Make Nine 2020 Update

Nearly two-thirds of the way through the year of 10,000 days (or so it seems), I thought I'd post an update to my Make Nine 2020 plan.

Back in May, I revised the original Make Nine to include patterns that looked interesting to sew. I didn't intend all but one pattern to come from Burda Magazines, but those were the patterns that caught my eye. 

(Plus I don't have an efficient way of viewing my envelope patterns without having to sit at my computer and comb through a bunch of pictures. I'd like to catalogue all of them in a binder, but that's not happening any time soon.)

Revised Make 9

I've made lots progress on completing the plan.

Top Row

• 4-2008-107:  I love everything about this jacket - even though I've yet to wear it. I bound the seams with homemade red & white striped bias tape and used the same fabric for the under collar. The inside gives me so much joy.
  

• 1-2008-125:  This shirt is okay, but it's not a favorite. Stretch cotton poplin is not forgiving when it comes to wrinkles or puckers. I like it and will certainly wear it, but it reminds me why I  much prefer shirting fabrics without stretch. Sewing the tiny pleats was a pain in the ass. Next time, I'll pleat the fabric first and then cut the sleeve.

Ugh. The wrinkles!

• 1-2008-105:  This pattern is still very much a part of the plan. I need to settle on fabrics and find enough buttons to make it happen.

Middle Row

• 1-2008-109:  Though this is still on the grid, I don't know if I'll make it. I might swap it out for a different skirt.

• Blue Calla Amaryliss:  I ended up taking the partially-completed bag to a local cobbler to stitch the areas that were giving me problems. His machine is industrial-grade and can sew through leather a few inches thick. It cost me $20 for him to sew a total of about 6 inches, but it was worth it for my sanity.
  

• 5-2005-120:  This is my second (and final) attempt at this pattern. I just don't love it enough to finish it. The only thing it needs is buttonholes and buttons. Meh. I'll donate it as is.
  
  

(first attempt on the left is already trashed)

 

Bottom Row

• 2-2005-129:  I wrote a separate post about this skirt. I never wore it this spring or summer and have already packed it away. We'll see if it makes an appearance next year.

• 11-2016-102:  Initially I wanted to make this pattern out of a fuschia wool flannel, but I didn't have enough fabric. So I opted to use this plaid wool from the stash. Paired with this white bib shirt definitely gives off 'private school girl' vibes. I think I'll wear this with some some tall black boots and a black leather jacket. Now to get some tall black boots and a black leather jacket.
  
  
  

• 1-2018-121:  Another garment made that has yet to be worn. I wrote about it here. Since quarantine, I have been on full chillax mode and wear nothing but t-shirts and loose knit pants. Working from home has its challenges, but "camera off" has afforded me to go bra-less for five months and that's going to be a hard habit to break. Though I will give a serious effort to wear some of the stuff I made, including this outfit.
  

 

That's all for the update. I've been working on other things since finishing the blue shirt. I made a tan wool skirt to coordinate and am working on another Ottobre shirt. I started another bra and want to make another pair of jeans.

 

I don't know when I'll get back to the Make Nine, but when I do, the shirt of a million buttonholes will be next. 

 

Until next time, be safe and wear a mask.

 

L

Mid-Year Update

Given that we're now in August, this is a bit beyond "mid-year." But in a year that's felt more like 137 decades, who's really counting?

I haven't posted to this blog in weeks because I really didn't know what to say. I actually started writing a long post (1155 words) back in June about my thoughts on being Black in the States. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got at having to once again justify why my Black life matters. Add to that some racial foolishness going on at work and I was done. Sleepless nights and whirlwind emotions ranging from intense sadness to rage were too much to handle.

To save my sanity, I had to step away. I took long solo walks on local nature trails, deep cleaned most of my house, purged/reorganized fabric, and did some sewing. 

I don't know what more I can say that hasn't already been said. Black lives matter. Saying this isn't politics; it's humanity. I am a human and my life demands justice and equality just like everyone else's. 

Renee and Elaine's posts summarize perfectly and beautifully what I've been thinking:

Renee: Your Black Friend

Elaine: Confirm Humanity 

Near the end of Elaine's post, there is an image of books to read to begin the hard and necessary discussion about race in the States. Please start there if you want to learn. When it's time to converse, do more listening than speaking.

I'll post some sewing stuff eventually.

L