Swatches from recent projects
For having a social media account dedicated to sewing clothes, my closet is pretty modest. It's also true that I generally prefer a pared down closet. In life and in clothes, I find excess burdensome and frequently subject my possessions to a good editing. My wardrobe oscillates between a uniform of mostly black solids and a slightly expanded version of said uniform, which would include some lighter neutrals and stripes.
In 2022, I didn’t buy or sew much in the way of clothing, but I’ve spent a good part of 2023 slowly opening up my wardrobe with some new handmade pieces. These have been my most successful to date in terms of fit, finish and complexity, and I’m confident that I can now produce most of what I would have formerly purchased ready-made.
As the ratio of ready-made to handmade skews toward the latter, my perspective on my closet is shifting as well. A growing collection of my own handiwork is incredibly satisfying, and I’m enjoying exploring new cuts, fabrics and prints all the while. The prospect of a more robust closet has me feeling energized and eager to embrace a less minimalistic approach to getting dressed.
Cultivating some variety will also play into another focus for the new year: styling. While I’ve developed a keen eye to the subtleties of a singular garment, combining separates to create a “look” is challenging for me. I’ve been following a few folks online who are creating some really interesting outfits, and I’m inspired to focus on creatively styling my own handmade pieces.
Aside from compiling digital mood boards of sartorial visionaries, I’ve been revisiting the elements and principles of design, concepts harkening back to my days as a visual arts student. These were not taught in terms of clothing and style, but they absolutely apply to any visual system. Texture, proportion, and emphasis are currently top of mind when thinking about noteworthy ensembles. I suspect I’ll be doing some deep dives into this topic in the future.
I produced around 20 garments this past year—most successes, a couple so-so’s, and a couple flops. For me, a flop is something that I don’t wear because it either fits poorly or doesn’t suit me. This is often linked to jumping on the bandwagon of a trending pattern or volunteering to test designs that I have no real interest in wearing. While failing is undoubtedly part of the growth process, I’d rather do so by attempting a difficult project than by ignoring my instinct regarding certain patterns or projects. While the flops are less frequent these days, I want to maintain this trend, resulting in less disappointment and waste.
Crafting a list at the beginning of the year is one of my favorite rituals, so without futher ado, my sewing-related intentions for 2024:
Make everything! Exceptions include anything that I can’t realistically create myself, like that vintage Frasier t-shirt from Depop
Create a physical mood board for style images, fabric swatches, and sketches
Prioritize buying resale and deadstock fabrics
Finish setting up my sewing space
In terms of social media, think less about exposure and more about being the most authentic version of myself
Track purchases like fabric, notions, equipment, patterns and plotter prints (inspired by Alexandria Arnold’s reel)
If any of these resonate, or if there’s anything on your own list that you’d like to share, feel free to comment below!