I really did want to get all my 2014 makes up on my blog during 2014, but you know what?  That’s just not going to happen.  There are still 18 items on my to-be-blogged list.  Jeepers.  Good intentions and all of that.

This dress was made during my November Sewjourn trip. I took along a number of boxes of knit scraps that I’d saved because “they might be useful” but which in reality were clogging up my sewing room and therefore also clogging up my peace of mind. I threw out the challenge to the rest of the group to take or use up as many of the scraps as they could, because any left over were going in the bin. Wendy in particular rose to the challenge, sewing a number of garments from New Look 6216.

Since I’d asked the others to use up some scraps, I thought that I should follow suit. I traced off a dress length of the top from New Look 6216 and sorted through my scraps to find a few that were a decent size and that sort of went together. Others may disagree with the “went together” part, but I’m very pleased with the combination! I pieced the fabrics, then cut the dress front and back. The cut on cap sleeves and neckline were finished with simple bands. I used the twin needle – with orange threads – to secure the bands and the hemline. Not much more to say about this one really!

I love that I can look at this dress and remember the original garments that the fabric was used for. The leopard print was a top (still in my wardrobe), the black and white stripe a dress (just given away), the orange bamboo knit another dress (still in the wardrobe) and the geometric print is a pair of pants (still in the wardrobe but about to be given away). I also think that all the fabrics except the solid orange came from Darn Cheap Fabrics.

I really don’t quite know what to say about 2014. It has been a FULL ON year for my family. My husband was retrenched in May and is still looking for work; I went back to full-time work but across three different employers; we had a brilliant family trip to Thailand; Clare finished primary school; there were school related challenges for Stella and for me; my husband spent almost all of first term travelling for his work and I solo parented a lot; Buzz joined the family; my husband turned fifty; I had three trips to Sewjourn and one weekend away with the school mums; oh my now my head is swimming even more than usual because this list has barely scratched the surface. I haven’t managed to do lots of the things that I normally like to do, because I simply haven’t had the time. I have tried hard to get balance within the constraints placed upon me. Things are good, most of the time. But they’re not always easy. And as always, sewing – and the feedback, encouragement and support of other sewers and the blogging community – has helped to keep me sane. And my family and my friends have been fantastic.

Thanks everyone, and all the best for 2015.