Well, it’s been some time since I’ve last been here!
A lot has happened as expected. I a still on a journey of self-discovery, sustainability, and learning new skills.
While I cannot promise to be any more regular about posting here, right now is as good time as any to check in and see where things are.
Sewing
My sewing skills have certainly come a long way! I am far from an expert, but I can sew simple things. Mostly by hand (even though I do have a sewing machine). In fact, I have been making and wearing skirts, simple blouses, and even made a winter jacket earlier this year.
My pattern drafting is still very basic – while I can draft a pattern following detailed instructions, I am really not able to draft one without. Or to manipulate an existing pattern.
The area where I’d like to improve most of all is the fitting. No amount of mockups is helpful if I don’t know how to fit them properly. And so far it’s been a rough journey! The skirts fit really well, but that’s because the pattern I drafter fits me really well – I don’t think I needed to make any changes beyond shortening the hem a bit.
However, the jacket could have been better! I have used a commercial pattern for it, and while I did make a mockup, I didn’t make any alterations. Only after making the final garment did I notice issues with fit. Not anything crazy, I still wear it and it looks fine, but I wish it fit a little better. I suppose it’s only to be expected, while I keep learning!
The undeniable win of the entire sewing endeavour is that I wear all my creations. Not just occasionally, but pretty much on a daily basis. The only items of clothes I bought since I started nearly 2 years ago were two dresses I needed for a wedding, and 2 new pairs of shoes. Because however enticing shoemaking sounds, I know I am not in any position to try and make my own shoes!
But really, I mostly wear clothes I made myself, occasionally supplementing them with items I have acquired previously – mainly t-shirts, socks, undergarments, as well as a variety of jackets and scarves/shawls.
If I really look back and reflect upon my sewing journey, I suppose that my first year of sewing had a very steep learning curve, but that was mostly about the stitches patterns, mockups, materials and supplies, etc. I did learn how to make Victorian walking skirts (and how to draft them!) as well as how to make t-shirts (and sewing with stretchy fabrics).
In 2025 I have continued building on the basics, though the winter jacket took a big chunk of the year. New sewing techniques, materials, and importance of fit. Beyond that I really focused on building out the basics in my wardrobe with 18 century shirts. They are really simple and easy to do, and were a perfect type of project to both reduce my stash of linen fabric as well as give me basic items I can wear every day.
Next year… While I have not solidified my plan for next year yet, I’d like to learn and sew more foundational layers – namely, a comfortable corset (or a few) that I can wear every day. Beyond that I’d like to focus on fitting – specifically bodices. So shirts, waistcoats, jackets, chemises – anything for the top portion of the body. That should hopefully help me grow my skills in fitting while also helping me grow my wardrobe in a practical way. Pants can wait until later – I have managed with skirts so far, I can continue doing so.
Cooking
At first as I started reflecting on the year gone by, I thought that not much has happened in culinary terms. But then I started remembering little bits and pieces… So perhaps there is more there than I thought!
My father cam e to visit and not only did I try many new recipes while he was here, I have also learned quite a few. This is wonderful not only because I am always happy to learn new great recipes, but also because it aligned with what I value – passing of knowledge from one generation to another. In all my escapades including sewing, I am fascinated by history, and try to remember that all new advances stand on the foundation of what went before. It’s important for me not to lose sight of it (one of the main reasons I prefer historical sewing and patterns over modern ones), so it is lovely when it resurfaces in other areas like cooking.
In addition, I have gained two new tools for cooking. The first one is a pressure cooker, an electric one. It’s the Instant Pot brand. I was sceptical at first, and after many dishes cooked in it I am not convinced it’s the miracle device internet proclaims it to be. There are many dishes where its outcome is sub-par at best. However, there are certain dishes where I can see its usefulness, and the taste is not sacrificed! I expect there is a lot more to learn and experiment with there.
The second one is a varnak – a cooking device created by my father. It lives in my backyard and I have really cherished my ability to cook over fire. There is so much more to experiment with! For example, I have not even tried smoking meat yet, but it is on my list of things to try.
Other projects
There have been some other projects such as minor renovations in the living room (and I use the word “renovations” very generously), perhaps the biggest project has been and still is, my sewing cabinet.
I bought it in November 2024 and it was in a sorry state. It was fully functional, but one of the drawers had a hole in the bottom, Bakelite handles were mangled, and the paint was peeling, revealing layers of older paint.
I didn’t care. I fell in love with it – not sure why but it simply made me happy every time I looked at it. I cannot attribute it to how it looked – apart from the sorry state I have just described, the top layer of peeling paint was a dirty yellow – a colour that I cannot imagine using for any project.
Then in May 2025 I decided that the time has come to restore it. I have been using it as a sewing cabinet, but for some reason creating more chaos and clutter in the house as I work on the cabinet seemed like a really good idea at the time. Never mind that I was racing towards burnout at work and my father was coming to stay for a bit.
Needless to say, I have not finished the restoration project. Instead I have been working on and off on it since then. Slowly taking off the layers of paint from all the doors, drawers, and the cabinet itself (both inside and outside). I’d like to say that I am on the home stretch in terms of taking paint off, but I’ve said it too many times this past year before realising that it’s not the case, so I will refrain today as well.
Taking off paint and sanding are my least favourite parts of furniture restoration. Staining and finishing are quite nice. Adding hardware should be fun – just as choosing it usually is. But the removal of paint with paint stripper and sanding are the parts that take the longest and that also tend to be the messiest. In the absence of dedicated working space, this means that I work on the cabinet in living spaces in the house, which apart from clutter that comes from all the items usually stored in the cabinet being shoved where possible in other spaces, the dust and the dropsheets and the tools are all over common areas… It’s a real mess. I cannot wait to finish it so that I can use it as intended and have some order in my sewing supplies, but also so that the house can be neat again.
In summary
It’s a mess. My wardrobe is a mess, my house is a mess, my garden is a mess, even my kitchen is a mess. I often feel like my career is a mess too. Which can feel very disheartening when faced with a mess in every direction.
However, I cannot deny that I have been acquiring new skills and knowledge, even if their application is hard to see. And those skills have to amount to something in the end. It often works this way I find – when things feel dark and hopeless and it feels like there is no end in sight… Then suddenly everything falls into place.
I hope that I am in a similar place now. The key is not to lose heart, to do the best I can, and to keep going. Keep learning, keep trying. It will all make sense in the end. Just like the mess from the cabinet will eventually be cleared up and I will have order in the house, just like eventually all my sewing skills and knowledge will cross the critical point and I will be able to produce items I want – similarly the skills I am picking up at work will be utilised and help me progress.