Deepika Blogs…

The year at a glance

January

Jalie 2909 I wore these pants a lot when I first made them but now I am not in love with the fabric. Its too polyestery for me and truth be told the waist is too tight. It barely fits me! I went a little overboard in interfacing the waistband. It has no give! A quick to sew basic pants pattern which I plan to make many more of.

February

BurdaStyle 12-2009-122 When I sewed this skirt, it was mainly to practice topstitching on denim before I made the jeans. This however became the most worn piece of clothing in my closet. I wore it to two PR Weekends, two vacations and wore it to work all summer long. It’s starting to look a little ignored now that it’s winter. Very comfortable and stylish. I got a lot of compliments on it.

Jalie 2909 – Jeans In the photo it looks like I am pulling up the jeans but it’s hardly the case. Almost a year later these are the most worn jeans in my wardrobe. I love em. If you haven’t tried this pattern you need to.

BurdaStyle 02-2010-104 The skirt looks sharp but because its sort of limited to be worn with purple and this being the only purple top I have, I didnt wear it that much. I do like the fit of the skirt.

Jalie 2921 After this top I fell in love with the color purple. I wore this so much that its starting to pill!

March

Sew Liberated Emmeline Apron We went to see a 50s apron exhibit at the Textile Museum in Lowell and this apron was made for that. Supposed to be a simple project but it took me over  6 hours! The reversible concept is nice in theory but it made the apron very bulky which is why it doesnt get used much in my kitchen. Pretty though!

April

New Look 6895 Oh gosh! This is another one of those tops which got worn so much over the summer that everyone must be wondering, is that all she has? Love the fabric and the style on me. And above all it is very roomy and comfortable.

May

— No Sewing Done —

June

Burda 8558 Morphed with Textile Studio Madison Avenue Dress It looks pretty but somehow I feel it also looks incomplete. I didn’t wear it much because I kept searching for a belt to go with it. Any ideas?

July

BurdaStyle 07-2008-108 Meh… Not my favorite top. Uncomfortable and weird on me.

August

— No Sewing Done —

September

— No Sewing Done —

October

Burda 8558 My first time sewing on sequin fabric. Never again! But I do love this top. I still haven’t worn it. I just keep admiring it in my closet 🙂

November

— No Sewing Done —

December

— No Sewing Done —

Before I started this post I was feeling guilty of not sewing enough last year and especially since I’ve been reading everyone’s blogs and how much cool stuff you guys made, but in the process of writing this post and collecting the photos of my work in the past year I realized, I loved whatever I sewed and it got used so mission accomplished. I will not set any major goals for myself this year and just sew when I want to and somehow I know,  I’ll end up with something I’ll love. And so,  I’ll leave you with this happy thought and wish you a very happy new sewing year!

If you want your sewing mojo back…

Spend a weekend with a sewing friend…
Talk about sewing…
Ask to take a look at their projects…
If they are your size, ask to try on some of their stuff…
And then…
chances are if one of them fits you, it might come home with you. Like it did with me 🙂

read about it here

But more than that, I was so inspired by the stuff Karen made that the first thing I wanted to do when I got back home was to SEW! Now, I didn’t mention this before but we’re in the middle of home reconstruction. So there is only one room in the entire house which is usable and despite that, I cleared out my kitchen counter, traced the Burda pattern from the magazine and sewed this top.

I wish I had taken photos because it was quite comical actually. My little table top ironing board on top of the kitchen counter, the cutting mat on the floor, fabric everywhere, the sewing machine balancing on the little table. And yet, somehow I was able to to sew. What can I say? I wanted to SEW. I needed to do it. The top however is not as flattering on me as on so many others on PatternReview but I’ll still wear it. It’s linen, its comfortable and I am sewing again! This is also my July project for the One Garment a Month Sew Along.

Burda 07-2008-108

Thanks to Karen, not only am I sewing again, I have a list of a whole new set of patterns I want to try. So take my advice, hang out with a sewing friend and you’ll see it’ll do wonders for you.

More Sewing! Someone stop me … or not

So I admit. I think I am obsessed with sewing these days. I think it’s because I am too sick of winter and just desperate for spring. What better way to dream of spring than to sew some spring outfits right? What do you think of this one?

It’s Jalie 2921 Scarf Top with Burda 02-2010-104 Skirt.

The skirt was inspired by Dawn (cabinbaby on PatternReview) actually. Ever since I saw her whipping out her pencil skirts, I’ve been on the lookout for a pattern which would work for me. See pencil skirts don’t really work for me because I think they make me look too bottom heavy. In other words, they make my butt look too big. And I’d rather not have to put a slit for walking room.

So this skirt in February Burda fit the bill perfectly. It has all the features I like, A-Line, back zipper, yoke instead of a waistband. It even has pockets!

I can see myself making many more of these!

So what’s the count for this month? THREE garments. Not bad huh! Including the Jeans. And I have a new outfit to wear to Puyallup and my Belize vacation. It’s been a good month.

Review of Jalie 2921
Review of Burda Skirt