Happy New Year!

Just to recap 2008:

60+ complete sewing projects (aprons, bags, garments, doll clothes, etc.)

You can see pictures of the latest few at the end of this post.

30+ garments

1 huge SWAP

2 mini-SWAPs

32 reviews on PR (plus 2 to finish tonight)

Yardage used: who knows

Yardage bought: don’t want to know (but not as much as 2007)

So, for this year,

here’s what’s in my sewing basket for January:

1 UFO

PJ pants featuring a certain mouse for John, just because

Bedroom curtains

A belated Christmas shirt (hey Sarah, did I tell you I found the pattern finally?)

Ahoy! A Spring Wardrobe (reds, whites and blues)

New Year’s Eve Sewing:

Kit Kittridge came to live with us this Christmas. She came along with a second dress, but no PJs, so what’s a Mom to do? Well, whip something up, of course.

Robe: McCalls 5019, View B

Nightgown: McCalls 5775, View C (lengthened 2 inches)

I promise to get reviews up on PR soon, but until I do, both patterns were well worth the 99 cents I paid for them.

I have a favorite pants pattern. It is an elastic waist pull-on pant that makes up beautifully in linen. The only problem: they have not pocket. So, I added one!

I traced my hand so I would know about how wide I needed it to be.

I drew a slanted tear drop around my hand.

I added 5/8 inch seam allowances around it.

I taped the pocket to my pattern tissue, matching the side seam lines and cut out my pants. (You should note that this took about an extra 1/2 yard and had much wasted fabric.)

I stitched a piece of ribbon along the seam allowances on the front of each pocket for support. (At this point I referred to a handy sewing guide. Look for a review of the Reader’s Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing coming soon.)

I basted the pocket opening closed along the seam allowance.

I stitched the pants leg together from the hem up to the waist, following the curve of the pocket.

I clipped the corners at the pockets and finished the raw edges. I removed the basting and “bingo!” I’ve got pockets!