Let the lists begin! First up in my Top 5 Hits of 2015 – my favourite and most worn makes!
In no particular order…
1. Ginger Jeans
I’m actually finding it hard to believe that I first used this pattern so recently! I’ve made at least 5 pairs, probably more, and I love the pattern. It’s time to replace the first denim pairs i made, which are now looking worn and faded – I’ve got enough Cone Mills denim stashed to sew 3 pairs, so I’m hoping to work on that over the Christmas holidays!
2. Bras
Truth be told, I’ve decided since the summer that all 6 bras I’ve sewn are either too small (Pin Up Girls Classic) or beastly uncomfortable (traced from RTW like the one above). I’m not giving up though – I LOVE the idea of sewing bras, and I’m sure as h*** not about to pay $100+ for one in a store. Instead, my husband’s gift to me is 3 hours with talented local-ish bra maker, Emerald Erin. She’s going to help me figure out what’s going wrong with my current wires and bands, and then draft my a custom pattern based on my measurements. I can’t WAIT!
3. Ruffles
From summer right into fall and winter, I’ve been loving ruffles. Flirty, girly, fun ruffles! I’m seriously tempted to add one to a shift dress and make it into a drop-waisted ruffle dress (most appropriate for a 5 year old, but I want one!)
4. Coatigans
It all started with a RTW sweater coat that I traced… then I made a turquoise sweatshirt one and this red variation. I’ve worn all three way more than I expected, and a fourth one in windowpane plaid is likely on it’s way!
5. Cashmerette takes over my wardrobe
Oh happy day – I might actually finally have a favourite pattern line! I love certain patterns from Jalie, KitschyKoo, Sewholic, Closet Case Files and other, but Jenny’s patterns have been a bit of a revelation. Firstly, because I didn’t realise how well an FBA could make knits fit, and secondly, the curvy shaping suddenly makes me feel like I can wear (and feel good in) much snugger clothes than I’ve sewn in a while!
It’s been a good year in sewing for me: experimenting with new styles, building my skills, and loving my handmade wardrobe. Seriously, the only thing that makes me sad is that so many clothes that get worn only once a month, because I have so many I love! I’ve been experimenting with simple drafting and hacking patterns past all recognition. It’s fun to get the creative juices flowing!
Wanna join the Top 5 listmaking? Find out more here!
Crafting A Rainbow 
You truly have had a great sewing year! I love the Cashmerette dress on you. I’ve loved following you on your journey and can’t wait to see what hits you will have in the coming year. I’m sure that there will be plenty and of course the conversations you initiate are the best!!
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Thank you, Margo! I’m enjoying the feeling of settling into my sewing niche – the first few years so much was changing in my abilities and taste, but it’s kinda nice to be in the groove now! 😉
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You’ve had a great year! You seem to have covered it all from outerwear to intimates – quite a feat! Looking forward to hearing more about your bra-making journey. This seems like a challenging topic, but a good challenge is always a lot of fun. 🙂
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No REAL outerwear yet – but maybe this coming year! I’d love to HAVE proper homemade coats, but I’m not so sure i’ll love SEWING them! 😉
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Impressive! Can’t help noticing how your personal style is steadily evolving. A drop waisted dress would certainly look great on you – I’m thinking about Pauline Alice’s Malvarosa. And a bra-making class is also on my Christmas wish list! (BTW, the link for Emerald Erin doesn’t seem to work.)
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Thank you for the heads up about the link! I tried to fix it and couldn’t get it to work (which is strange!) so I linked to her Etsy store instead.
Marvarosa is a really pretty pattern – good suggestion! I wonder what the size range is like?
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Ooh, that bra making class sounds exciting! You’ll have to tell us all about it for sure. It looks like it really has been a stellar sewing year for you!
I’m hoping to get my first post up soon. I just need to rephotograph one garment, if I can get the baby to stay down for a nap long enough to get dressed and do so!
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Come on, Wooler Baby! Mama needs photos! 😉
I am seriously excited about working with Erin on a pattern – there’s so much I don’t know!
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I did get my photo. And then couldn’t upload it till last night, only to find that my eyes were closed and it was really derpy. I used it anyway. It’s just easier this way. 😉
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You made some really great stuff this year! And your present from hubby – what a fantastic gift!
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I’m so excited about getting a custom drafted pattern! And i think I might make a tradition of asking for a skill-building class/lesson each Christmas – It would be a nice way to build me skills and try some things I find intimidating!
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Ah, so honoured to be on your list! Hopefully my 2016 patterns can make you as happy 😀
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I just made a second version of the, um, next pattern to be released, and it made me think about fit and what feels flattering… and it made me wonder if some of the styles I’ve chosen in the past were faves because they didn’t need to fit very well? I’m excited to see what comes out in the coming year! (One day, butt-sized jeans, please!)
