This week has seen my start my New Years Resolution part of which is to take stock of my progress.
I first began to sew when I was unable to find clothes to fit my taller-than-average frame. I was a teenager and was approximately 6” taller than any other girl I knew. My ankles were routinely shown off to the world by trousers too short, my sleeves constantly pushed up to the elbow to hide the fact that they didn’t reach my wrists and don’t get me started on finding a swimsuit. Being a teenager is hard enough without feeling like you will burst out of your wardrobe!
I would to buy larger clothes and cinch them in at the waist, albeit very roughly, until I began to get a sense of how clothes were made and how they could be taken apart and put back together. Frankenstein-ing my way through my wardrobe I learned to tailor what I could and to hide my height and size.
As an adult I invested in a dress-makers dummy and soon I had requests from friends and family to tailor jackets, to lengthen tops, or to shorten hems. All was practice which lead to me to feel that sewing and creating was what I wanted to do all day every day. I started to feel that I could make clothes to fit my body and that I would not have to try in vain to fit my body into ‘off the rack’ clothes. Not only was my wardrobe (and confidence) building but I knew that I wanted to share this new skill with others.
Inspired by a good friend, Nina, who had launched her Etsy shop to great success, I ventured tentatively into the world of online selling. I created some cushion covers and opened my Etsy shop. Cue a nervous wait of over a month until my first sale ‘cha-chinged’ its way into my life.
It was another few months before I gained the courage to leave my full time job in London. I knew if I was ever to make this business viable I had to remove the excuses and safety net of a paying job. Since then I have increased my online sales, taken stalls and pop-up markets by storm, and have now created my own website. I am still learning a great deal every day and I have a long way to go but I now feel that I have a solid grounding on which I can build my own future. That may sound a little trite but the sense of freedom and responsibility that comes from owning your own business, being both free to choose and entirely responsible for the consequences of your choices is quite surprising and, I am now realising, what I have always wanted. I always sensed that the 9 to 5 life was not for me…
This week alone I have settled into my new routine, bolstered by the new year I aim to write everyday, to reach out to people everyday, and to complete at least one new project everyday. I am finding that sharing my progress helps me to take stock, to evaluate, and to appreciate how far I have come.
You can see my latest projects below and, as always, I would love to hear from you. What’s your new goal or resolution? Have you tried any new projects or been inspired to take a big step? Have a great weekend, SJ
This week I have:
~ Created a new hat pattern - Chunky Cable Hat Pattern
~ Posted a new beginner’s crochet pattern & tutorial - Super Chunky Crochet Throw
~ Ventured into the city to pick up some fabric and inspiration….
~ Used that fabric to create some new PJs for myself!
~ Started work on two new patterns ~ Super Chunky Horseshoe Cable Jumper & Chunky Ripple Crochet Blanket
~ Added new products to my website shop ~ Double Duvet Cover Set