Happy New Year - and my resolutions!

Any sore heads this morning?  I hope that 2014 finds you safe and well and that you managed to have some time over the Christmas/New Year to indulge in some sewing!

As with many others, I have been thinking long and hard about resolutions for this year.  2013 was a great year sewing-wise for me (see my review post) and I really want to capitalise upon the great garments that I now have in my wardrobe and fill in the gaps that I have left.

So these are my sewing plans for 2014:

1.  Sew a Chanel style jacket.  One of my Christmas pressies was Couture Sewing: The Couture Cardigan Jacket- Sewing Secrets from a Chanel Collector by Claire Schaefer.  I have also signed up for the Craftsy Class Sewing an Iconic Tweed Jacket - so I think that I am good to go!  I have some fabric in mind, and I am excited to get started!

2.  Proper, fitted trousers.  Like these ones.

I want to try a front fly, and I like that these have a lowered, quite wide waistband.  I plan to make some work trousers as well as casual ones and a pair or two of jeans.

3.  Wrap dress.  I picked up this pattern in a sale a few weeks ago.

I like that it has a few different sleeve options and is sized for different cup sizes - I am a 'C', so I am interested to see what difference this kind of pattern will make.  It has a centre back seam so I can make adjustments to accommodate my curved upper back, and they seem to be so flattering on ladies of all shapes and sizes.

I will continue my 'RTW Fasting' through Goodbye Valentino  - last year I only purchased one t-shirt that I picked up whilst on vacation in New Zealand.  And I'm good with that!

A couple of other plans I have for this year are to knit more socks.  I love handknitted socks and had to pretty much eliminate knitting last year due to a tendon issue called De Quervains syndrome, however, cortisone injections (and maybe surgery) are my friends, and right now I can knit!

And finally, Mr. SDSC bought me a spinning wheel - a very cute Ladybug.  I went to a summer show in 2013 and tried my hand at spinning - it was great fun.  So, I want to play with more fibre in the future.  And talk Mr. SDSC into buying some sheep and a couple of alpacas!!!

Bye Bye Simplicity :(

I came across this disturbing message on the Fabricland website a few days go:

So, no local place to purchase Simplicity patterns from in the future.  I have to admit to being a bit of a pattern-aholic and whether I would like any new patterns or not, the fact that they will no longer be available locally, is rather a shame. I know that they can be purchased online (complete with extortionate postal charges) - but where is the instant gratification of that?  No scouring through the patterns books and finding a design that I 'can't live without', or rushing out to get a pattern that I had previously rejected, but having seen it on another sewing blogger, my wardrobe is incomplete without it.

WalMart used to sell fabric and patterns, but there was a big clear out a few years ago, and they only sell limited supplies and a few pre-cut home-dec and quilting fabrics.  So that was the only other avenue open.  I wonder - is Canada such a backward nation of sewists and seamstresses that no-one wants to stock sewing patterns?

Oh well, it is what it is . . . . . the only upside is that the current patterns are being sold off very cheaply, and I picked up these 6 at the weekend:

I really enjoy making little shell tops and have made a number of Sorbetto's.  I thought that the first two patterns, (1886 & 1806) would give me some great alternative options.  1616 has a great selection of summer skirts in both knit and woven fabrics.  I rather like the hip yoke - very cute.

Now I know that you are looking at 2482 and wondering if I have lost my senses, but let me tell you, I live in a place where the temperatures drop to -30c with great regularity during the winter, and snuggling up in a dressing gown/house-coat (I've got some great animal print fleece!  Ha!) would be glorious.  I also like the shorter version as a quick jacket to wear on warmer days.

1918 & 1653 are part of my master plan for the New Year - details to follow on January 1st!!

So there we go, unless I am holidaying in the US, or Simplicity has a great sale on with reduced postage (and I can wait 4-6 weeks for delivery), there will not be any Simplicity pattern for me for some time . . . . unless anyone has any suggestions????