Tuesday 31 January 2012

January in Review

I have to say that I have been quite impressed with bloggers that are organized enough to keep tabs on their numbers. There are of course the folks on Sew Weekly and Carolyn at Homemade by Carolyn that have inspired me to take a look at my own numbers.

So, here is a look at my January projects in review. This month I was busy sewing 2 skirts, 2 dresses and revisiting a shirt I started last year. One dress was an epic fail. The other dress was the most rewarding project of the month (love sewing for Mama R, she's so appreciative). The shirt surprised me as it turned out being my favourite project and most expensive. Here is some additional details on what I've been busy working on this month:

The Re-fashioned Project (Pants to Skirt):

Fabric:  Free!  (Recycled an old pair of pants that no longer fit)
Pattern:  No pattern used but I was inspired by an article in the Vogue Patttern magazine.
Zipper:  Free!  Part of the original pant.
Hooks:  Free!  Part of the original pant,
Thread:  probably about $2.00
Interfacing:  $0.50
Total Cost:  $2.50
Times worn this month:  Five and counting.
Time investment:  3 1/2 hours
Tools used:  Sewing machine, Serger, iron, ironing board, seam ripper, fabric shears, ball-point sewing machine needle and pins.
Would I made this again?  Absolutely.


The kAtheRine Tilton Shirt:

Fabric:  2.6 metres 100% cotton, $36.40
Pattern:  Vogue 8748, $4.47 (purchased from Vogue website pattern sale)
Buttons:  Free!  Recycled, found in button stash.
Thread:  $3.00
Interfacing:  $3.00
Total Cost:  $46.87
Times worn this month:  Once and counting.
Time investment:  6 hours
Tools used:  Sewing machine, serger, buttonholer, iron, ironing board, fabric shears, thread cutter, universal sewing machine needles and pins.
Would I make it again?  I would recommend the pattern but at the moment I don't have a burning desire for another loose-fitting shirt.    


Vintage Vogue Skirt:

Fabric:  1.6 metres of stretch crepe, $12.54
Pattern:  Vogue 2885, $9.00 Out of print Vintage Vogue pattern, (averaged out cost across four skirts)
Zipper:  Free!  Recycled.
Thread:  $3.00
Interfacing:  $2.00
Total Cost:  $26.54
Times worn this month:  Not yet.
Time investment:  4 hours
Tools used:  Sewing machine, serger, cutting board, fabric shears, iron, ironing board, ball-point sewing machine needle and pins.
Would I make it again?  Possible, this is now the forth skirt I made using this pattern.


The Red Mess Dress:


Fabric:  3.3 metres of polyester suiting, $18.48 
Lining:  .5 metre of 100% silk, $6.00
Pattern:  Simplicity 3673, $4.46
Zipper:  $2.00
Thread:  $2.00
Ribbon:  $2.30
Total Cost:  $35.24
Times worn this month:  Never worn and don't plan on wearing it.  Filed under epic fail.
Time investment:  5 hours
Tools used:  Sewing machine, serger, fabric shears, cutting board, seam ripper, universal sewing machine needle, pins, iron and ironing board.
Would I make it again?  No.


Mama R's Floral Print Dress:  

Fabric:  2 metres of Stretch Cotton Sateen, $8.00
Pattern:  Vogue 7836, $2.24 (averaged out cost across six dresses)
Zipper:  Free!  Recycled.
Thread:  $2.00
Bias Tape:  Free!  Cut from left-over fabric
Total Cost:  $12.24
Times worn this month:  Not yet.
Time investment:  5 hours (most of the time was dedicated to hand stitching and cutting)
Tools used:  Sewing machine, serger, fabric shears, cutting board, seam ripper, universal sewing machine needle, pins, iron and ironing board.
Would I make it again?  If Mama R requests another, yes.



2 comments:

  1. I have thought about keeping numbers on projects too, I don't spend much but the hours would depress me for sure as I take so long to get anything done. Still this is a good exercise to do.

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    Replies
    1. It really is an eye opener when I went through all the little details. It takes me forever to get things done too. My knees and back like to pull me away from my sewing time and then there is a job, so those 5 or 6 hours are spread over many days, sometimes weeks/months.

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