Five days into the New Year seems like a good time to look forward and put down in writing new plans and projects, both personally and in my sewing life. Occasionally in past years, I have chosen a word to guide me in my thinking, and after a sewing friend (thank you, Debra!) suggested this approach again, I happily went with the first word which popped into my mind. P I N K.
Pink is undoubtably my favorite color. I love it in all hues and shades, from the palest pink to deepest fuchia, from bubblegum pink to carnation pink. I love wearing pink and I love sewing with pink fabrics. Looking at fabrics I have collected over the past few years testifies to this fact.
A few of those selections with “assignments” for 2022 will be scattered amongst this exploration into PINK.
P:
P of course stands for PINK the color.
P is also a good reminder to keep PERSPECTIVE on the year. If the last two years have taught us anything, it is to be prepared for the unexpected. Sometimes things are out of our control, thwarting our plans and timing. Rolling with the punches (another P-word!) is something I need to become better at. Which brings me to . . .
P is for PERSEVERANCE. This is an invaluable asset when it comes to sewing well – and living well.
I:
I is for INDULGENCE. I have decided to indulge my love of coats and dresses and fancy clothes even I don’t need them. So there!
I is also for INDECISION. I am not usually one who has trouble making decisions, but sometimes, a fabric or pattern stumps me. When that happens, I have to step back and let time make the decision for me. It always works.
I is for INSPIRATION, which is never in short supply among all the vintage patterns, fashions, buttons, and fabrics in the couture-loving-and-sewing online community.
N:
N is for NEW ENDEAVORS, both in sewing and in my personal life – NEW patterns, NEW fabrics (YES! Even new fabrics), NEW commitments, determined by answering these two questions: What can I let go of? And, more importantly perhaps, What can I not let go of?
N is also for NOT feeling guilty about all the time I devote to sewing and fashion and dreaming about both.
K:
K is for Kindred Spirits – such an amazing camaraderie amongst the global sewing community. I am so grateful to be part of the network of friendships we share.
K is for Keeping Focus, and for the need to Knuckle Down in order to accomplish my sewing and personal goals this year.
K is finally for Kindness which I hope will guide me throughout this new year.
“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.” Rainer Maria Rilke
Happy New Year, dear Sewing Friends.
fiftydresses 
Oh how I love the trench coat pattern. How delightful in pink gingham!
Thanks, Marilyn! This will be a good Spring project. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Beautiful post. I absolutely love reading your blog. Okay bank you for writing. Happy New Year! That Dior pattern looks marvelous. Can’t wait to see what you make with it.
Best,
Linda
Thank you, Linda – I so appreciate hearing from you and knowing that you enjoy Fifty Dresses.
Thank you for writing.
I loved all of this and every fabric! Pink and periwinkle will always make me happy. Loved reading your plans, Karen.
I love pink too in all its shades and other colours particularly red and green i fact anything as long as it is bright and zingy.
YES to red and green! Red is right behind pink in my favorites category. And I’m excited about anything bright and zingy at this point!
I don’t know which is your greater gift. Is it your gift of creating expressions with words or with fabric? I have the same blue fabric with white flowers but I’m certain my slacks won’t compare to whatever you create.
Oh, thank you Peggy. Again, you have made my day! Isn’t that blue flowered fabric so pretty? I think I ordered more than I need for a tunic top – my daughter may end up with one as well!
Lovely post, Karen. The world needs more pink!
And you and I are leading the way!
I am a fan of your blog. I am also a keeper of patterns, like your trench coat, and always feel encouraged to use them after reading your posts. Thank you!
Thank you, Mary. I wish I had kept all my Vogue patterns, but I’m grateful for the ones I did keep. They are so inspiring, don’t you think?
I wholeheartedly join Peggy who said “…your gift of creating expressions with words or with fabric.” I love reading your blog and seeing all the gorgeous fabrics in your vault. I love both patterns — so very different and still so much fun. The pink stack is dreamy,,,heavy sigh. Advice for the day: Never ever feel bad about spending so much time sewing. It’s a wonderful talent & life style. While some people go to the bar and knock back a few…you’re creating something lovely to share with the world at home. And, in my book…it’s not a bad activity. trl
Tanya, thank you. Your comment is so lovely and so appreciated. Sewing gives me a peace (most of the time) that is elusive in so much of life’s busyness. Your words are very affirming to me!
Happy New Year and may everything you make this year work out as planned with no massive problems. Always a pleasure to read you posts.
Thank you! No massive problems would be excellent! Fingers crossed…
This is an inspiring post, partly due to link 😊, and to those wonderful sewing plans. That Dior pattern is stunning! Thanks.
Thank you so much!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your plans and seeing your fabrics and patterns. I look forward to vicariously enjoying your work on each of them and, of course, the results. As much as I’d gladly dwell on details of each, I even more wholeheartedly enjoyed the way you wrote it.
No need to feel guilty over planning and making good wardrobe for ladies and sharing the process. Just like there are many stories of the right outfit opening doors of opportunity for an individual, I’ve been thinking about how something along those same lines is good for society. I think about how it gives me a lift to see someone in the grocery store in a dress instead of shorts or jeans, If we ladies could routinely do something while dress civilized, instead of emphasizing the grubby and the harried, might it not give the whole world a lift.
I practically got up and cheered when I read your comment, Mery. I so agree, and while I certainly do not always wear a dress while out and about doing the “routine,” I do try to look “put-together!” Like you, I always notice someone well-dressed at the grocery store – and it gives me a lift. Wearing Pearls in the cereal aisle – yes, please! Thank you, Mery!
Karen, thanks so much for that post. If ok with you, I would love to use for me your analogy of the word Pink. I too love that color, going to write it down in my journal. As always, your graciousness and thoughts, not to mention your incredible sewing, are an inspiration to me.
My goodness, Debbie, I would be honored for you to use my analogy for PINK! Please do, and thank you for your lovely comment.
Pink tops my list of preferred colors and it’s always a pleasure to see your makes. How could one not practice kindness when wearing or seeing pink-it just makes you feel good! Looking forward to enjoying the results of your sewing journey this year. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, Kathy. I agree – pink lifts the spirits and adds happiness to the day. I so appreciate your comment.