And sew it begins... 3/1/2016

I decided to go ahead with the challenge I touched on in my last post. I went through and made a new list of Civil War sewing projects that I have started and a couple of items that need to get done. Now, this challenges is on top of my "regularly scheduled" sewing projects and a couple of pattern projects that I've been working on getting published. 

Before you ask. Why do you have so many projects to complete? I got in a bad habit of cutting out multiple items when I cut out one project for a customer. Then I set the project aside to finish at a later date. Well, now is the later date. :-)

We'll have to see how it goes, but my plan is to update this blog at least once a week (hopefully more as I get projects done) during the month of March and to get the projects photographed as I finished them.  Keep an eye on www.shop.originals-by-kay.com. Many of these projects will be posted there for sale once completed. 

Now to the challenge. I've divided my master list into three lists. 

The first has 31 items on it. This is the "unless something major happens in March", I should have all of them finished by the end of the month. 

List #1

5 collarless vests

2 pr. Trousers

1 toddler suit

5 girls' dresses

2 girls' bodices

2 girls' skirts

4 girls' canton flannel petticoats 

1 riding habit skirt

2 women's vests

2 women's jackets

1 corset

2 bags

1 men's undershirt

The second list has 9 items on it. These are projects that need a bit more done to get them finished. These will be worked on AFTER everything is done on the first list. 

List #2

1 boys' shirt

2 boys' vests

3 boys' suits

1 women's dress

1 women's ballgown

1 women's wrapper

And finally, list three is the remainder of the original list. These projects will only be worked on if the other two lists are completely finished.  

After everything I finished for Madrigals last month, this should be a piece of cake. 

Have a great day! 

2016 Civil War UFO Sewing Project List - Feb 6, 2016

Well, here it is, The List.  Just a reminder, the items on this list are ones I have already cut out or are ones I need to get done. These are projects I have in various stages of completion. Some are only cut out and others only need a few little things done and they will be completed. I know, why didn't I just finish them when I was originally working on them. To be honest, I have no idea anymore why they got put aside and never finished. Hopefully, this year will be the year they get finished.


Boys' Clothing
1 Trousers
2 Shirts
8 Shawl Collared Vests
11 Collarless Vests
10 Outfits (2 or more pieces)
1 Paletot

Girls' Clothing
5 Dresses
2 Bodices
2 Skirts
4 Canton Flannel Petticoats

Women's Clothing
1 Cotton Dress
2 Ballgowns
1 Silk Convertible Dress
3 Wrappers
2 Skirts
3 Vests
1 Waist
2 Jackets
1 Paletot
2 Chemises
1 Corset
3 Bags

Men's Clothing
1 Flannel Undershirt

Total Items on the List: 67
Total Items on the 2015 list: 65

Last year, my hope was to get everything off my list. I failed. This year, I'm going to have to do better. So, I'm thinking a challenge similar to what a friend is doing is in the near future. She's challenged herself to make 30 quilt tops in 30 days and she is doing awesome.  Unfortunately, it doesn't look like she's updated her blog yet. Hint..Hint..CH. Hint..Hint.. In the next week or so, I'm going to take a look at what is on my list and go from there.  I'll post more as I figure it out.

In the meantime....

Have a great day everyone!

UFO Sewing Project Update or I Really Need to Finish Projects That I Start - February 5, 2016

Well, it's been over a year since I started my "crafting diet" and 5 months since I've posted any progress on it. I really need to get better at keeping up on my blog (and getting my projects finished). In my defense, there really has been quite a bit going on. However, I won't go into any of it. This is a new year and we're already into the second month of that new year.

You might remember this list that I included in my post back in January. I've actually gotten quite a bit of it done. New quantities are in red. Notes are in green. So here's the finally tally on my UFO sewing projects from last year.

Boys Clothing
1 8 pairs of pants
5 ensembles (vest/pant, vest/pants/jacket, tunic/pants, etc)
1 5 shirts (three shirt on the square, two pleated front)
11 12 collarless vests - I did in fact get the fronts done for three vests. 
8 shawl collar vests
more suspenders

Women's Clothing

2 chemises
1 red corset (mine)
1 rain paletot (DD) - Almost finished - needs hem, buttonholes, & buttons
1 riding habit skirt - needs pleating and waistband
1 2 skirts
1 velveteen jacket
2 3 vests
2 "purses"

Men's Clothing

1 flannel under shirt
1 wool overshirt (this one's not cut out, but needs to be done)
1 men's drawers (customer's)

Girls Clothing

2 1 cotton body (found another one - work has been done on both but neither are finished)
5 cotton dresses (work has been done on all of these but they are not finished)
1 silk suiting ensemble
1  3 skirts (DD) -  third is partially finished
4 1 canton flannel petticoat - Found 3 - I got three ready for yokes & waistband

So, I started 2015 with 65 civil war clothing items on this list. I completely finished 19 (about 30%), added four that I found, partially finished 16 (about 17%) & several more cut out, which I will add to my 2016 UFO list.

Next up - My 2016 UFO Sewing Project List & an Update on other projects that I've been working on.

Have a great day everyone!