It’s that time of year: to reflect on last year and think ahead about this year. It’s helpful to look back and see my accomplishments as a group. I seem to always make more things than I remember having worked on in that year!
Projects I completed in 2017:
January: 19th Century Brown Silk Petticoat (HSM #1)
January: My Favorite Winter Things Skirt
February: 1927 Blush Sparkle Dress
April: Orange Boven Hat (HSM #4)
May: 1814 Orange Boven Pelisse
June: 1817 Gold Regency Duchess Dress
September: 1943 Mauve Print Dress
October: 1850s Chenille Headdress
November: 1933 Dress & Hat In Green & Gold (HSM #10)
November: 1830s Sleeve Puffs (HSM #11)
In February I was honored to be awarded the Liebster Blog Award by Plaid Petticoats! In August, I was excited to be able to take a fantastic trip to Denmark focused on learning 19th century dancing and including multiple balls. I haven’t posted about that trip yet… but I hope to early in 2018!
I participated in my fifth year of the Historical Sew Monthly. This year I completed 5 challenges. It was a busy year in other ways, so I feel happy about my completion of those 5 challenges.
In terms of events this year, I attended 11 balls, 10 other events (teas, picnics, outings etc.), and 2 vintage dance performances, for a total of 23 events (plus all that dance practice I had in Denmark!). Not quite as busy as other years, but respectable when I consider all the other life things that happened this year as well!
Looking at last year’s ‘definitely do’ list, I’m pleased to report that I exceeded my goals by not only making all the things on the list but actually exceeding it by altering two Regency dresses instead of just one. There were 8 things on the ‘maybe’ list and I completed 4 of them, though not all of those have had pictures taken yet.
For 2018, my ‘definitely do’ list is unusually short:
- update my 1928 green evening dress to fit better with less hassle
- make a 1950s-British-royal-inspired Queen of Hearts sash
On the other hand, the ‘maybe’ list feels extensive, probably due to the lack of projects on the ‘definitely do’ list:
- 1884 plaid wool day dress
- 1880s wool mantle
- 1790s stays
- 1790s petticoat
- 1790s dress
- finishing a modern floral cotton summer dress
- as many as four modern dresses
- vintage inspired winter wool skirts
I’m looking forward to another year of research, sewing, spending time with old friends, and hopefully making some new friends, too! I hope for sunshine for all of us in 2018.
The Quintessential Clothes Pen 
What a lovely record of the year! You are an inspiration to me, who just dabbles in clothing of the past. I have material for a Civil War dress and hat, and this might be the year I will get it done. Since I interpret at a history center about the early 1800s canal in the Midwest, I have constructed a skirt and a straw hat, but that’s the extent of my work so far. I am looking forward to seeing the 1884 plaid day dress.
Thanks, Margaret. I hope your sewing muse strikes this year. I am looking forward to the process of the 1884 dress, too! 🙂