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Reflecting on a year of retirement crafting

 As this is my last blog for 2024, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the various craft projects that I completed throughout the year. I have quite recently become a knitter - it all started in 2021 as a way of managing my anxiety. Before that, I had always hated knitting and dreaded every Easter when we had to knit squares and jerseys for charities supported by my school. My knitting this year started with a marathon - matching emerald green jerseys for my nephew and his family. The next was a real scale change - a pale grey jersey and beanie for a newborn baby of one of my daughter's best friends.

Jersey and hat for a newborn baby
The pattern for the jersey is a big favourite with all of the new mom friends, as it has buttons at the neck so that you don't have to pull a tight neck over the little face. Soon after, I used the same pattern, this time with variegated yarn, for a darling toddler who is a keen gardener, so the colours won't show the dirt. I like using more sophisticated colours for my small people, as I feel that the traditional pastels are rather dated.

A jersey for a 2-year old gardener
I always now have a knitting project in the background, and am gradually teaching myself to be able to knit and watch TV. The latest completed project was done with my sister, who is a very accomplished knitter - a cardigan in shades of green and brown for our mother. 
A cardigan for our mom - a joint project with my sister

Machine sewing has always been my craft of choice - I started with my mom's manual Singer when I was six. I still remember my first garment - a simple dress from just two pattern pieces and braided trim for the neck and armholes. 

I started the year with some shirts for myself with Liberty fabric that I picked  up on a sale at Arthur Bales - such a treat to work with material that is the perfect weight and texture. Shirts are quite a challenge, especially long-sleeved ones with cuffs. I like to start a sewing project early on a Saturday morning and try to complete the garment by the end of Sunday. This way, I don't lose track of the sequence and it is so rewarding to see the finished product. I sew in my entrance hall on my dining table, so this also allows me to pack away the machine for the rest of the week.

Button-down shirt in a Liberty fabric

The next project was a real test of my 3-D geometrical skills that used my trusty T-square and other architectural drawing equipment. One of my daughters had bought a jumpsuit that was the perfect fit, so she wanted me to replicate it with some very colourful fabric that she had picked up at my other favourite fabric retailer, Chamdor. I had to draft off the pattern without unpicking the original, tapping into my knowledge of making similar trousers and tops. Miraculously, the prototype turned out fine, so I was immediately commissioned to make a replica in plain black as the ultimate conference attire - perfect for both daytime presentations and evening gala dinners. 

The first of two jumpsuits

A much simpler project used a Vogue pattern that I have worked with on several projects using a wide range of fabrics including lightweight denim and gingham. I have always been a fan of Vogue patterns, as the fit is always perfect and very flattering - sometimes the pattern can be quite complex, but I have found that you just have to trust their sequencing, whether for a simple dress like this one, or a fitted jacket, probably one of my most challenging projects ever, that I created when in my 20s. 

One of many dresses from a Vogue pattern

When I am cutting out a garment, I always try to position the pieces so that the remaining fabric is of a usable size and shape. From the offcuts of the dress, I managed to cut out a pinafore for my nephew's toddler who turned three this year. 

A pinny from the scraps


During the year, I was commissioned to make a bridesmaid's dress for my older daughter's best friend's wedding in November. They had chosen out a beautiful sage green linen blend and wanted a very simple and elegant dress, with a minor adaptation from a pattern that I had used a couple of times before. This project escalated! They could not find bow ties that would match the colour of the dresses, so I was asked to make these. Never having made anything of this nature before, I agreed, but only if they could find a pattern. Within minutes I was given the links to three different websites to choose from. Then the next level of escalation happened - the dressmaker for the other bridesmaid had to decline because of family drama taking her overseas, so suddenly the project was two dresses and four bowties! But my frugal upbringing allowed me not just to make the commissioned pieces out of the fabric, but also four pocket squares and a set of placemats and napkins as a small wedding gift and memento of the special day.

Bow ties and pocket squares for a wedding

In making these dresses, I had an aborted attempt at the bodice, which I could rescue to make a dress for my other daughter. She chose out a fabric for the skirt with a pattern of proteas and leaves that matched in with the sage green. This was not the last of the sage green - I refashioned one of the bridesmaid's dresses to be a short skirt, making it far more versatile - it has already been worn several times to work.

Using the trial bodice but with a patterned skirt

I also made quite a few other projects in 2024, enjoying the freedom and lack of commitments that come with retirement. These included seven pairs of trousers for my mom (a veritable production line over several weekends), a shirt for my brother-in-law and a number of Christmas gifts. I'm looking forward to my crafting projects in 2025 - I have an ottoman full of fabric and yarn to get me started in the new year.





 

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