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You are here: Home / As I see it / Getting Things Sewn is 1 Year Old

Getting Things Sewn is 1 Year Old

February 16, 2014

Readers,

On February 16, 2013, after several months of planning and several weeks of vacillating between feeling ready and not ready, I hit “Publish” for the first time, and Getting Things Sewn was launched.

The rack of unfinished projects that furnished abundant material for Getting Things Sewn.
The rack of unfinished projects that furnished abundant material for Getting Things Sewn.

It’s been one interesting year.

These last twelve months I’ve

  • written the Getting Things Sewn manifesto (in rhyme!)
  • created a chart to link designing a wardrobe with designing a workspace to produce itChart
  • tested my chart as a guide for packing for trips
  • done figure analyses for myself and Jack

    This is not a police lineup.
    This is not a police lineup.
  • edited my fabric and button stashes
  • written a tribute to my fairy godmother sewing teacher
  • bade farewell to my duct tape double dress form

    Duct tape, yes, but double? No!
    Duct tape, yes, but double? No!
  • uncovered garment treasures in the collection of the Goldstein Museum of Design in my volunteer hours
  • recognized that sometimes the fault lies in the pattern, not in me
  • begun researching designs for my own label

    It would be so fun to have a label of my own design.
    It would be so fun to have a label of my own design.
  • concluded I’m a gatherer but not a collector

I’ve chronicled designing and remodeling my sewing space:

  • defining functions and designating zones
  • turning a dank, spider web-filled space under the front steps into a bright, dry cedar closet

    A bright, clean, dry closet stores muslin, hatboxes, oversized patterns and fabrics for test garments.
    A bright, clean, dry closet stores muslin, hatboxes, oversized patterns and fabrics for test garments.
  • stripping wallpaper and painting walls
  • installing lighting
  • creating my planning corner

    My planning corner, where I write most of my posts now.
    My planning corner, where I write most of my posts now.
  • building shelves for my sewing library

I’ve traveled

  • to London, where I visited a vintage fashion fair, bespoke tailoring establishments, the Museum of London, and the Victoria & Albert Museum
    The clubby atmosphere of the London bespoke tailor Huntsman.
    The clubby atmosphere of the London bespoke tailor Huntsman.

    and took a day trip to see an  emporium of vintage buttons and trims

    For vintage button lovers, a place of pilgrimage: Wayward.
    For vintage button lovers, a place of pilgrimage: Wayward.

     

  • to New York’s garment district, to visit Mood Fabrics and M & J Trimming

    Garment district, New York
    Garment district, New York

I’ve pondered processes:

  • how to NOT use my serger
  • what caused my sewing UFOs and how I might bring them to conclusion
  • how to store my buttons for inspiration and easy retrieval

    Buttons in plain sight.
    Buttons in plain sight.
  • how I can use others’ expertise to expedite my projects
  • how finishing projects can give me a head start next time
  • how to analyze what works and what doesn’t in garments I’ve made or bought

    What's wrong with this coat? Let me count the ways.
    What’s wrong with this coat? Let me count the ways.
  • what critical mass needs to occur to move a sewing dream to a sewing goal
  • what I can accomplish while still being lazy and distracted
  • what’s important for me to stop doing
  • whether it’s better to make some things or buy them
  • using vintage pattern sites creatively to brainstorm

    Browsing vintage pattern sites for inspiration.
    Browsing vintage pattern sites for inspiration.
  • how to record and use my “meteor showers” of ideas
  • how to reduce procrastinating by clarifying what I want to accomplish
  • how to apply lessons from one project to another

I’ve acquired

  • fabrics from the Textile Center’s annual sale and from the Guthrie Theater’s costume department

    Yardage purchased from a theater costume department rummage sale.
    Yardage purchased from a theater costume department rummage sale.
  • my mannequin, Ginger, to model for me in my makeshift photo space

I’ve even gotten a few things sewn:

  • from an early to mid-1930s pattern, a jacket using Art Deco-era buttons
  • from a contemporary pattern, a skirt to accompany the jacket
  • from a 1959 pattern, an orange version and a leopard-collar version of a big-collared, belted jacket

    PatternReview.com readers voted this jacket the winner of a 2013 vintage pattern-sewing contest. Thanks!
    PatternReview.com readers voted this jacket the winner of a 2013 vintage pattern-sewing contest. Thanks!
  • from 1952, a swing coat with big patch pockets and vintage buttons
  • from a unique 1950 pattern, linen and wool waistcoats with satisfyingly capacious pockets

    I love this waistcoat style.
    I love this waistcoat style.
  • from 1950, a sleeveless blouse that was much more difficult than the result warranted
  • from a 1991 Calvin Klein pattern, a comically large anorak

    You think maybe this is a little too big?
    You think maybe this is a little too big?
  • from a 1955 pattern, a flannel “boy shirt”
  • from 1944, a muslin for a trench coat

    The yet-to-be perfected muslin of a 1944 trench coat.
    The yet-to-be perfected muslin of a 1944 trench coat.

Then, to bring the first year of Getting Things Sewn to an exciting conclusion (or get the second year off to a rousing start), I announced that Jack and I are going to sell our house in Minneapolis and move 765 miles southeast to Columbus, Ohio.

This spring we'll spruce up the house to sell. So long, sewing domain!
This spring we’ll spruce up the house to sell. So long, sewing domain!

That will mean designing a new sewing domain and developing a new local sewing community. It will also mean being within just minutes of my photographer’s studio, which will be fabulous, I promise you.

I was thinking this morning how Getting Things Sewn has been a game changer for me. Having this blog has elevated the realization of my sewing dreams from a to-do list to a larger, nobler, and more purposeful mission. That’s made all the difference.

Questions for the mission of getting things sewn--and Getting Things Sewn.
Questions for the mission of getting things sewn–and Getting Things Sewn.

It’s been with a mix of incredulity and gratitude that I’ve seen you, readers, show up. Thank you.

The forecast for Year Two: girl, situation, and jeopardy will continue, with more hilarity ensuing.

Happy Birthday, GTS!
Happy Birthday, GTS!

in As I see it # planning

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