all the clothes i made in 2023 (as a beginner sewist/knitter) 🪡

All 45 items I made for my 'memade' wardrobe... and what I thought of them! Fails, successes, it's all there!

Patterns in order mentioned:
Yarn used: Super Chunky Merino from Lauren Aston (Iris and Shadow)
Yarn used: Super Chunky Merino from Lauren Aston (Iris and Lilac)
Yarn used: Super Chunky Merino from Lauren Aston (Iris and Shadow)
Yarn used: Super Chunky Merino from Lauren Aston (Amber, Shetland Moorit. Moss, Ocean, Lime )

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[natamalieee]

As a knitter, I'm so impressed that you learned the "don't buy yarn without a project in mind" lesson so early on - I'm currently in a "de-stash" year after buying so many yarns (mostly secondhand, but still)...

[habersmashery]

Leena, I just want you to know that, out of frustration and spite that the fashion world will not offer me the ethically made bright purple jumper of my dreams, I have taken the concept of ‘Fine, I’ll do it myself!’ to unforeseen extreme. Your experiments and garments have convinced me it’s possible!

You are more sensible than me. There’s a methodical process to you building on your skills and gaining complexity in your projects. I really admire it. I’m just not emulating it! 🤣

Learning to knit by just Making A Jumper is almost definitely not what you’re Supposed To Do, but It’s Too Late, It’s Happening Now. Wish me luck!

[zandariko]

Please don't stop trying to learn things as you make clothes, even if it has been 10 years, keeping it humble and trying new exciting stuff makes us keep going!

[gingirl]

I was knitting in rib as you started talking about really disliking knitting in rib and I felt the greatest sense of vindication

[rochelle]

That black fabric would probably make great pants (trousers) or shorts, and then you could tick "make a crotch" off your bingo card! Also, I know it's not one of your makes but that embroidered skirt is SO PRETTY...

[juliana_f_c]

With the thick black fabric, I would make a pinafore dress! Like an a-line, very square-y, sixties-ish, short pinafore. They're very versatile, especially if you already like dungarees :)

[rachellydiab]

inspiring as always - I also just realised how nice it is to see a home in the background that's full of colour. So many people online present these 'perfect' white and beige backgrounds with no personality - and your purple walls are such a lovely reminder that a home can be so much more vibrant and interesting!

[qualityegg]

I love your entire approach to learning how to do various crafts. I love seeing your excitement, how you try new stuff, and that you also sometimes just say "ah, fuck it, another approach will also look fine".
Sometimes I get stuck in the perfectionist limbo of not starting a new thing because "what if i mess it up" and that attitude only holds me back. Watching you really inspires me

[catherine_dong]

my jaw DROPPED when you revealed your take on the patina blouse, absolute win!!

[lenausesyoutube]

I love that you knitted hats for all of Ariel's family!

[flowersforEUGENE]

The leopard print bias binding is so cool. It’s one of my favourite features, like a little surprise on the inside of the garment that totally reflects the spirit of the maker ❤

[telkins]

You might be happier with the black skirt by pleating the fronts and sides of your waistband - pleats get along much better with heavier fabrics than gathers do. In theory, you could pleat all around and add a placket for closure, but retaining the gather/elastic at the back will keep the ease of a pull-on and give grace for sizing changes.

[mouseluva]

Usually I'm relatively immovable against the forces of influencers, but 4 days after watching this video I have spent £32 on the kit for your beloved hat because I CANNOT stop thinking about it! It's not even payday yet! I don't even wear hats like that! I've tried knitting before and don't love it! But your knitting journey seems like I _could_ love it...

[verylikecheryl]

The Sophie scarf is tricky in a simple kind of way. If you ever try it again, put a stitch marker on the right side of the fabric so you don’t get it mixed up with your wrong side. Important on this pattern because all your increases are along one edge, not along both edges.

You also have to be good at counting rows so that you get your increases equally spaced. I lose count easily, so I use a beaded necklace on a lightbulb stitch marker and move it along one bead for every row. Because I have to handle the beads every row, that reminds me to move them along. Other methods, like a paper tally, I just forget to record my count and keep merrily knitting then discover I’ve lost it.

I thought I wouldn’t wear mine much but actually I do. It’s warm and comfy but light and doesn’t bulk out your coat or keep dropping off and trailing on the ground. And I think it makes me look French 👩‍🎨 😂

[BethAge]

Very cool makes! The blouse looks stunning! The collar turned out really crisp, I'm impressed!

[ellabanker]

For the acid wash wrap skirt maybe if you add a lining with a fabric that keeps it shape better? Like maybe that tablecloth heavy weight cotton?

[annag]

Took me until halfway through this video to realise I was knitting while watching your finished knitting projects! Currently knitting an 1890's sporting jumper entirely with rib stitch, once you find your rhythm with the knit one purl one it's actually quite therapeutic, it just requires a bit of patience to get there!

[whateverislovely]

I think you’d like a Korean hanbok style wrap skirt. Has pockets and super adjustable. You inspired me to make clothes too so I made a reversible Korean wrap skirt with linen and then one with boiled wool for winter. I wasn’t super sure how boiled wool would gather but it did well!

[salamalmahi]

I love this! Thanks to you I asked my mom to teach me how to sew. She learned from her father (my grandpa) who passed away a couple of years ago. I feel like passing on this skill from generation to generation is beautiful.

[rebeccaw]

Part of the process of learning to sew, is learning fabrics; how different fabrics behave, fall and perform. So your “fails” become lessons. Love watching your journey! Without an overlocker, besides binding your raw seams, learn the art of French Seams and Flat Felled Seams. There are so many YouTube videos on how to do these. Practice on scraps. You will never look back!!
Also, 2023 I finally made my first t-shirt. I was so terrified to try sewing with stretch fabric. Now I’ve made, like, 10 variations of shirts for myself, and heaps for my mother - I’ll never buy a t-shirt or turtleneck or sweater ever again now that I know they sew up so easily within an hour. The trick without an overlocker is… you don’t have to overlock stretch fabrics as they don’t fray; and Indi-pattern makers will show you how to do the various stretch stitches on your sewing machine; do buy a “twin needle” for “jersey fabric” (and at the same time, buy a standard needle for your machine for jersey, these have a tiny ball point particularly for stretch fabrics) to finish your hem and sleeves - seriously easy to use (just practice with scraps, and get a demonstration on YouTube). My other first for 2023 was learning to sew with denim - which was a journey in itself😂.