2019 Sewing Plans and Make Nine Challenge

Happy New Year everyone!

The Make Nine challenge came about when blogger Lucky Lucille decided to post a Make Nine list instead of a best nine list on Instagram in 2016. I made up a wishlist willy-nilly of some items I wanted to make last year and posted it up on Instagram.

I think my choices were a little lofty but I did manage to make a few of these items. I made a red  cape but it was even nicer than the one pictured. I made it in wool and red taffeta. I also made the black and purple cape but I ended up putting a Harry Potter badge on it so it is reserved for Harry Potter events now. And finally I did make a men's vest for the fashion show that looked very close to the one pictured above. Unfortunately, that is all I managed to finish from this list. But there is always this year!

Having a look at the original post about the challenge again by Lucky Lucille I realize that she did give some basic guidelines and questions to follow for the challenge. So I thought it might be fun to answer the questions and put a little more thought into my make nine list this year.


Here are 9 questions to consider when choosing your 9 projects:

1. What do you want or need? Be forgiving about pattern choice but get specific about what you want/need to make this year.  Tops and skirts in more colours than just black. I know crazy right? More proper Victorian pieces in velvet to wear to events. A fitted jacket and maybe a few walking skirts.

2. What did you learn from last year’s successes and “failures”? If you didn’t finish something on last year’s list, ask yourself why. Well I din't get the big dresses made and I think that was because I had the fashion show to do. Some items crossed over but those that were just for myself , I didn't get to. I tend to put things for myself on the back burner but I would like to challenge myself with bigger projects this year.

3. What values are important to you? Are you working towards a capsule wardrobe? A more ethical one? Are you on a budget? Being practical about what you choose to make is not boring or against the spirit of a challenge. There is success in logic. Logical and practical are definitely not terms I would use to describe my sewing or my personal style. Ha! I think maybe I can do some better planning this year though in order to achieve better results and using time management would be a great improvement as well.

4. What’s in your laundry basket right now that you wear all the time? Are you interested in trying to recreate it? Lots and lots of black velvet is my laundry basket! But like I mentioned earlier, some more colour would be nice. Maybe some jackets and skirts to mix and match as well.

5. What types of things do you really LOVE making? What do you dislike making? If you hate making pants, you don’t have to put them on your list just to feel like you conquered some new technique. I love to make dresses and tops, especially knits or velvets. I loathe making pants. I haven't made a pair of pants since the 90s but I might be willing to make some leggings again. But I don't really wear pants often either.

6. Are you a seasonal maker? Maybe your Make Nine list only includes summer patterns. Or winter knits. That’s totally okay! I'm not a seasonal sewer. I make things all year long. Mostly dresses in the summer and spring. And Jackets and sweaters in the fall and winter.

7. Look at your calendar. Time isn’t found, it’s made. How much time can you make for each of the projects on your list? I'm lucky that I work from home and can fit in personal projects around making custom orders or stock for the shop. I do have the time as long as I don't waste it on social media.

8. Do you want to stash-bust? Why or why not? Don’t force yourself to make something just because you’ve owned the pattern for years. If you haven’t made it yet, maybe your tastes have changed. That’s normal. No need to feel guilty about that. Maybe it’s time to re-home some patterns that no longer speak to you and start fresh. I really need to stash-bust in a major way. I also need to de-stash a lot of fabric that I've collected over the years. I just don't have the room for it all. I am going to try and pick from the patterns I already own. I will try to make an effort to use stash fabric first, but I don't want to limit myself to shopping only the stash for fabric.

9. Is there a completely new-to-you type of project that you want to explore? Do you have the time and patience to explore it, knowing it’s possible you won’t like/wear it in the end? If yes, by all means branch out and try new things! That’s how you grow and get better. I made a corset years ago but I want to start making some more. I have talented friends that make corsets but I would rather make my own again.

And so onto my #makenine list for 2019!

This year I chose only fabrics and patterns from my stash so this will be a stash busting project as well! This will make my Hubby very happy. haha.

Fabrics left to right and top to bottom:

1. Thin printed knit perfect for a dress- McCalls 7812 for this print. Its a cute ruched front dress.

2, Dark red mottled sweater knit- Self drafted sweater with ribbon trim.

3. A leopard coat print I have been saving forever- Gertie Butterick 5824

4. Red and Black Floral stretch velvet- Vogue 9265

5. Black stretch velvet- McCalls 7869 Victorian style knit top

6. Black Jacquard- McCalls 7023 Vest and McCalls 7853 Jacket

7. Purple stretch velvet- Self drafted fit and flare dress (maybe long?)

8. crushed fur coat fabric- Vogue 8841 Coat with belt

9. Charcoal grey sparkly sweater knit- Self drafted sweater pattern.


I think that is enough to keep me busy for a while and will help deplete some of my huge stash! I will try to blog about all of them as I go.