Last week, Liesl mentioned in her 2014 review post that we'd soon have a mosaic post featuring our sewing projects from that year. Well, here it is! I have to say, 2014 was quite the productive year for all of us. I wanted to highlight everyone's work, so I put together a couple of Flickr galleries containing photo mosaics of the Oliver + S sewing projects completed in 2014. You can check them out in Part 1 and Part 2. Be prepared to feel inspired by all the amazing sewing!
Have you taken the time to look back at your sewing journey in 2014? Did you learn or achieve something you're particularly proud of? How many Oliver + S patterns did you try for the first time last year? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
To give you a better idea of what people accomplished, I reached out to four individuals who made and shared their Flickr mosaics. I asked them to reflect on their sewing experiences in 2014—what they achieved, new skills they picked up, their proudest moments, and any personal favorites. I also encouraged them to share their sewing goals for 2015. Here's what they had to say.
First up, we have Lucy (aka LucyM_0213 on Flickr).
As always, there simply isn't enough time or energy to sew as much as I'd like. Still, I consider every completed garment an accomplishment. My biggest sewing win in 2014 was finally finishing the Secret Agent trench coat in October, which I had cut out back in February. It was a miracle that it fit Addie since she grew so much that year. I was also thrilled with my two-day, two-garment sewing spree for the Garden Party Dresses. The Music Class garments turned out beautifully too.
2014 Oliver + S sewing photo mosaic
At the risk of sounding overly sentimental, most of the items are personal favorites. The Ice Cream top is my go-to due to its ease of construction, frequent requests, and quick assembly. The Family Reunion Dress is stunning and equally easy to put together. While I'm proud of all my creations, the Secret Agent trench holds a special place in my heart because of the intricate details. I also made a vibrant Modkid Kyoko dress in one night, and it turned out better than expected. The lunch napkins and snack bags I crafted for school lunches are particularly meaningful since Addie uses them daily. Her absolute favorite is the Music Box Jumper-turned-uniform, which I added side seam pockets to—a small detail that made a big impact. The only garment that gave me pause was the Playdate Dress because I couldn't French seam the yoke. But even then, I reminded myself that sewing doesn't always need to be perfect—it's about creating something meaningful. Each handmade item is a puzzle that, once solved, becomes functional and carries my love for Addie. That's what makes each piece special to me.
Oliver + S patterns to sew in 2015
Addie just turned six, but she's already tall, nearing the size of an eight-year-old. My main goal this year is to sew at least once from all the Oliver + S and Clever Charlotte patterns I own that she'll soon outgrow. The School Days coat tops my list. My secondary goal is to maintain a detailed sewing journal. I want to revisit these formative years and capture the emotions tied to each creation. Thirdly, I want to use up the fabric from my extensive stash and stop acquiring new yardage. Why isn't this my primary goal? Because I'm an optimist—I'm not delusional. If I manage to sew anything for myself, it will be a sweet bonus, fulfilling my fourth goal. Since Addie was born, I've neglected sewing for myself, but I hope to change that in 2015.
Thank you, Lucy!
Next, let's hear from Sarah, an avid sewer and mother of two. You can follow her sewing adventures on her blog, Not Sew Fast.
2014 marked the year I truly fell in love with sewing, and it was also when I discovered Oliver + S. As a self-taught sewer, I needed all the guidance I could get, and Oliver + S patterns provided exactly that. By the end of 2014, I went from sewing simple pillowcase dresses to tackling more advanced patterns and experimenting with different fabrics. Oliver + S taught me everything I know about plackets, pleats, facings, piping, linings, pockets, and buttonholes, among other techniques. I even conquered my fear of sewing with knits, thanks to the Hopscotch Dress. The Playtime Dress and Leggings weren't as intimidating anymore either. I can safely say that pretty much everything I learned can be traced back to Oliver + S.
2014 Oliver + S sewing photo mosaic
Sewing for my kids brings me immense joy, and my proudest creation is the Library Dress. It introduced me to several new techniques and boosted my confidence to take on virtually any sewing challenge. It was a tough project, but I loved every moment of it.
For 2015, I want to explore different types of apparel fabrics. I'd also love to sew something for myself and create more outfits for my little boy, who deserves more handmade treasures. What I'm most proud of are the compliments I receive from strangers about my kids' clothes. Sometimes I take credit for making them, but often I just say, "thank you."
Sarah also shared more about her 2014 sewing and some 2015 sewing resolutions on her blog.
Next, it's Katy, who blogs at Designs by BellaBug.
In 2014, I tried out a total of nine new Oliver + S patterns. I started with sundresses, making the Tea Party and Seashore patterns. I adore the curved seams on the Tea Party dress and my first experience with flat piping. The Badminton Skort, Music Class pattern, and Jump Rope Dress were all successful as school uniforms, and we had fun sneaking in contrast fabrics.
Receiving a serger for my birthday made a huge difference. I embraced knits and achieved much better results with the Field Trip and Hopscotch Tee patterns.
My favorite makes were the Swingset Tunic, Bubble Dress, and Hide-and-Seek Dress. Thanks to Shelley's Little Things To Sew Challenge, the Explorer Vest was an unexpected delight.
2014 Oliver + S sewing photo mosaic
Looking ahead to 2015, I want to sew up some of the pattern views I haven't tried yet, like the Swingset Skirt and Field Trip Pants. I aim to master attaching blouse collars more smoothly, so expect more Music Class Blouses. Perhaps I'll sew something for myself or my husband. That would be nice!
You can read more about Katy's 2014 sewing on her blog.
Finally, it's Heather, whose blog is called QA Creations.
I began sewing garments in 2013 when my daughter was born. After making two sundresses from quilting cotton, I decided to make a baptism gown. Using the Fairy Tale Dress pattern, and with the blissful ignorance of a beginner, I managed to create a silk baptismal gown lined with French seams and an invisible zipper. I'm just grateful I chose the Fairy Tale dress for that project because not many pattern designers offer instructions detailed enough for such a challenging task.
One of my favorite aspects of Oliver + S instructions is how well they're written. They don't assume prior knowledge and clearly explain where interfacing should go or when to understitch. I've applied what I've learned from my daughter's clothes to successfully finish my own. In fact, I used the instructions from the Fairy Tale Dress to line a dress for myself because the instructions from another pattern were poor and didn't work as intended.
In 2014, I continued expanding my sewing skills. I tried new patterns (the Fairy Tale Dress was my only repeat), new fabrics (double gauze, knits), new skills (buttonholes), and new machines (coverstitcher) to elevate my sewing. I love when my family tries to guess what I've made from my daughter's wardrobe because they struggle to identify my handiwork.
2014 Oliver + S sewing photo mosaic
In 2015, I want to continue developing my skills. I've been researching how to sew a coat, which means learning bound buttonholes and welt pockets. I want to improve my adult fitting skills so I can create clothes that fit well and make me proud to wear. I also plan to sew more everyday clothes for my daughter. I absolutely love the grey Fairy Tale Dress I made for her to wear to a wedding and the Hide-and-Seek Dress I made for Christmas, but they don't get worn as often as the leggings and shorts. I already have a stack of fabrics and patterns set aside to start sewing after her 2-year-old growth spurt. My final 2015 goal is to add size tags to everything I sew.
You can read more about Heather's 2014 sewing on her blog.
Thank you, everyone! We can't wait to see what you accomplish in 2015.
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