Craft Goals for 2022

Hi, everyone! I’m back with some craft goals for 2022. I look forward to sharing the projects I was working on in December with you soon, but it seems appropriate to start off the year with a post about goals.

I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions. I’m not for or against them, I just don’t usually make them. I did like the idea of setting some goals in my creative practice for this year, though. Maybe they won’t all happen, but I’m going to see what I can do.

While sewing my own clothing is my main hobby, I enjoy knitting, sewing non-clothing items once in awhile, and dipping my toe into other crafts as well. Because of that, I wanted to set craft goals, rather than just sewing goals for the year. So, here’s what I’ve got!

#1: Make shoes

Yes, shoes. No, I’m not kidding.

Over the last few years, I have seen more and more people in the sewing community try this out, and I really want to make some shoes of my own. I own a lot of sewing and knitting tools, and I’m not looking for a new hobby with a thousand new tools, but I want to at least dip my toe in. I would love to try leather sandals, tennis shoes from a kit, or clog sandals at some point, because they all sound doable without investing in too many new tools or materials. To help me on my quest, my in-laws got me the book The Sandalmaking Workshop by Rachel Corry.

I think I would like to try combining a few of the styles unless I see or imagine a style I like even more.

Alternatively, the Chicago School of Shoemaking and Leather Arts has tennis shoe/sneaker kits, and I have seen wooden clog bases on various websites like Etsy. Just think–if I could make my own shoes, I would have the power to create an entire outfit if I wanted to! I love the idea that I could make an entire outfit.

#2: Knit colorwork mittens

Since coming back to knitting, I have discovered that colorwork/stranded knitting is my (current) favorite kind of knitting. I LOVE color! And I love having multiple colors in a given piece of clothing. While I have some excellent lined mittens, I really want to make some colorwork mittens, at least once. When hunting around for patterns, I found the Northman Mittens by David Schulz, which are lined, and look super warm. Once it gets cold out, I either need two pairs of handknit mittens to wear one on top of the other, or a pair of lined mittens. These should fit the bill. However, my impatience being what it is, I thought it best to start with something faster. That’s why I would like to begin with the Speedy Selbu Mittens by Skeindeer Knits, which should work when it’s not bitterly cold.

Since these mittens are knit from a worsted weight yarn, which is thicker and quicker to knit than thinner yarns, these seemed like a good way to try this style of mitten out and see if I like it enough to go on to the Northman Mittens or something else that will take a bit longer. Once I finish the socks I’m working on, I hope to start…if I don’t get distracted by something else. Haha–the lure of the new and shiny is real!

#3: Make a Western style shirt

I have had this on my to-make list for so long! I just need to do it! Whenever I want to make a pattern that I think will be complicated, or that I will have to change a lot, I tend to procrastinate. The pattern I have chosen, McCall’s 6262 from 1992 looks great, but has normal cuffs.

I really wanted those decorative shotgun cuffs, but knew I would have to change the pattern up in order to get them. I found a great article called “Updating the Cowboy Shirt” by David Page Coffin in Threads magazine #67 (October/November 1996) that details how to do this, but the extra time and energy required to figure it all out put me off.

At this point, I think it’s more important to try the general style than it is to have every bell and whistle, so my current thought is that I should make the pattern as is, and if I like it, expand from there with future shirts.

#4: Make a leather bag of some sort

This is yet another project I have wanted to do for some time, but haven’t gotten around to. It’s not that I haven’t ever made anything with leather. I made my friends some clutches several years ago. It’s more that I would like to sew with leather a little bit more often, and it’s been long enough that I need to break the ice again. I made this goal vague enough that I can make something super basic like a little envelope clutch or zipper pouch, or slightly larger, like a cross-body bag. I have had the book containing these projects for a little while now, and just need to dive in.

I don’t know much about leather types and thicknesses, but doing a project will help me learn.

#5: Sew a humpback whale stuffed animal

Haha–this is oddly specific, right? I know. I got this cute Humbpack Whale pattern by Crafty Kooka from one of my kids for Christmas, and I put it on this list because I want to make sure I make it!

We got our first ever new couch this past year, and I think it needs a cute whale to live on it! OK, the truth is, I just want an excuse to make a whale. I don’t know if it will really live on the couch or not. I just want to make one. While I have made simple stuffed animals in the past, this pattern has some new-to-me techniques, and I’m excited to try using safety eyes for the first time.

Now we get to the “maybes” on my list of goals. I haven’t decided if I am committed to these last two, mainly because they don’t sound like quite as much fun to me as the previous ones, but here they are, nonetheless.

Possible goal #6: Make more undergarments

Because I don’t share these on the blog or really anywhere, and because some bras can require more precise fitting, I don’t find these quite as much fun to make. The undergarments I have made for myself have been, for the most part, superior to those I buy in the store, even when I don’t get the fit perfect, but I have a harder time motivating myself to sew them. That being said, it would make a big difference to my wardrobe if I could really get the fit down on a few patterns. I’m close, but like I said, motivation is a little lacking… Do I try to push through, or stick to the things that are more fun? I’m still trying to decide.

Possible goal #7: Learn one or more new serger techniques

I have had my Juki MO-654DE serger for over a year now, and I absolutely love it. Have I learned to do anything other than thread it and push the power pedal? Nope! This potential goal is much like the one above in that it’s not a “fun” goal in my mind. It means I need to slow down on a project and learn something that will take more time, and I’m sorry to admit that I don’t always like to do that. Once I have prepped and traced my pattern and cut out my project, I want to follow the directions and finish the project as quickly as possible so I can GET IT ON MY BODY! Despite this, I know that learning even a few more aspects of my machine would give me more options. Luckily, I also got Serger 101 by Katrina Walker as a Christmas gift. This book looks like it has a lot of great information laid out in a clear, easy-to-follow format. Now I just need to use it!

