Folkwear Year in Review - 2021

January 01, 2022 3 Comments on Folkwear Year in Review - 2021

by Molly Hamilton

Folkwear continued to stay busy this year, growing, creating more patterns, adding more PDFs.  We also added a few new people to our team.  Victoria joined us in March and has been packing and shipping orders since then, as well as sewing samples and creating art for Folkwear.  We have a new bookkeeper (thank goodness, because I was becoming overwhelmed doing it myself), and a new social media manager (the other Cynthia).

There have been some major personal challenges for me this year (I lost my husband to his illness and am now a single mom of four children), but we have also had some business challenges.  Mainly, our pattern printer shut down for good.  We have worked to transition to new options and continue to work to get the best prices and quality for our pattern printing.  This has also encouraged us to digitize as many patterns as we can - also making them into PDFs at the same time.  We have also expanded the sizing of several patterns as they have come up for printing.  And I am excited to partner with Sarah Pedlow of ThreadWritten for her workshop on Mexican Embroidery.  I also took a class with her this past year and it was so much fun - a perfect way to spend a relaxing afternoon, learning and stitching with other women.

Here are a few accomplishments made at Folkwear this year.

New pattern releases:

• Cynthia's Cookie Apron
• Basics Collection (five released today, but we are going to give most of the credit to 2021)
• Oven Mitts (free pattern)
• 120 Navajo Blouse and Skirt (re-release as a paper pattern)
• 133 Belgian Military Chef's Coat (re-release)

Basics Collection

PDF patterns released:

• 105 Syrian Dress
• 107 Afghan Dress
• 113 Japanese Kimono
• 116 Shirts of Russia and Ukraine
• 123 Austrian Dirndl
• 128 Russian Settler's Dress
• 129A Japanese Tabi
• 130 Australian Bush Outfit
• 131 Tibetan Chupa
• 133 Belgian Military Chef's Coat
• 139 Vietnamese Ao Dai
• 151 Japanese Hakama and Kataginu
• 143 Japanese Michiyuki
• 152 Scottish Kilts
• 153 Siberian Parka
• 201 Prairie Dress
• 202 Victorian Shirt
• 203 Edwardian Underthings
• 206 Quilted Prairie Skirt
• 207 Kinsale Cloak
• 215 Empire Dress
• 220 Garden Party Dress
• 221 English Smock
• 223 A Lady's Chemise
• 233 Glamour Girl Dress
• 243 Cowgirl Skirt
• 252 Beach Pyjamas
• 261 Paris Promenade Dress
• 263 Countryside Frock Coat
• 264 Monte Carlo Dress
• 268 Metropolitan Suit
• 503 Poiret Cocoon Coat

Patterns sized up this year:

• 123 Austrian Dirndl
• 133 Belgian Military Chef's Coat
• 201 Prairie Dress (PDF only, but paper pattern coming out this year)
• 215 Empire Dress
• 220 Garden Party Dress
• 233 Glamour Girl Dress (PDF only, but paper pattern coming out this year)

Tutorials:

• Pressing tips
• Making and using piping  
  
• Buttonholes 101
• Grading up the 216 Schoolmistress Skirt
• Making a scalloped front placket (from 216 Schoolmistress blouse)
• Make and apply fringe
• 210 Armistice Blouse modified for summer
• Bias binding and button loops
• Embroidering edges with blanket stich
• Making ruching, several ways
• Transferring embroidery designs
• Using waxed canvas to make 153 Siberian Parka
• Sewing plackets in 203 Edwardian Underthings
• Lace insertion
• Sewing with velvet

Sew-alongs in 2021:

• 503 Poriet Cocoon Coat 
• Cynthia's Cookie Apron
• 131 Tibetan Chupa Dress

Cynthia A. wrote some interesting pieces on fashion and clothing history:

• Paul Poriet designs
• Armistice blouse
• Edwardian underclothing
• Poodle skirts
• Turkish dancer pattern history
• Quilted skirts

• 
  Sara wrote a great (and humous) piece about modifying the 267 M'Lady's Corset into a jacket.  
• Whitney wrote a great piece about personalizing her Folkwear makes.

We also made a number of new garments for Folkwear samples and to wear for ourselves.  

• I made the 254 At the Hop blouse into a great summer t
  
  op.
• Cynthia A. made the skirt from the same pattern into a statement garment.
• We all collaborated on a gorgeous outfit made from the 203 Edwardian Underthings pattern.

• I spent a lot of time making 227 Edwardian Gown with all the lace insertion.  It was actually quite fun, if very time consuming.  And, I learned a lot in the process.  And it ticked the box for a sewing challenge goal of mine for the year.
• Cynthia A. also made a really lovely 210 Armistice Blouse for me to wear for summer.  I love this top!

We did a lot this year.  We juggled a lot, we managed a lot, and we accomplished a lot.  We weren't perfect.  Things went awry at times; sometimes mistakes were made.  But, that is part of the process.  I am immensely proud of and grateful for our Folkwear team.  These women are talented, kind, and hard-working, and have carried the company through this year beautifully.

And a HUGE THANKS to our customers who have supported Folkwear this year (and reached out to me personally).  It means a lot that you support this small and hopeful business.  We hope that 2022 looks a bit brighter and that Folkwear keeps thriving.  

And we wish for you, a wonderful new year!  

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