Knitting and Sewing (and a few other) thoughts for 2015

I've decided that 2015 is going to be a frugal year in terms of spending money on 'things'.  I'm not going to buy any clothes at all, nor anything else unless it is a replacement for something which I already have which has broken irreparably, or worn out, and which actually needs to be replaced.  I'm hoping to end the year with fewer things and more space in my house!

This decision also means that I will be knitting and sewing entirely from stash - and that includes patterns as well as yarn and fabric.  I have more than enough to keep me going for at least a year (unless by some miracle I suddenly start knitting at the speed of light, or only sew multiple repeats of the same pattern - which I probably will, but I also want to branch out a bit as well).  This year I also want to tackle my box of clothes which need mending or altering - possibly alternating one new make with one recycled or renewed garment.

Recycled photo - the mending / alterations box is the one at the bottom (the top one mostly has leftovers in)

On the knitting front I intend to keep on knitting cardigans for me and jumpers and cardigans for my grandson.  I've just reread this post and hope some of the plans I blogged about will come to fruition but the reality is that there will always be other yarn/pattern combos that jump to the top of my knitting queue.

For sewing, there will be more dresses, and I'd like to use more of my vintage patterns for these, both the poufy-skirted ones and those with a more fitted silhouette.  There will, I'm sure, still be more versions of Emery, Elisalex, Anna, Butterick 5748 and New Look 6824 though - and mash-ups between them - because having made a few of them now they are quick to sew, I really like them and they will be easy to make up when I need a quick dress.  I also want to make some separates and maybe tackle sewing with knit fabrics - although I don't have any in my stash.  There is a grey and black Phase 8 dress in the alterations box though which may be my knit sewing guinea pig and become a top.

Another thing I'd like to do this year is trace more of my patterns so that I can cut the fabric in one layer rather than folded.  I can be very picky about pattern placement and lining up polka dots, and it's much easier with a single layer of fabric.

I also want to tackle buttonholes and master my overlocker - I've bought a craftsy class which I hope will help with this.  Finally I would also like to learn more about fit - I should actually read the books I've bought on this subject!

And that's it really, no concrete plans other than to make what I want, when I want and to go where my mojo takes me.