2025 in Review

The Round-up

This past year I made a total of thirty-nine sewing projects:  

• 5 scoliosis back brace undershirts (Vogue 9057)
• 1 scoliosis back brace pajama top (Vogue 1852)
• 1 blanket (No pattern used)
• 5 skirts (OOP Vogue 2327, OOP Vogue 1247, The Assembly Line's Tulip skirt, Daughter Judy's Henry skirt)
• 7 pullover dresses (Merchant and Mills Trapeze dress, Vogue 9268, Butterick 6784, McCall's 7709)
• 2 scarves (No pattern used and OOP Vogue 2793)
• 8 pullover tops (The Assembly Line's Puffed sleeve shirt, OOP Butterick 6859, The Assembly Line's High Cuff Sweater, McCall's 7709, Style Arc's Elita Designer Jacket / Top, OOP Vogue 2334)
• 1 pair of panties (OOP Simplicity 8229)
• 1 nursing baby cover (No pattern used)
• 1 pair of leggings (McCall's 7709)
• 1 baby onesie (McCall's 7367)
• 3 saddle covers for the back brace (No pattern used)
• 3 pairs of pants (Vogue 1739 and Butterick 6717)

Eight projects were gifted and and seven projects did not work out.  

Vogue patterns continued to play a leading role at the cutting table but there were some new patterns that I tried this year.  Twenty twenty-five was the first time I tried Style Arc, Merchant and Mills and Daughter Judy patterns.  Many patterns were repeats as they were tried and true patterns from the stash.  

There was a lot of stash busting this year.

• 62.6 metres of fabric
• 4 buttons
• 5 snaps
• 1 zippers
• 15 labels
• 6.1 metres elastic
• 1.2 metres basting tape
• 11.2 metres Knit 'N Stable tape
• 0.5 twill tape
• 1 hook and eye set
• a whole lot of thread!

January

I slowly started to make my way back to the sewing machine.  There was work to do and projects that needed to get done.  There was the upholstery repair that I put off for years.  And the need to make undergarments to wear under the scoliosis back brace that could prevent the abrasion wounds under my arms.  Along with a box of socks that need mending.  

And sewing became political before the convicted felon even took office with his threats to use economic force via tariffs to hurt and annex Canada.  It is an act of economic war.  My 2025 sewing goal became to sew from the stash and if I needed any supplies, I vowed to not support the convicted felon's economy while the annexation threats and maneuvers persist.  Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing became my focus as the country navigates the global upheaval and chaos from the convicted felon from our geographic neighbour.   

February

After stitching a prototype of a scoliosis back brace undershirt, I stitched more.  There was a piece of fabric that was turned into a blanket just to clear it out of the stash.  And I made something just for me, a wool wrap skirt.  

Sewing remains political as I compiled a list of Canadian fabric outlets.  The country mobilized to take action against the disrespectful rhetoric and act of economic war coming from the convicted felon's government and his supporters towards my country and others.  There is a grass-root national and global boycott of  U.S. products and travel.  

March

There really wasn't a focus on sewing projects this month.  I stash busted some leftover wool fabric into a scarf and made a wearable toile for a dress that I actually wanted to make last year.  And then there was an upholstery repair job that I should have addressed last year.  

Sewing remains political and the boycott continues.  

April 

I rediscovered my sewing mojo in sewing some denim projects.  The skirt is made with a cherished and vintage Vogue pattern and has been seeing a lot of wear since it was made.  The top is not experiencing the same kind of love since it shrank after the first wear despite pre-shrinking the fabric.  I should have known better and pre-washed denim several times before cutting.   

Sewing is becoming a reprieve from the chaos and callous actions from the convicted felon and his cohort.  The boycott continues but it's heartbreaking to watch what is happening around the world.  I sometimes wonder if the boycott is making an impact.  

