Quilting and Sewing Goals for 2015
Well it is January 3rd, 2015 and with a new year comes new resolutions, diet plans, workout goals, etc. etc. And when I think about the things I really want to focus on this year, I get kinda fuzzy. I feel like there are sooo many things that I want to improve in the coming year. I want to get in shape, I want to grow my business, I want to improve my quilting/sewing skills, I want to read more books, I want to be a more focused. The list goes on and on and on. I'm not even 100% positive there are enough hours in the day to do all of these things. I need one of those things Hermione used to take a bazillion classes lol
The easiest solution I have come to is to focus on the things I can control the most: Improving my quilting and sewing skills. Plus I absolutely love learning, seriously if I could afford to be a full time student for the rest of my life I totally would.
The quilty things I really want to tackle learning and improving on this year are free-motion machine quilting, curved piecing, and designing my own patterns.
I have always hesitated doing my own free-motion machine quilting because my machine is so tiny. The biggest quilt I have free-motion quilted on my machine is my Craftsy 2012 BOM and it is only about 50" x 50". Honestly one of my long term goals is to eventually get my own longarm machine, but that is a big financial and space investment, and I currently cannot commit to either. (Mama needs a new car first). I have several minis and pillows on my to make list for 2015, so I al going to try and practice several different types of fmq on those.
I just found out that our guild (The Houston Modern Quilt Guild) is having a workshop this coming March with the one and only Angela Walters! Hooray!! That will definitely help my with tackling free motion quilting. OK I digress...
Next on my list is overcoming my fear of curved seams. I have never made a quilt block that involved curved seams. I have actively avoided them, which I find kinda funny because I started garment sewing long before I started quilting and I can sew an armhole or sweetheart neckline without breaking a sweat. I think the fact that those two things are not supposed to lay flat is what makes it easier. So this year I am going to tackle quilty curves. I think I want to try out the Quick Curve Ruler and one of the patterns that goes with it, probably the Metro Rings.
I love that the Sew Kind of Wonderful patterns look super complicated but they are (so I have heard) relatively easy to put together. We shall see... I've got to work up my confidence with curves so I can finally tackle making a Jen Kingwells Steampunk quilt. I already have the pattern and templates, I just need the courage.
The easiest solution I have come to is to focus on the things I can control the most: Improving my quilting and sewing skills. Plus I absolutely love learning, seriously if I could afford to be a full time student for the rest of my life I totally would.
The quilty things I really want to tackle learning and improving on this year are free-motion machine quilting, curved piecing, and designing my own patterns.
I have always hesitated doing my own free-motion machine quilting because my machine is so tiny. The biggest quilt I have free-motion quilted on my machine is my Craftsy 2012 BOM and it is only about 50" x 50". Honestly one of my long term goals is to eventually get my own longarm machine, but that is a big financial and space investment, and I currently cannot commit to either. (Mama needs a new car first). I have several minis and pillows on my to make list for 2015, so I al going to try and practice several different types of fmq on those.
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| Tiny machine is tiny. |
Next on my list is overcoming my fear of curved seams. I have never made a quilt block that involved curved seams. I have actively avoided them, which I find kinda funny because I started garment sewing long before I started quilting and I can sew an armhole or sweetheart neckline without breaking a sweat. I think the fact that those two things are not supposed to lay flat is what makes it easier. So this year I am going to tackle quilty curves. I think I want to try out the Quick Curve Ruler and one of the patterns that goes with it, probably the Metro Rings.
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The last of my quilty goals for the year is to start designing my own patterns. I have always had ideas floating around in my head, and I finally want to get them on paper and figured out. My biggest hesitation has been making sure the quilt math is correct. I can draw designs for days, but figuring out all the numbers is what terrifies me.
As far as sewing goals go, I want to focus on making myself more everyday garments. I loved this post over at Sew Mama Sew about how to transition to a mostly handmade wardrobe. When I started sewing in 2004 it was because I wanted to make clothes for myself, and I would really love to get back to that. I have tons and tons and tons of patterns, and I even have the fabric ready for several of them.
So my goal is to make myself at least 1 garment every month. I think that is definitely doable, heck they make like 40 garments in a month on Project Runway! The first one on my list is this pattern from Simplicity.
I'm going to make the main dress featured in the photograph to wear to a wedding for a friend of mine. I already have all of the materials I need, now I just need to get to work!
So those are my quilty and sewing goals for the year. I know they are probably going to change and adapt as the year progresses, but I am feeling good about where I am starting out.
What goals are y'all working towards this year?
As far as sewing goals go, I want to focus on making myself more everyday garments. I loved this post over at Sew Mama Sew about how to transition to a mostly handmade wardrobe. When I started sewing in 2004 it was because I wanted to make clothes for myself, and I would really love to get back to that. I have tons and tons and tons of patterns, and I even have the fabric ready for several of them.
So my goal is to make myself at least 1 garment every month. I think that is definitely doable, heck they make like 40 garments in a month on Project Runway! The first one on my list is this pattern from Simplicity.
So those are my quilty and sewing goals for the year. I know they are probably going to change and adapt as the year progresses, but I am feeling good about where I am starting out.
What goals are y'all working towards this year?
I appreciate your honesty about needing courage. I have wanted to learn appliqué for a few years but fear failing. I'm going to tackle it this year!
ReplyDeleteAwesome goals! I have a lot of the same things on my list, like curved piecing and FMQ practice. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good list of goals! I'm going to attend the Angela Walters workshop -- and am looking forward to finally meeting some HMQG people in person!
ReplyDeleteI somehow randomly found your blog (hi! hehe) and was wondering if you have any sewing tips for beginners. I got a sewing machine for Christmas and I cannot wait to use it - but I don't know where to start! You have great goals to continue improving. I also love learning, like you!
ReplyDeleteI love the steam punk quilt. Curves aren't so bad, just go for it, I know you can do it :)
ReplyDelete