MakeNine 2019 progress

Despite the radio silence on my MakeNine 2019 plan, I have made some progress.  Of the nine items, I completed/worked on seven.  

COMPLETED 

• Burda 11-2017-106 (#2):  Love it and wore it a few times this winter.

•  McCall's 7429 (#3):  I made two versions of this dress and wore them both a couple of times.

• Jalie Éléonore (#6):  I made two more versions of this and wear them all of the time.  I seriously love this pattern for its ease in construction and wear.

• Butterick 6388 (#8):  I really like this dress, but I've yet to wear it.  Hmm...

STALLED

Blue Calla Patterns Boronia Bowler (#5):  I am *this* close to finishing the purse.  The problem is trying to find a zipper that opens from center to end.  First I ordered the wrong zipper from Wawak.  Then when I ordered the correct zipper, they mistakenly sent me the same wrong zipper from before.  Now that I finally have the right zipper, the two zipper pulls are not the same and it annoys me.  Waaah! 

So the purse sits in all its unfinished glory.

ABANDONED (for now)

Ottobre 5-2010 #11 (#4):  I swapped this pattern out for Ottobre 5-2012 #7 (shown below).

The collar is somehow too wide and extends beyond the button band.  I have to fix the collar pattern piece before I resume working on the shirt. The likelihood of that happening any time soon is pretty low. =/

Burda 9-2006-104 (top row #1):  I had high hopes for my second trench coat.  I even went all out and made my own bias tape and piping.  What ultimately tanked this project was the fusible interfacing.  I used an off-white lightweight interfacing thinking it would be better than the black weft interfacing that I love so much.  I was so wrong.

The interfacing puckers and separates with just a hint of steam.  This looks so bad and I have zero motivation to finish it.

Uggggh.  The pockets looked even worse with interfacing.

I really want to make this coat, but I'll have to start over with better interfacing.  And so begins the search for light pink twill!

STILL PART OF THE PLAN

Burda 5-2011-113 (#7):  I still like this jacket even though I have nothing to wear with it.  Maybe I'll make a leather skirt or something.

Ottobre 5-2010 #11 (#9):  I hope to start this pea coat some time in September.  We shall see!

Even if my first MakeNine challenge isn't completely successful, I will likely do it again next year.  I find it a good motivation to put some focus on patterns or projects that I have wanted to sew for a long time.

L

Burda 6425: pullover top

Occasionally, JoJo (JoAnn Fabrics) has a sale on Burda patterns for $2.49.  Because I am *cough* cost conscious, I use this as an opportunity to pick up patterns on which I would probably pass.

Hello Burda 6425.

There's nothing particularly exciting about the pattern - at least to me.  It's got shoulder pleats, sleeve casings with ties, and an elastic hem.  Big whoop.

But you know what?  I LOVE IT!  It wasn't difficult to sew and I finished it in two days.  I probably could have finished it in one day, but I burned a part of one sleeve and had to re-cut it.

I fully admit my dress form picture-taking skills need help.  Hopefully you can still see some of the details.

As with many Burda tops, the V-neck is insanely plunging.  The instructions even mention adding a snap to control exposure.  Thanks for the suggestion Burda, but I already knew. =)

Sizing

I cut a size 42 and did not make an FBA.  I made a muslin to be certain that I would have enough room even though the top is loose-fitting and has generous ease.  

I thought I would have to finagle the armhole because on the muslin it seemed really high.  After sewing in the sleeves on the actual garment, I didn't notice any strain in this area and the armhole doesn't feel tight.

Fabric

I used a deliciously supple medium-weight rayon challis.  It sewed and pressed beautifully and was not shifty like other silky fabrics.   ALL challis needs to feel like this!  The fabric is deep stash, so I have no idea where I bought it.  If I ever find challis like this again, I am buying all the colors!

I wore the top to an event yesterday and got a couple of compliments.  It was really comfortable and cool (i.e., not hot or sticky) to wear.

Sewing

I used a 70/10 needle in my sewing machine and my serger to finish the seams.

Look at that stitch-in-the-ditch!  I used my blind-hem foot to get the needle super close to the bound edge.  Love!!

The sleeves were fun to put together.  The seam for the front and back sleeves help to create the casing into which the ties are inserted. The ties are cut on the bias, sewn right sides together, and turned to the outside.  I had no problems using my loop turner to turn the tubes right side out.

This pattern is definitely a keeper!  I intend to make the long-sleeved version at some point later this year.

This is the third of four tops that I am making for a mini wardrobe.  I made a muslin for the Simplicity 8097, but I'm not feeling it.  If I have enough fabric, I will have another go at Simplicity 8014.

Here's my progress so far:

Tops

• Jalie 3245 - black & beige distressed knit (done)
• Burda 6426 - grey cotton chambray (done)
• Burda 6456 - white cotton burnout or grey cotton chambray (maybe)
• Burda 6425 - yellow rayon challis (done)

Bottoms

• Burda Style 4-2019-113 - black denim (done)
• McCall's 7906 - grey, white, yellow, black cotton (done)

Jacket

• Kwik Sew 3558 (done)

Dresses 

• Simplicity 8014 - grey & white linen (next)
• McCall's 7465 - black and white striped rayon knit
• Simplicity 8834 - yellow tencel (maybe)

That's all for now.  Next up is a review of McCall's 7906 and an update on my 2019 Make Nine plan.

L