Summary of 2023: Looking Forward To 2024

Time just keeps flying! It feels like 2023 started with a bang and the momentum hardly let up. All of a sudden it’s time to look back on this year’s accomplishments and start looking ahead to next year. Crazy!

Projects I completed in 2023

July: c. 1785 Hand Sewn Natural Linen Stays of Success!

August: Updates To The 1933 Dramatic Evening Dress

September: Ravenclaw Quidditch Sweater

October: Copper Colored 1790s Sash (HSM #3)

November: 1790s Organza Cap With Gold Stripe Trimming (HSM #5)

December: c. 1770 Pink Panniers (HSM #12)

December: 18th Century Blue Petticoat (HSM #8)

General Blog News

I participated in my 11th year of the Historical Sew Monthly. This year I completed 5 of the 12 challenges. That’s three more challenges than last year! It’s been wonderful to have a little bit more time to sew.

Also, in May the blog hit 500,000 all time views! Wow!

Event Recap

I attended 1 ball (as part of a weekend event), 3 other events (picnic, croquet, outings, etc.), 1 dance performance, and participated in 1 weekend event (that included dancing, games, teas, picnics, winter activities, and grand house tours).

To Do Lists

I kept last year’s Definitely To Do list quite short, so that I could feel accomplished when completing it. And success! I completed both of the things on that last (The Stays of Fail/Success and updating my 1933 Dramatic Evening Gown).

I didn’t fully complete any of the items on the Maybe list from last year, but I did make substantial progress on two of the four items. In fact, they’re almost done! A new 1790s petticoat and dress… and they just need hems! I was derailed from finishing those at the end of the year because I was inspired to start (and finish!) a new 1940 dress that I’ll be blogging about early in 2024.

So, my ‘definitely-do’ list for 2024 includes:

• Finishing a 1790s petticoat and bum pad (started and mostly finished in 2023)
• Finishing a 1790s dress (started and mostly finished in 2023)
• 1770s yellow sacque/Robe à la Française (started in 2023)
• Under petticoat for the yellow sacque
• Stomacher for the yellow sacque
• Shortening the hem of Eleanor, my 1862 Plaid Dress
• Updating the waist size of my 1860s drawers
• Updating the trimming on my 1893 Bronze and Pink Ballgown to better go with the size updates I made in 2022 and posted about in 2023
• Replacing the zipper in my Happy Clover Dress

And my ‘maybe’ list includes:

• 18th century green silk skirt
• 18th century kerchief
• 1780s dress inspired by this one in the Glasgow Museum
• Scroop Patterns Amalia jacket (1775-1795)
• Scroop Patterns Frances rump (1775-1795)
• Various sleeve and neck ruffles to go with all of these 18th century gowns
• 1780s cap
• 1930s burgundy crepe blouse
• Finishing the 1836 Blue Print Cotton Day Dress #2
• Changing/updating the trim on my 1885 Night Sky Fancy Dress
• New Dotty Tap Pants

I’m very pleased to have achieved my goal of finding more time to sew. I hope to continue that next year. That seems reflected in my to-do lists!

I’m very grateful for the many kindnesses and gifts in my life. Thanks to all of you who have continued to read, comment on, and appreciate this blog. Wishing you the very best in 2024!