Best/Worst Makes 2024

My 2024 ended up being a mixed bag of triumphs and struggles and the same can be said of my sewing (always!). Here are my 5 worst and 5 best sewing projects from the year, in no particular order:

Worst Makes 2024

Simplicity 9041 with fabric from SAS: Blech, I absolutely hated this dress. It had no redeeming qualities. I thought the fabric was nice but it was shifty and weird and by the time I finished the dress, the fabric and I had a pretty shaky relationship. The fit of the dress was off (I still don’t know what it was) and it felt impossible to style. Total fail.

Simplicity 9020 Dropped shoulder top: I actually really liked the look of this top but it was too short for it to be functional for me. I wore it a few times but always felt uncomfortable because it was endlessly riding up. So I ended up donating it. I made another of these drop shoulder tops that also ended up getting donated, but in that case because of poor quality fabric.

Fulton Sweater Blazer in Boiled Wool: I’m actually pretty proud of my workmanship on this blazer. I think it turned out well, functionally and aesthetically. But. But I still just can’t imagine where I might end up needing/wanting to wear this? So when I see it in my closet, I feel slightly disappointed at all the time and money that went into it in order for it to…just hang out in my closet…indefinitely…

Style Arc Bert Top: I had a horrible sewing fail of a skirt, but didn’t have a picture so I’ll talk about this in its place, as a worst place runner up. I didn’t passionately hate this sweater, but I also never really liked it. I’m all for an oversized sweatshirt, but the sleeves on this thing are obnoxiously big, something I’ve come to realize I really don’t like. I wore it a handful of times through the winter at the beginning of the year, but have not once thought to pull it on as the weather’s gotten colder these last few months. It will probably get donated.

And finally, my giant pile of unfinished projects! Unfortunately this was true of my sewing and my reading this year: I started a lot of things I didn’t finish! One of those things got totally trashed without me even trying to salvage the fabric (there were some emotions involved), but the other projects are waiting patiently on my shelf for when I have that spark to finish them. I’ll get to them…eventually!

Best

Simplicity 9041 in Liberty London: The terrible dress from above did get made again (my third attempt at the pattern!) and turned out to be a favorite! This dress included some of the best sewing I’ve ever managed, plus some of my fanciest fabric! The end result is a lovely, structured, feminine, wrap-style dress that makes me feel pretty happy inside. I’m very pleased with how this turned out.

Jesse Tee in Cotton, Hemp and-get this-Yak Hair (!) Jersey: I will never tire of telling people the contents of this fabric. It’s just too amusing. This fabric ended up being soft, comfortable and surprisingly breathable. Pairing it with the Jesse Tee (one of my favorite patterns, see below), was a very wearable combo. Unfortunately, and it pains me to say it, my neckband wouldn’t ever lay flat, so I cut it off and inserted another (same fabric, but longer) and doing so widened the neckline which totally threw off the look of the shirt. Terrible mistake, but I WILL be buying more of this fabric and making MORE yak hair Jesse Tees!

Jesse Tee Hacked Dress: The Jesse Tee strikes again! This time I lengthened the bodice to turn the tee into a T-Shirt dress and the result was everything I hoped it would be. I added an elastized waist tie for some (comfortable) definition. The dress is comfortable, it goes with everything (at least, everything I own, ha!), and is super wearable. I love it. Jesse Tee for the win! And I included pockets because duh.

Sitka Sweatshirt: I haven’t posted about this yet (it’s coming!) but this turned out to be the sweatshirt of my dreams and I’ve been wearing it a ton. And I’ve made three versions. And they’re all awesome.

Saraste Dress: This was technically made in 2023 BUT it was made late in the year and as it’s better suited for warm weather, I didn’t get a good chance to test it out until this year. This is a dress that is so easy to wear but that LOOKS more polished and professional. I haven’t gotten around to making another Saraste, but I really hope I get to it, because I seriously love the look of this dress. I think I could really tune the fit better the second time around as well.

What were your sewing fails/wins for the year?

P.S. Happy New Year! Wishing you a sparkling holiday!