2018 It was up, then it was down, It was fast then it was slow, I was here and I was there. It was a good year overall but the end of 2018 tells me I need to be a little less That Random Madam.

I set myself a Make Nine challenge at the end of 2017 because, well everyone else was and I thought it was a good idea. I thought it would focus me and get me to finishing what I’ve started. Well .. yes and no!

I made quite a few items in 2018 and I’m pleased to say most are being well-worn. So that was one goal achieved. I didn’t, however, make all of my #2018MakeNine items.

Here’s how it turned out, four targets completed, three in progress, two still need drafting and a partridge in a… one just didn’t get started. I’m not too unhappy, notice that my make nine was actually ‘make at least twelve’ as the suit at top middle is two pieces,  the leisurewear bottom left was also two items and I’ve made three things from @thatwendyward’s book. In addition to this, I made a lot more items that weren’t on the list. Queue jumpers came thick and fast as I needed things for holidays and I still tended to sew as the whim took me.

I also made quite a few other items in 2018 which I’m pleased about.

The downside of my 2018 sewing is that I still seem to have sewing slumps when I just lose the sewjo. I had a major one at the beginning of the year when I didn’t sew, blog or post much for about three months; no particular reason that I could identify, I just wasn’t feeling it; and then I started to get down on myself for wasting time and not doing what I said I was going to do. I don’t know if there is an answer to the sewing slumps, maybe I just have to accept that this is a hobby and sometimes I will just not be in the mood and leave it at that. There is no point being mad at myself about it. Anyway, spring came around and I started to sew again, I made a few things, I participated in #sewtogetherforsummer again which was great and then I got into a couple more challenges, #braugust and #sewphotohop I did start #bpsewvember but by then I was ‘challenged out‘ and didn’t have the stamina for another month of daily posting.

A major upside was acquiring a coverstitch machine, now while I’m not into boasting about gear, I’ve really been won over into the coverstitch camp. I held out for a while because I have a good long-serving overlocker which I love and thought I didn’t really need a cover stitch. However, the finishing I can get on hems and necklines (that’s what I’ve learned to do so far) is incredible and I’m looking forward to learning more techniques.

A significant change that had an impact on my sewing was going back to work in September. I’ve been on a four-year hiatus and I decided this year to take on a 12-month contract until my ‘proper’ early retirement age comes around next summer. As a result of being back at work, I’ve got a lot less time – and energy for sewing. Not least because we decided to guarantee work-life balance by making sure that when I’m not at work, I’m not working. Therefore there have been a few long weekend breaks along the way, which also meant no sewing.

Sewcial media highlights brought me #sewincolour, #POCwhosews and @sewover50. All of which have been very important to how I have felt about my sewing and about myself this year.

Travelling also meant that I was putting time into my other major hobby, photography. This is another time-intensive past time and unfortunately, the two seem to be almost mutually exclusive. Although I do obviously have to photograph my makes I seem to mostly be doing one OR the other.

I’m back in the sewing groove now and doing some makes in the between Christmas and New Year gap. Overall, I sewed a few good patterns, I sewed my stash, however, I had a fabricaholic relapse and bought too much new fabric 🤔 I did a couple of pattern tests, I learned a bit on pattern making, I made a load of new IG friends and I learned to take my time. Finally, while I still plan to do all of my items from last year’s list, I am also perusing my possible #2019MakeNine candidates.

This won’t be the first or last Make Nine you’ll see, enjoy them and share yours, maybe. Happy New Year, and happy planning!