Winter finally arrived, and thought on clothes

Brrr, it's got decidedly chilly the last couple of days.  I think winter may have finally arrived.  Our daily walks into town and back have been bracing, to say the least.  

We were thrilled the other morning to see a blue-tit investigating the nesting-box on our shed.  To be honest, I had even forgotten the box was there, repositioned last year when N was sorting out the guttering on the shed, so when he called me to check out the little visitor, it was quite a surprise.  It would be lovely if the blue-tit and his mate take up residence; I shall have a prime viewing position from my workroom.  

We're doing well with our menu-plan, working our way through the various goodies in the freezer.  This month is proving light on the house-keeping pennies ;).  Lots of warming and tasty soups, delicious with freshly baked bread.   I've found it's quite difficult to get bread dough to rise in the cold weather but then had the light-bulb moment of putting it in the boiler cupboard when the heating comes on (not sure why it took me so long to think of this solution - the cold weather clearly affecting more than just the bread!) and that seems to be working very well indeed.

At the beginning of last year I had a major clear-out of my wardrobe.   A thorough declutter of clothes that no longer fitted, or were less than flattering, colour and/or style-wise.  A lot of clothes were donated to charity shops, some packed up and moved into the loft and one or two were refashioned into far more useful and wear items.  I rekindled my love of dress-making, and during the year I bought some fabric to make specific items to create a more cohesive wardrobe.  I have just finished the latest project, a pair of tailored trousers in a wonderfully drapey wool, and I am chuffed to bits with how they have turned out.  For a start, the trousers it me beautifully - that is, of course, the perk of making your own clothes - but these are the best fitting pair of trousers I think I have ever worn.  The pinstripes (should have gone for plain fabric!) match perfectly at the back seam, thanks to careful pinning, tacking and use of a walking foot.  They may have taken me a while to make and finish but I am so happy with the end result.  I will be wearing them out tonight for an early birthday meal for N.  

But back to the original clothing clear-out.  I was a little worried I had been overly ruthless in my decluttering but looking back over the year I realise I haven't struggled for clothes to wear at all.  I can only wear the clothes I have, and by weeding out the clothes that didn't fit or flatter me, I was left with items I wore more often because they suited me better and I felt comfortable in them.  I found I had clothes to get me through a variety of situations (weddings, get-togethers etc) and never once felt I didn't have something appropriate to wear.  
I have a much better idea of styles that look good on me, regardless of what is, apparently, 'in fashion', and have more confidence in putting an outfit together from my greatly-reduced wardrobe.  This year I shall continue the cull; I can see several more items of clothing that will be finding their way into the donation bag.  It's creating a few gaps that will need filling, but I have fabric ear-marked for those items already and I am looking forward to spending more time sewing clothes that I know I shall enjoy wearing.  It may have taken me a whole year to work my way through this process but I have learned a lot from it.  Far better to have a small wardrobe of clothes that fit, look good and that I like wearing, than masses of clothes that don't go together and send me into a panic whenever I look at them.  I always used to make all my own clothes; for some reason I stopped but I am so pleased I have found my dressmaking groove again.