My life is far from perfect, let’s just say I have a lot going on like everyone. Perhaps all of this making is my escape. I am so very grateful for all of these privileges and experiences 2023 has brought me. What a great year for growth! And it wasn’t just work – it was fun.

I couldn’t include everything, but I sure tried! I hope you enjoy my 2023 Year in Review with Photos.

Off With A Bang!

2022 ended with my focus being on increasing my knowledge of quilting. Being a beginner, I bought way too much quilting fabric and coupled with the guilt of overbuying embroidery thread I had to generate some scrap busting projects quick as we entered 2023. Large scale anything on a regular sewing machine is challenging and large scale free motion embroidery, OH MY!! Nonetheless, it was on my project list.

Publications

I was honored to be asked to be in Sewn Magazine for my swimwear and Voyage Magazine for my creative business.

Teaching And Volunteering

I taught many sewing classes and provided two large public demos for Rosewood Arts Center. The bottom two outfits came out of my Pattern Reading and Layout classes. I also was also voted President for 2024 Kettering Arts Council.

Friends

Lots of Dayton Garment Designer Meet Ups and colleague meet ups. I am so grateful for these people.

Museums

I love all art shows. Sporting Fashion came to Cincinnati’s Taft Museum and I got to go!

Shopping

I visited over 20 independent fabric shops including my favorite Sew to Speak where I happened to catch the previous owner Anita!

Needs To Improve

I stopped to ask myself, “what do we really need?” Pants! We need fun, funky pants! Why don’t we have any? Fitting pants is hard, so I made a sloper (master pattern). No more guessing size and trouble shooting fit! Jeffrey thinks this is some kind of subconscious dig for being the first photo under the needs to improve section, but I just love him (squeeze)

Loving What I Have

I started a new album called, “Tweak Week” where I salvage, update and refashion the makes that I love.

Celebrating Life

I paid homage to my sewing hero, Nancy Zieman, by using one of her sewing patterns. Nancy was famous for her PBS series, Sewing with Nancy. I learned how to be a great teacher from her show.

New Craft

I took a break from my sewing craft and learned how to block print.

The Biggest!

The time off inspired me to make a different kind of block, flat pattern blocks, or as I call them, “Fashion Plates.” These are interchangeable pattern pieces and all in my size that I can turn into any garment style.

Designing my own garments without trouble shooting size with patterns has become a dream come true for me.

Random Favorites

Pride Dress, I designed the fabric and the multi size design for an auction to benefit, Have a Gay Day.

Photo Credit, Becky Cates

By far the quilt for my sister was the hardest.

Art Shows

I was incredibly grateful to be in two big shows here at Rosewood Art Center. The left was The View, an annual juried show. The second was a local textile show. Photo fail!

Collaborations

 

Jesy Anderson, owner of Needle Ink and Thread and I used to co-own a fabric and learning center called Sew Dayton. This reunion was so much fun and I saw friends I have not seen in years!

Last Project of 2023

I went all out and drafted a “One Hour” 1920s dress pattern and slip separates. Including my research, this dress took around 20 hours. I even used the heirloom sewing techniques I learned in 2014.

Behind the scenes 

My colleague Joy Hoover, owner of Joy2Sew, and I were special guest visitors at The Dayton Sewing Collaborative. They have big fabric sales three times a year and volunteers get to go through the fabric first. We are talking rooms full of fabric! Follow them for more info.

 

Thank you for reading,

Tracy McElfresh

Dream it! Sew it!

 

Tracy McElfresh
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