Frosting Diet: 2013 Recap!

Can you believe that it was one whole year ago that I put myself on a Frosting Diet?  How time flies when you are sewing awesome and fun things!

Here's what I sewed in 2013.

2013 Sewing Round Up!

Um, perhaps I need to learn a few new poses for 2014.

So, how did I do with the basic tenets I set out as part of the Frosting Diet?

Well, I sewed with a variety of awesome fabrics, I sewed exactly what I wanted, letting my mojo guide me, and I didn't sew basics. As far as going the extra mile with interesting details, techniques and finishes, I think I nailed it. In fact, I really challenged myself this year.

I stretched myself

Some of the interesting details, challenging techniques and a few new-to-me things I tried this year:

• spaghetti strap details
• zippers galore - exposed zippers, hand picked zippers, lapped zippers, custom zippers (and here), a zipper guard
• interesting/contrasting linings, facings and underlinings
• flat felled seams
• grosgrain waist 
• a boned corselette
• waist stays 
• couture hanging loops
• hand stitching - catch stitched seams, fell stitches, pick stitch
• lace trim/finishes - here and here and here
• underlined faux Hong Kong finished seams and here
• hand worked button hole
• faced hems 
• my first few forays into drafting (and here and here)
• better top stitching and here
• lots of fun hardware like feet for bags, magnetic snaps, a jeans button, Rigilene boning and webbing straps

I also worked on using my serger more and using it smarter, particularly on my knit projects. And I ended the year spending the better part of two days working on welt pockets. Really, I think I infused most of my projects with great details and techniques that challenged me.

I also think I aced taking some fashion risks, especially near the end of the year.

Yep...

and yep.

And I definitely sewed some luxury items.

And that's the 2013 round up!

Just to be clear, I don't view this as a one year project that's over. I was really happy with all of my sewing this year - with my fabric choices, with what I sewed, and with all the things I learned. I feel like I really laid the ground work for future frosting. And look at some of the fabrics that I look forward to sewing up.

My Hot Sauce Haul

Ewok Fur

I did a huge amount of learning - new and better techniques, more patient sewing, using hardware and hand sewing where it was best used. I also learned that I am at the point where I am ready to learn and do more drafting.

One of the things I liked best about this year is that I spent a lot of time in the company of other sewists! It really made me want to up my game. You learn so much just from being around others, don't you think?  

Anyway, they say that the right diet for you is the one you can stick to for life. For me it looks like it's Frosting Forever! Happy sewing in 2014, everyone!