Elisalex

As we transition into 2024, I'm 7 months pregnant, and have had very little drive to sew for myself since the earlier days of my first trimester. My last two months of pregnancy will be spent over the depths of UK winter, and I plan on spending that time hibernating - batch cooking and freezing bone broth, scheduling blog posts and newsletters in advance of maternity leave, and preparing for our daughter's arrival wearing only the comfiest, stretchiest, cosiest clothes I own. Beyond the birth, I have no idea how I will feel or what I will want to wear, so I'm putting absolutely no pressure on myself to think of what I might want to sew for myself as the year goes on. But that doesn't mean that I've lost my creative thirst! I still crave time alone with my sewing machine, and I know only too well how helpful it is to have a creative outlet during times of change.

Over the next couple of months, the projects I want to focus on are pretty much limited to: things for baby, and things for home.

I have a few knitting & crochet projects already on the go or ready to be cast on - a rainbow baby cardi from Seven Magpies Studio, a couple of baby blankets (Drops Design have an amazing catalogue of free patterns), and the cutest crochet baby dress I've ever seen by Mon Petit Violon.

For the home, I'm currently re-obsessed with the rope basket technique I learned from Tabara N'Diaye's book and I plan to make a nappy changing caddy as well as a trio of hanging baskets for more cute baby stuff storage solutions.

Jessica

I feel like my style changed significantly when I had children, a combination of the practically of (literally) running around after small kids and the change in lifestyle moving to London (lots of walking to get places).

The walking situation hasn’t changed but as my children gain more independence I can see my style shifting once again to become a little less purely practical and a little more dressed up. I have always been a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl for everyday, but now I find myself wanting to add elements that level up that combination so I can feel more “put together”.

My goals for 2024 are to continue building tailoring skills, initially that means blazers and coats however I’d like to be able to transfer those techniques to dresses (think Alexander McQueen).

Which leads me to my next goal which is inner structure of garments. I dabbled in this last year but did not succeed… I’m planning to redo last year’s birthday dress with a proper inner structure so it becomes strapless as intended.

I LOVE shoes, I’ve always loved shoes and have really beautiful collection of fancy shoes most of which I cannot regularly wear because they get ruined walking around London.

For 2024 the goal is to make myself some beautiful ballet flats, low and mid height heels. Pretty but practical enough for walking around. Of course that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on the frivolous shoes. Even though it’s not really sewing related I will be strassing* a few pairs of shoes in 2024 too…

Mattie

I had a breast reduction in early December 2023, so my 2024 sewing will be all about fitting my new proportions. I was a sewing for a dressmakers' I cup before and will now be a D or an E, so it's a big change and I'm very excited to use my sewing skills to embrace my new body.

1. Alter what I can. I have a closet full of beautiful clothes that don't fit anymore. Alteration has never been my strong suit, but I'm determined to save some of these babies.

2. Learn to fit my body now. One of the joys of sewing is a custom fit, and I'm excited to adapt my skills.

3. Try new silhouettes. I would like to experiment a lot with my style in 2024.

Elle

In 2023 I pushed myself to sew complex garments like my first tailored jacket and sewing with trickier fabrics. Although I found the process rewarding, it didn’t bring me as much joy as I’d have liked. It was pretty stressful at times.

For 2024, I want to focus on COLOUR. Colour brings me joy. I love wearing bright and bold colours but don’t think I’ve quite nailed colour theory and what looks right on me yet.

I want to experience and explore sewing with different colours (but not just make random tat that I won’t wear). I want to make bold pieces that fit into my wardrobe and can be re worn with other things multiple times. I would love to find MY colours and properly find my style.

All images are for inspiration purposes only, found via Pinterest.