Ditto.

Hello and Happy New Year! 

It's that time of year again. Reflections. Resolutions. Gym memberships. All that. Personally, I'm not having it. This time last year, I declared 2014 the year of anti-resolutions; for the first time in my life, I made a New Year resolution that I was able to stick with! And, it was a great year! I sewed more and more successfully than I have ever done before. I knit. A lot- 10 sweaters that made it to the blog (and several more sitting on that damn chair in the bedroom), a few pairs of socks, and some wooly accessories. Not having a plan didn't hinder my productivity. Actually, I think I was more productive, because I always felt able to do exactly what I wanted to be doing at a given moment. 

This year I'm hoping for more of the same. No rules. Just fun. In the spirit of sameness, behold the exact same outfit I showed you a couple weeks ago, another Hollyburn/Renfrew. The skirt fabric is the sister fabric to the silk shantung I pulled out of my first estate sale.  It's every bit as beautiful as the black piece. 

It was FREEZING and windy the afternoon we took these photos. We tried to take some inside shots, without a lot of luck, but I think the poor lighting shows off how lustrous this silk is. Pink is not a color I normally wear. But, I was willing to make an exception in this case. Admittedly, I am surprised by how 'not five years old' or 'Disney princess' it actually looks. That's a relief, because I still have a few yards of this pink silk left, and I'd love to sew with it again soon. 

My Renfrew this time around is sewn with a cotton/poly knit fabric I bought at Joann. I could tell by handling it that it was going to be different than the cotton knit I used last. Still, I was surprised to see how enormously different this top came out compared to my first attempt. Where the first version I sewed is snug through the chest and closer fitting; this version is BIG. Everywhere. Maybe it's the weight of the fibers and gravity or the additional elasticity this fabric contains. I don't have a clue. I have a lot to learn about knit fabric. However, I think it's safe to say that I'm no longer afraid of knits! That's exciting. I have a dozen patterns that I've been putting-off, and I feel ready to give them a try. 

The above picture is a little silly. I'm mid-shudder and it's crazy windy. But I think it shows off the movement of the skirt better than any still shot is capable. Unfortunately, winter is just getting started. I foresee a lot of indoor photos in the near future. My crystal ball is also showing a couple more Hollyburn/Renfrews; I already have two wool versions cut and waiting. I see pants and vintage dresses. Cabled sweaters. Colorwork. And Socks...  

It's going to be a busy year! I'm really excited to share it with you! Thank you for taking time to drop by and say hello, sharing your projects with me, and inspiring me! I don't say it enough. Cheers to 2015!  Let's make it great!