A Year of Making | The Button Jar

2019

And that’s a wrap!

As I look at the list of things I made in 2019, I have to say that I feel pretty damned happy about what I achieved. I feel like I lifted my skills and ambition over the course of these makes. I also feel that, while still having the freedom to experiment with new-to-me silhouettes and styles, I found a clearer sense of my own style—that is, finding that point where the garments and colours I like to wear fits in with how I move through the world (studying, teaching, interacting with the people and the city, and being at home by myself) in a way that feels like an expression of how I want to be seen.

In this hearty list of makes, while not everything has been a hit, there have been fewer misses than earlier in my sewing journey. There are a few patterns I have returned to repeatedly (or intend to in the future), and there is a pattern or two that I feel just aren’t for me. I’ve learnt that I highly value beautiful finishes and I don’t mind spending the extra time to get them. I’m learning about deciding when I think it’s worth making a toile, and when it’s not. And I’ve also learnt—possibly controversial, but—that ‘good enough’ is fine for me when it comes to fit. Most things I make fit far better than RTW, so ‘perfect fit’ is something I’m no longer aiming for.

To wrap 2019, I’ve decided to just do a photo essay, with a picture each thing I’ve made throughout the year. Click on the image to find extra details about designers and fabrics. Enjoy!