For two years now, I have been launching my sewing resolutions challenge for the year. The year 2021 also had its share of challenges! So, let's review this very special year for me 😊 which saw my professional transition and the development of the shop. 

I suggest we review the 5 sewing resolutions of 2021 and draw conclusions... maybe it will give you ideas for 2022 resolutions... who knows?

So, here we go!

My first resolution was to reduce the purchase of PDF and printed patterns and especially sew those I already had. 

For once, I am quite proud of myself in managing patterns this year. Indeed, I only bought one PDF pattern which I sewed right away. It is the Monceau vest by Cozy little world which I sewed in a herringbone jersey from the shop. I am proud not to have impulsively bought printed or PDF patterns thinking the model is beautiful and it would be great to sew it… and then store it... and wait... I think I will continue this resolution next year because I still have the Nadine jacket by Coralie Bijasson, the Sierra and Tamara dresses by Maison Fauve... to make, so plenty of fun ahead in 2022!

I also had the resolution: "I sew the PDF and printed patterns I already have in stock" and well... we haven't made much progress 😅. I did sew a printed pattern I wanted to make for a long time: the Gotham cape by Louis Antoinette, which I used as a costume for Halloween. So, I still have plenty of printed and PDF patterns to sew for 2022! 

Note that I subscribe to the magazines La Maison Victor and Fibremood where patterns are abundant; which allowed me to make quite a few very nice models this year using fabrics from the shop. 

The second resolution was to continue to reduce my personal fabric stock, already started in 2020. I am quite proud because I keep emptying my drawers! I had planned to only buy fabrics for a specific project that I didn't already have in my drawers. Mission accomplished 😊

However, I had planned to reduce my coupons of Japanese fabrics from my personal stock that I love so much! And there, I haven't really made progress... it's just postponed to 2022!.

The third resolution was to reduce the scrap stock. 

The year 2020 was favorable for using fabric scraps; because like many sewers, I made masks which helped me significantly reduce the stock.

This year, I continued reflecting on the use of scraps, especially on maximizing the use of scraps in

• Choosing pattern/coupon combinations that minimize scrap creation
• Combining two large fabric scraps to make a project 
• Sewing baby and children's clothes from scraps
• Choosing patterns that use little fabric allowing me to recycle large scraps like the Ségur top from Cozy Little World, ...
• Making small useful projects like lingerie, slippers, a hat..
• assembling small scraps to create a patchwork

On this subject, I wrote an article about reusing jersey scraps, feel free to check it out. 

I also planned to sew a patchwork blanket with the small fabric scraps I have left, but I couldn’t complete this project. I would have also liked to find a truly effective storage solution for scraps; but I haven’t found an ideal solution yet.  

The fourth resolution was to to continue training myself.

Yes, the idea was to keep challenging myself in sewing… And 2021 was full of challenges both in sewing and personal and professional development! 

I had set goals for myself:

• to read technical and quality books
• to carry out innovative and complex projects with new techniques to learn and master 
• to create custom patterns from scratch to advance in patternmaking  
• to take a workshop in 2021 or 2022 with a skilled professional to improve my sewing and patternmaking techniques.

All this was done except for the workshop mainly due to health conditions... I kept reading and bought sewing books that help me improve and offer you well-constructed and detailed sewing articles every week.

I kept sewing (less than I wanted but it was for a good cause), I learned new techniques especially how to sew jeans for my boyfriend and made custom creations for clients 😊

But more than that, this year I learned to communicate, to engage a community, to take photos, to find new suppliers, to create product sheets, to inform you and even anticipate questions... what a learning experience! 

My fifth resolution was to to continue developing the blog and the shop.

This resolution went far beyond what I had planned because for the past 8 months I have been fully dedicated to this activity! 

I had chosen as a resolution to:

• to offer you at least one article per week on the blog
• to offer you new haberdashery supplies 
• to offer you a selection of fabrics carefully chosen with excellent value for money 

I think we made it! 

And you? Did you make any resolutions for 2021? Did you keep them?

How about a sewing resolutions challenge for 2022?