Gillian first posted the idea of doing sewing top fives of 2012 at the start of December. So I’m a bit late to the party but going to play along anyway because it’s a great idea and I’ve really enjoyed reading other people’s top fives.
I made 24 items in 2012. It’s 25 if I count the disastrous second version of Vogue 1250, but since that one didn’t even touch the floor between being taken off and hurled into the scraps bag I don’t think I ought to include it.
So here are my five favourite makes of 2012.
The psychedelic dress, Vogue 8489. I think I only wore this out of the house once, to my friends’ wedding, but it felt great. I love the fabric and the enormous swishy skirt.
My cheongsam dress, Burda 111-02-2012. It was a really fiddly make but it came out well. I’m looking forward to having some warmer weather so I can wear this again. It’s been lurking at the back of the wardrobe for far too long.
Red version of Burda 117-02-2012. February 2012 was the best issue of Burda I’ve ever seen. I got five dresses out of it and four of them were this pattern: black, red, colour-blocked in teal/black/white/grey, and finally in red and white stripes. Three were successes and the striped one was a horrible disaster. The solid red one’s my favourite because it’s a good fabric and it’s probably the most nicely finished of the four.
I was surprised to find I’d made two coats this year. I could have sworn I made the first one in 2011 but I’ve checked the dates and it really was January 2012. I’ve obviously worn it enough that it seems like longer! The pattern is Vogue 1276. I’m a sucker for any pattern with a bit of drama.
But my favourite item of the year is my navy blue Burda 116-08-2011. I don’t think I’ve ever posted a picture of the blue version of this dress here before. I made the pattern up three times; the other two are red and grey. The blue one is my favourite because it works whether I’ve had my hair dyed recently or not!
Strangely these five include both my easiest (Burda 116-08-2011) and one of my hardest (Burda 111-02-2012) makes of the year. There are also two patterns from the same issue of Burda, the February 2012 one. I’ve sewed a lot more Burda this year than before.
Stay tuned for my misses of 2012, coming up soon!
Catherine Daze's Blog 
A wonderful year of creating! Love what you make, especially with Burda patterns. The blue cowl dress looks great – as do all versions of the dresses from Feb 2012 issue. And that coat….[admiring sigh]
All awesomely fabulous creations 🙂
Feb 2012 was my first Burda Style! I have yet to sew anything from it but love what you have made.
I love your makes- so precise and well-fitted. Great year!
They are all fabulous!
Great stuff, I just love the Vogue dress, could never wear it myself, but it looks fantastic on you!
Wow, that’s an awesome line-up of clothes! I always go for prints myself, but you really make solids look sharp and interesting! Lovely, lovely, lovely.
These are beautiful garments. I particularly love the coat!
2 coats in one year is a fantastic accomplishment and they are so different. both are fantastic. Happy sewing in the new year.
Gorgeous, gorgeous makes…can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in 2013!
Catherine you make gorgeous stuff and I bet the list could’ve been way longer …. Still, that’s what blog history/archives are for I guess :o).
Happy New Year.
Gorgeous! Love the Vogue’s coat – perfect! and suits you so well!
You’ve made absolutely beautiful things this year Catherine, I think I’ve loved them all!
Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year 🙂
I loved everything you made this year. You have such a great sense of style. Your coats and dresses are fab. Happy new year! May the new year be just as good!
Psychedelic dress is amazing!
Happy New Year, I always love seeing your creations, you pick really interesting patterns and fabrics and the results are always dramatic but still very wearable.
I absolutely love all of these; I adore your style – you really know what works on you!! 🙂
Great picks for top 5! The coat is one of my favorite!