My dear Janome has been with me since the mid 90's and has been beaten to hell. Getting it serviced in the summer helped a bit, but some damage just can't be undone. It's time for a new machine, preferably one that makes pretty buttonholes. Sadly this means less fabric purchasing as I try to save up my pennies.
2. Continue to sew from the fabric stash.
Out of 65-ish garments completed this year, 40 were from stashed fabric. I'm surprised and pleased with that total. One could almost call 2013 a stash busting success....if I hadn't bought at least as much fabric as was sewed. I don't keep any hard records of stash in/out. All I know is that my closet storage area is still packed to the gills In 2014 I'm gonna try to sew up more fabric than I purchase, god help me.
3. Learn some new skills.
It's relatively easy to stay in my current sewing skill plateau. I'll also admit to being annoyed about learning new sewing skills. I don't like finding out that I'm not good at something immediately. "You mean I have to practice at this? SOB!" Even so I'd like to became better at my craft. My goal is to read at least one of those cool new sewing books I got for Christmas.
4. Draft a few of my own ideas.
I've got the skills and the know how, I'm just lazy and easily distractible. However I harbor a certain about of guilt about my languishing education as I purchase other people's patterns. MOAR PATTERNS? Let's make that more patterns from me. For concrete tracking purposes we'll say 2 self drafted patterns for the year is the goal.
5. Give back to the sewing community.
This is an area where I feel some improvement is needed. Maybe because the sewcialist community is so giving in general, it's hard to keep up. :) I've directly benefited from the generously of many people in 2013 and I'd like to "play it forward." In 2014 I'm planning on doing some more pattern drafting tutorials/fitting tutorials and hosting a few giveaways.
Hope everyone had a great Holiday Season and is ready to start a New Year. I'm hoping my sewing mojo returns from it's holiday vacation soon cause I've got plenty of plans. Also I have some exciting, well exciting to me, sewing related news to share with you soon. Squee!