So that’s what I’m thinking! In order to actually remember and accomplish these goals, I’ll have to make sure I put them where I can see them and check them off when I finish each one. If I don’t, that lure of the new and shiny I mentioned will go into effect, and I’ll forget them as new seasons and project ideas roll in. If I focus on completing them, though, I’ll learn new things and push forward into areas I have been wanting to explore. Making something new that maybe five years ago you had no idea you even could make at home brings with it a feeling like no other. Being able to say, “I MADE this!” is amazing. And we can make a lot of things! It’s so cool!

What about you? Do you have craft goals for this year? Share below! I love to hear about what other people are planning.

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The Secret Christmas Presents Were…Leather Clutches!

The secret Christmas presents I have been working on for my two friends were safely delivered last weekend and, I think, well-received.  I can FINALLY show you.  I made each of them a leather clutch.

My take on my friend Audrey’s style is that she likes modern and slightly funky clothes, so I tried to echo that as I pieced the leather.  Here is the final product:

Front view

Front view with the flap open to reveal the zipper and zipper pull

Back view

In order to get this arrangement, I moved leather scraps around until I liked the look and then taped them together with Scotch tape until I could sew them.  When I was ready to sew, I sewed right over the tape and removed it after I had sewn everything.  I had to use tweezers to get the remaining tape out in a few spots, but it didn’t take too long.

My other friend Trisha has, in my mind, a clean and classic style.  Here is what I made for her:

Front view

Front view with flap open to reveal zipper and zipper pull

Back view

Audrey’s clutch is larger and the leather is thinner, making it more flexible.  Hers is my favorite, and I had a hard time parting with it.  ;0)  Trisha’s clutch uses thicker layers that are doubled in some areas, which is why it needed the magnetic snap on the flap.  I was afraid the flap wouldn’t stay closed without it.

Both clutches were made on my home sewing machine (an Elna 3005).  The only special equipment I used was a leather needle.  This is my first real attempt sewing leather (unless you count my awesome leather and double knit pants).  I was inspired to try after doing a little bit of work for Elizabeth Berthoud of sacAmain.  Her bags are amazing and super professional.  She donated her leather scraps to me and made herself available if I had questions.  I also discovered Arthur Porter on youtube, who has numerous videos about working with leather.

These projects were really fun and, since I’m the worst at shipping things out on time (yes, even when they are finished months in advance), I was glad to deliver them early.  I could definitely see sewing more with leather in the future.  Have you tried it?  Do you plan to?

Have a happy Reformation Day!  Oh, and I guess there’s Halloween, too.  😉 I’m going to be the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland.  I’ll try to get some pictures for you.

Finished Project! Leather Pants!

I think any finished project involving leather pants really needs an exclamation point after it.  Don’t you?  😉

So, I bought these from the thrift store for $15.  They’re made by GUESS, and I think they may have retailed for somewhere in the $150/$200 range (which makes me feel like I got a good deal).

Leather pants with side seams ripped out in preparation for their new look.

I wanted to try sewing leather, so my plan was to turn these into a simple clutch or something like that.  But they were so soft…and nice…and AWESOME, so I changed my mind.  I decided to try to make them fit me, especially considering that leather/stretchy knit pants are currently on trend.  This is a good thing, since they were originally so small I could only pull them up to just above my knees.  So, I spent some Christmas money and got some wool double knit (I took my cue from The Selfish Seamstress.).  It was pricey for me (it doesn’t take much for fabric to seem “pricey” in my world), but man!  That stuff is gorgeous!

So, the short version is that I sewed a strip on each side and it worked, but I was sweating it, I’ll tell you.  This was definitely borderline between craft fail and success there for awhile.  When it comes to fitting clothing, I really don’t know what I’m doing.  I cut some extra wide strips of the double knit, sewed elastic into the top, and then sewed the back seams of the side panels.  Then, I laid my favorite jeans on top to get an idea of the shape on the sides.

Somehow, what I came up with didn’t seem wide enough, so I extended the shape out 1.5 inches on each side to where I had decided I wanted to sew the double knit waistband section to the pants front.  Then, I went for it, leaving the bottoms unfinished so I could try them on before hemming.

They seemed to fit pretty well, so I hemmed the pants and finished sewing the leg seams.  I wasn’t sure about the length, which is perfect if you have a bit of a heel, but a little long without one, but after wearing them tonight with some flat shoes, I think they are alright as they are.  I still need to fix up the lining inside, but on the whole, I love these pants!  They aren’t perfect or even the most flattering pants in the world, but I went for it, it worked well enough to wear, and I have leather pants now!  How cool is that?

Here are some finished photos.

And just in case you needed an idea of what to wear when you go OUTSIDE in your leather pants, may I propose this?

Doesn’t everyone need a faux fur coat to go with their leather pants?https://www.flickr.com/photos/lisapoblenz/51989181793/in/dateposted/

Yes, everyone DOES need a faux fur coat to go with their leather pants.

Hm, that coat is supposed to be material for another project, but I’m starting to sort of like it as is, so we’ll see.  We wouldn’t want to keep things too normal around here, would we?  😉