reading these!
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I’m always so interested in that post! And I’m usually surprised by the things people pick as “misses” – sometimes it’s the things that looked micest in blog pictures, but the fit or something was off… I hope you find time to join in too!
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I’m in! In fact, I’ve been collecting ‘lessons learnt’ since the spring, it’ll be great to put them in one place.
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Oh awesome! You should draft that post before you forget! I’m not sure what my own lessons have been this year… but I’m sure once I think back I’ll see trends and patterns and changes in how I sew!
Thanks for joining in! 🙂
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I’ve been looking forward to this. I think I’ve veered off into a different direction this year, style wise etc. always makes for interesting thinking & writing.
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You really have changed your style since I first started reading your blog… thinking back I picture lots of Cambies, which is a little more twee than the modern things I picture you sewing now… but I hope your earlier makes still get worn sometimes! 🙂
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ive seen this in quite a lot of blogs! never knew it was you that started it 🙂
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I’m happy that the Top 5 lists have made the rounds over the past few years! I’m always a little afraid that it’s the sort of thing (like a blog hop) that people end up skipping when it pops up in their blog feed, but I personally find it lots of fun to read everyone’s posts!
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Oh great, can’t wait to dive into this again this year! It’s such a great exercise to guide my sewing for the upcoming year, and I love reading about how everyone else sums up their year. I agree with Lisa – I want to see what never got worn beyond blog photos!
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I”m glad you are in! I so enjoy reading other people’s posts… and I figure that at this time of year lots of people are sewing presents that they can’t blog about just yet, so it helps fill that blogging gap! 😉 I’m curious to see what the stars/misses in your wardrobe have been!
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So excited for this years! I have been writing my posts in my head all night for this.
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That’s awesome!!! I can’t wait to read what you write!
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I was thinking about this last night. Work and illness have pretty much kept me from sewing or making anything since September, and I had forgotten exactly how many things I did make earlier this year. I’m hoping I’ll be able to catch up during the break.
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I hope you join in somehow – once it’s holiday and you are lying in the couch, maybe it will be blogging time! 😉
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I was just thinking about this years makes when your post Popper up in my reader. Count me in!
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Popped
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Yay! Thanks for joining in! 🙂
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Ooh, I love reading these posts! I’m so excited! Thanks for heading this up again!
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Wow, it’s that time already?! I shall definitely be posting my top 5s, probably when we’re nearer the end of the year! I’m hoping to get one or two makes done before Christmas, so I want to give myself time to blog those too and have them be part of the top 5s if appropriate.
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Definitely finish up your new makes first! There is no deadline on the top 5 lists, so start whenever you are ready! 😉
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Yay! I love these posts, it’s always so interesting to read what everyone else says. I’m also very excited to have something to write about that doesn’t require me to actually sew, since being sick for the last 2 months straight is putting a serious damper on my ability to make new stuff! Of course, I guess my current situation means I’m going to have to think very hard about my goals for next year, since I’d like to have some other than “find time to sew”. 🙂
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Oh yea! I’m so glad you’re doing this again. I really enjoy this series and am looking forward to sharing some things I’ve discovered. The reflection is always a good exercise.
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I”m glad you enjoy writing the posts! I’m just starting to think of my own top 5s, and the things I sewed last winter seem so long ago now. I like getting to look back and notice the milestones.
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Love reading these posts, thank you for inspiring us all again this year! (And I’ve just posted my first two top fives for this year).
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Thanks for joining in, and starting us off! 🙂
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Would love to join in again, thanks for hosting, look forward to reading all the posts.
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Yay! Glad you are joining in! 🙂
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I’m definitely in. 🙂 I have lots to talk about!
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Ooh, how tantilising! I can’t wait to read all you posts! 😉
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Have I already said yes? If not, sorry, I’ll definitely be doing it again this year. Thanks for organising Gillian x
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Yay! Glad you are in again!
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Hurrah for Top 5 lists!! I’ve just gone live with my very first. Here it is: http://sewsouthlondon.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/its-my-top-5-of-2014/
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Hi, love being given the opportunity to ponder and reflect. Have just put my Hits on the blog http://www.clarindakaleidoscope.com and am looking forward to reading about everyone else’s sewing year! Thanks – a lovely blogging project to round off 2014.
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I hope I’m not too late – I really want to join in again!
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Not too late at all! Join in any time. 🙂
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