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That is seriously exciting news about working with Emerald Erin! I can’t wait to see your review of the process. I would really like to get some advice on bra making, I feel like the last ones I made fit fairly well but I’m kind of just floundering around on my own here! Too bad (for me) that all the awesome bra ladies live in Canada 😉
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Come to Canada! 😀 😀 😀 We’ll take great care of you!
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I’M SO EXCITED! I “met” Erin online when she wrote for the Sewcialists this summer, and it turns out we are just a few hours apart. (Ok, 3 hours. But I want a bra, g’dammit!) I’m going to be asking her if she does skype consultations, because I think that would be great for lingerie sewists who don’t have experts nearby!
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Your husband’s gift is aaaaaaaaamaaaaaazing! I am so jealous!!! Love all your hits. If I were to think back on my year reading your blog, I would definitely have thought of those things, too. 🙂 I wish there was a coatigan pattern in the wild! I might have to get one in rtw and trace it like you did!
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I think we need to plan an outing to Erin’s store in the spring – surely we could find a car-full (or two) of people interested in bramaking in TO, right?
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Yes! We can definitely get this going. 😀
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Oh my!! I can’t wait!! Please please come!! 🙂 Just let me know when!!
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Let’s make it happen – maybe this summer?
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Definitely in the summer! 😀 😀
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I loves all these makes so much. I also love that red stripey top you’re wearing with your Ginger jeans – red is such a great colour for you 🙂
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I bought that red stripe bamboo at Needlework in Hamilton back when they first got knits! (Which makes me wonder, hmmm, what do they have in stock these days?)
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Great hits. I think that you are really nailing having a fabulously co-ordinated wardrobe of perfectly fitted clothes. I have really loved the Better Pictures project and think that should be on your list of hits too. You are really helping so many people. Xx
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Thank you! I realised as I dug through old posts just how much my photography has improved this year – and with the same camera as before! I’m glad to finally be figuring it out! 🙂
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Way to go, eh? LOL, I know you’re a Canadian and proud of it. I like how you used red throughout your wardrobe, with so many versatile separates. I look forward to another stellar year of sewing posts from your blog.
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Next things you know I’ll make making a Canadian Tuxedo (aka. double denim)! 😛
I have to say, I get a lot of pleasure from my wardrobe – a lot more than I ever did from wearing store bought clothes!
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I think that this has been your chicest year yet! And hats off to you re: bras. You are more tenacious than I am. PS: I’m not done yet!
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Thank you, m’lady! I’m curious to see what Erin suggests, and I’m also hoping that since she sews sexy and youthful bras for herself, I can get a basic pattern that is more sassy that the Classic Pin Up of frumpiness!
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Yes yes we can!! 🙂
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Fun roundup! It was a good sewing year. I need some more work on sewing bras too. Hope the bra making lesson& custom pattern turn out awesome. Sounds like a terrific solution!
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I’ll definitely blog about working with Erin on a pattern – I don’t know quite what to expect, but I’m excited! 🙂
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You have an impressive list of hits! I like the red coatigan the best although all of your list is worthy of applaud!! My list probably won’t happen until after Christmas unless I get a burst of time and energy. Keep sewing. I enjoy (and learn) from reading your posts.
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No rush on the posts! Blogging is no fun when it’s rushed. I love that red coatigan too – in fact, I’m sewing up a truly absurd hot pink version right now in a reptile-design quilted knit!
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You’ve had such a great sewing year! I love learning and watching my style and fit change, it’s so much fun! I love your coatigans so much, and I always love your bright coloured sewing. I can also see why Cashmerette patterns are your favourite – it’ll be excited to see what else she comes out with for 2016.
Also, I’m really jealous of your bra lesson! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
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Wow you’ve had quite a year of hits! I love your jeans and coatigan! Outerwear and jeans seem so foreign to me- the pattern pieces just seem so big after making bras all the time! And YAY! I can’t wait for you to come for your lesson! It’s going to be amazing!!
— I’ll be posting my top 5’s tomorrow!!
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Awesome! i’m looking forward to see ing which bras you’ve actually worn and enjoyed the most!
Oh, and I posted this under another comment, and then realised that was confusing, so …
To be honest, I can’t even remember the date we chose! I’ll have to look it up… 😉 Time wise, given that we’ve got a, um, 3 hour drive or so to get there, let’s say 1pm, if that works for you?
I’ll email you soon!
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Those are great hits! I love all of those. At the moment I could really do with a coatigan… temps fell from 13°C to -13°C over New Year’s…
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