Goals and Priorities - 2022
Yes, I know that this blog post is coming a month into 2022, but what a month it has been. I know you feel the same. Now that I’ve properly acclimated to the new year and the workload of my final semester of college, I have some time to sit down and talk goals and priorities for this year.
On the topic of college, I will be graduating this year. It’s been one hell of an adventure, and I’m glad you’re along for the ride in this last semester. The big goal is, of course, graduating - walking across that stage in late April will feel like casting the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. Well, maybe not that dramatic, but I will feel that victorious. The smaller goal with the whole graduating thing is that I want to make a dress to wear at graduation. This whole degree is about design and sewing after all, so what better way to show off what I’ve learned than to make a physical product? I’m really feeling the 1910s and 1950s vibes with my personal style currently, so I’ll be sticking to that for this project.
There will also be a small group of personal wardrobe projects I’d like to get done. This includes another birthday dress (though I’m thinking it may be more of a birthday ensemble), and a couple of classic blouses and trousers that will work for professional life and day-to-day wear. I’m aiming to work within and without theatre in the coming year. I’m trying to prepare for many different professional environments.
An emphasis on “professional wear” will also mean an emphasis on tailoring. I’ve managed my way through a couple projects - the Julie Suit and the 1890s Walking Suit to name a couple - but there’s still so much to learn. I’ll be sticking with my Code Name Verity inspired tailoring projects with garments modeled after what I think other characters would wear. One will be a variation on the Julie Suit, but with my new knowledge behind it. The second will be from a pattern from the late 1940s, and this will involve both tailoring skills and the skill of altering or grading the pattern to fit me. The third will be a more formal overcoat. I also want a good “modern” suit and I’ve picked up the most wonderful mustard yellow cotton twill for it. I’ll be using a free pattern from Mood Fabrics.
If you will indulge my nerdy side, this year marks the 85th anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and the tenth anniversary of the first live action movie. If that feels unrelated, I’m getting to it. There are three historical costuming projects planned this year. Two of these projects will be in celebration of The Hobbit’s anniversary. Both the book and the movies were highly influential to a younger Madeline. The book taught me the value of story and fantasy. The movies made me realize that there were people out there doing costume design as a job. With me about to graduate with my costume design degree and with the book celebrating such a momentous birthday, I’m feeling a little sentimental. The month of September will be my personal celebration of both anniversaries here on this blog. I’ll be talking about both of these projects at length then.
(psst. The first project is already done! Go check out ye olde Instagram for pictures!)
The third historical project will also be 1910s inspired. There is a specific Jacques Doucet dress from 1917 that I am plainly in love with. I’ll be recreating it (and maybe altering it a little) this year. It’s already patterned out and waiting to be mocked up!
As far as goals go for this journal, I plan on updating twice a month. I’d like for this to become a space where I can chat, rant, and teach as much as I can. I’d also like for it to feel like a community space for you, my readers. There are will be two breaks in April and in August where there will be no new content. As for the other months, there will be posts about my design process, some research deep dives, and maybe some tutorials and patterns!
Stay tuned, my dear readers!
Yours sincerely,
Madeline