May

It appears that the theme this year is getting to those projects that long needed to be addressed, using up scraps and finishing long forgotten project.  One of those long forgotten projects was this partially sewn pair of panties from a year ago.  And that's it, it was pretty quiet at the work space.  

The boycott continues as does the global trade war.  The convicted felon even put tariffs on Heard and McDonald Islands--two tiny Antarctic islands occupied by penguins and seals.  Yup, that right.  Even penguins and seals are dragged into the global tariff war.  I'm finding escape in the garden and kitchen instead of the sewing machine.  Frugal / austerity chic is dominating my sewing and grocery decisions.  I'm making cheese, sundried tomatoes and spiced nuts at home as grocery store prices around the globe are an issue in part thanks to the convicted felon's trade war and corporate greed.  These activities are replacing my time at the sewing machine.  

June 

Wildfires in the our country are displacing thousands from their homes and wildfire smoke is felt here in the city.  This is pulling me back indoors and towards the sewing machine.  

This month the Big Four patterns were sold into liquidation proceeding and the local Fabricland stores that carries their patterns has started selling them off.  IG Design Group said that US tariffs were a contributing factor to the liquidation sale.  I broke my goal of avoiding US products momentarily to take advantage of the deep discounts on the patterns.  

July

I don't know if it's the lack of rain or the smoky air that is causing an unconventional harvest time.  The apples are falling from the tree so early and sending me into apple pie and juice making sooner than I normally would be harvesting apples.  And with all the displacement of people and loss of life from the wildfires, U.S. lawmakers complained about Canadian wildfire smoke travelling south is "making it difficult for some Americans to enjoy their summer."  This fanned the flames on the elbows up movement.    

This month was quiet at the sewing machine but busy at the cutting table.  

August

Wildfire smoke continues to be an issue and likely why I managed to stay indoors and sew.  

There was a burst of sewing activity this month, it was about revisiting some previously loved TNT patterns and some gift sewing projects.  I was actually shocked at how much sewing was completed considering all the yardwork there was to do and trying to keep up with the apple harvest.  I can't wait for the cooler weather to arrive and for things to slow down in the yard.  

September

Finally, some cooler weather.  I don't deal well with the heat and this summer was horrible with all the wildfire smoke we had to deal with this year.  More often than not, it was hard to breath with the smoke.  I don't recall previous wildfire seasons being this bad.  

I am longing for the cooler days of autumn and giddy with the thought that winter will soon arrive.  Fingers crossed.  And my sewing projects reflected this anticipation.  

October

No one is more shocked than I that there was actually sewing done this month.  

There is a new scoliosis back brace that I'm trying to break in and for that to happen, I need to address a section that is pushing up my left underarm and creating pressure marks.  In the end, I didn't get much use of it as most of the month was trying to deal with a cough that wouldn't quit.  It's hard to to wear a rigid brace when you're coughing up a lung or two.  

November

The tariff war continues and it is now to the point that the convicted felon and his cohort are a cringe worthy joke.  Sewing is a reprieve from the horror show playing out on the news channels.  And to add to all the sadness, there hasn't been any snow yet.  I really wish it would snow.  

To get ready for winter, if it decides to make an appearance, I made a new pajama top to wear underneath my back brace.  I will be able to pull the hemline up and cover the Velcro straps to protect the bedding and even my pajamas.  But my heart is longing to sew something fun and cozy.  

December

It finally snowed!  Alleluia!  And with that, the chill of winter arrived and fuels my desire stay indoors and sew.  I finally got around to sewing that something fun and cozy, an oversized sweatshirt made with a vintage Issey Miyake pattern.  It turns out to be my favourite make of the year.  

Would you believe that the last month of the year was one of the busiest at the sewing work table?  

Here's to wishing peace in the world and an end to all the wars, whether they be military actions or economic / tariff wars.  

Wishing all, peace in the world, an abundance of kindness in 2026 and joyful memories made at the sewing machine.  May all your projects fit the way you like!  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing!