Make Nine 2023 Results & Basement Update

Edited to add:  I don't know what happened to the photos! Google is doing its random acts of weirdness again. I'll get it corrected.

 

Edit 2:  I think it's fixed...maybe. 

 

It's that time of my sewing year for reflection and updates on new year intentions. I'll save the 'sewing year in review' chatter for a future post. For now, I'm sharing the results of Make Nine 2023.

I had good intentions, as always, but did not get to everything on the list. I lost interest in most of the patterns early on and never went back to make any changes. Ah well. I managed to check four of nine items off the list.

 

McCall's 8286

 

Version 1 (blue & white stripes):  I completed this version back in August. I cut size 16 and made a 1/2-inch FBA. I forgot to copy the FBA to the front overlay and oddly it still fit. Perhaps this piece is supposed to have more drape. I also shortened the dress 6 inches; as drafted it was far too long for my short frame. For this version, I used the curved hem with facings.

I think the fabric I used, although nice, is far too heavy for this design. The sleeves can stand out on their own. Hah! Using snaps for closures made the front even more heavy.

I wore it once in September and felt okay in it. It wasn't fiddly and the heaviness didn't seem to bother me - or I don't remember it bothering me.

Version 2 (gray chambray):  For the second version, I used a lightweight tencel chambray; this fabric is much more appropriate in weight. I opted for the straight hem this time and added four inches to the ties. 

 

I should have used a heavier interfacing for the front band because it's a wee bit flimsy. I finished this in October and by that time it was too cold (for me) to wear it. We'll see how it goes in Spring.

Deep Stash > 8 years

I liked having this category as part of the plan as it encouraged me to use some older fabric. I bought this piece a long time ago after seeing an argyle sweater-vest made by another sewer and wanting a similar look. 

This fabric has been in and out of various donation boxes for YEARS. I pulled it back out earlier this year and there it sat, mocking me and wondering when it was going back in the box. Haha! This time I was determined to cut the fabric and I'm SO glad I did. 

 

Enter my TNT knit top pattern:  Simplicity 9385, sans collar. I used a scrap of wool knit for the sleeves, cuffs, neckband, and hem band. I didn't have enough to make the full hem band width, so I opted for half-width.

The neckband sits quite nicely.

This is certainly one of my favorite versions of S9385.

Closet Core Kelly Anorak

I shared my thoughts about making the jacket here. A clear favorite and I'm so glad I went through with it. It came out exactly as I had envisioned and I enjoy wearing it.

Oro Rosa Magdalena Circle Bag

Another winner from Oro Rosa. She makes great patterns and I enjoy sewing them. As soon as I get my sewing space back together, I have intentions to sew more of her collection. More details about this bag can be found here.

***

Even though I didn't complete the plan, I am happy with the things I made. I carry the handbag often and really love the anorak.

I've not given any thought to Make Nine 2024, though I intend to participate.

 

Basement Update:

In my last post, I shared that I started the process of doing small updates in my basement. I've primed all of the wood panels with two coats of water-based Kilz 2 and settled on a top color.

started with priming the grooves

one coat of primer

two coats of primer

This is the first wall I did. I learned later that feathering the paint in the grooves helped reduce the visibility of the paint lines.

much better

At first I thought I wanted a nice tan color on the walls, but then I quickly changed my mind when I saw how it looked. Having gotten used to how bright it was in the basement, the tan color felt suffocating.

 

So I've decided to go with a color by Glidden called Silent Smoke in an eggshell finish; it's the third color on the right (closest to the door trim). I'm going to take the sample jar back to the hardware store to see if they can add a teeny bit more tint to darken it just a little. The next color on the swatch card is called Whiskers. I want something in between, so I'll see if they can make that happen.

(paint chip on the right)

 

Next is to remove the floor trim, then clean and prime the floor. I wanted to put in a floating floor, but I think peel-and-stick is the way to go. It's a basement and if there is ever another pipe incident, I need things to be easy to clean and not too hard to replace or mend.

 

I also thought of tearing out the old ceiling tiles and painting the joists, duct work, etc. and redoing the lighting situation. But that's a major job and probably left best to when I have a lot more time. I know it's probably better to do the ceiling before the floor, but I don't have any clear vision for that right now. Plus I really miss sewing and want my space back.

 

That's all for now. I need to research compound mitre saws so that I can install new baseboard and ceiling trim. I've never used a saw or installed trim before so if you have some tips, please chime in! In fact, any tips or DOs and DO NOT DOs will be helpful and appreciated!

 

L

5 Handmade Essentials

A few months ago, there was a hashtag floating around sewing YouTube that asked people to share their five handmade essentials. The categories are:  tops, bottoms, layering piece, one-piece, and wild card. After watching several people share their thoughts, I began to think about the patterns that I keep in regular rotation and that I have made several times.

Essential Top:  Simplicity 9385

Since this pattern was released in 2021, I've made it ten times. All but one of my versions are view C - with roughly the length of view A. 

 

I can't say enough good things about this pattern and how much I love it. View C uses six pieces (front, back, sleeve, collar, sleeve cuff, hem band) and can be sewn completely on a serger. I've made it out of rayon lycra (5 & 10), merino wool knit (4), ribbed knits (2, 3, 7, & 9) and double-brushed polyester knit (6 & 8). 

 

Most recently, I made this pattern using an argyle sweater knit (1) that's been in the stash for a long time. I had enough to make another view C, but I didn't want the whole top to have that print. So I dug through my stash and found some scraps of wool knit and used it for the sleeves, neck band, sleeve cuffs, and bottom band - though you can't see that part in the picture. 

I no longer have the cream lycra version (10) as it was a little too short. It was my first time with the pattern and I realized that view C is more cropped than I prefer.

 

This is a clear staple and I have intentions to make several more.

Essential Bottom:  Jalie 2908, Jalie Éléonore, & McCall's 6654 (three-way tie)

I've made both patterns so many times that I've lost count. I think it's fair to say I have at least fifteen pairs of 2908 and maybe ten pairs of Éléonore - including one of each that I made a couple of months ago. Since first making my first pair over ten years ago, I have not bought ready-to-wear jeans. I adjusted the pattern to fit my body and haven't looked back. I've made both boot cut and slim-fit styles.

 

What I like most about Éléonore is that they are pull-on, have most of the same features as traditional jeans, and can be made in less time. Fabric has to have a bit more stretch than 2908 and elastic is needed for the waistband. There isn't a front pocket, but Jalie has either a tutorial or an expansion pack to include it. Not having front pockets bugs me sometimes, but not enough to do anything about it. Hah!

Unfortunately, I do not have any current pictures. The last picture I have is a stack of jeans made as of 2012. Definitely a TNT.

I cannot leave off my favorite knit skirt pattern:  McCall's 6654. Like the Jalie patterns, over the years I've made this at least fifteen times. The collage below only shows the versions for which I have photos. I'm sure there are at least five more hanging in my closet that either I haven't photoed or I can't find the picture on my computer. 

 

It's even faster to sew than Simplicity 9385. There are three pieces (front, back, waistband) and can be completed entirely on a serger as well. I've made this in rayon lycra, scuba knit, polyester and wool double knit, and random medium-weight knits.

I mostly have and still wear all that are pictured here. It's a great pattern that can go with a variety of tops and jackets.

 

(Edited to add:  I think a couple of these skirts were made with Simplicity 1072. It's an OOP skirt and top pattern from many, many years ago. I'm certain I made it a couple of times, but not nearly as much as McCall's 6654.)

Essential Layering Piece:  Kwik Sew 2895

A great layering piece is this pattern here. I first got interested in making a jeans jacket when I visited Australia in 2014 and met Valerie. (I would connect to her blog, but the link doesn't appear to work anymore). She was wearing a beautifully sewn version of Butterick 5616. I loved everything about it and wanted one of my own. At the time, I couldn't find 5616, but realized I had something similar in my stash.

I made five versions of this pattern; the two not shown are made with black denim and a light blue floral cotton. I've used both light and medium-weight cotton fabrics. The black denim is maybe my least worn of the five because the fabric is just a tad bit too stiff.

I've worn the blue denim and camouflage versions so much that they've started to fade and you know what that means! I am definitely not done with this pattern and intend to make more. I want to make another blue one and perhaps one out of wool suiting or flannel.

Essential One-Piece:  Vogue 9299

I wasn't sure how to interpret this prompt. Most people on YouTube mentioned dresses here. Despite having a large collection of dress patterns and liking dresses, I don't make them often. I'm more of a 'separates' girl. So for this prompt, I'm giving Vogue 9299. I made the tunic length three times in one year because it's such a good pattern. Seeing so many of Carolyn's (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) gorgeous versions put me on to this pattern.

Details on sewing and pattern adjustments are shared in this post. The colors just make me happy and any time I wear one of the versions, I get lovely compliments. I don't have immediate plans to make view B again, but I will eventually try some of the other views.

Essential Wild Card:  Oro Rosa Catalina Cross-body Bag

I got the bag-making bug and still going strong with it. So far this year alone, I've made five handbags (details coming). It's just so much fun to plan/coordinate fabrics, hardware, and to put them together.

 

Handbags are unique enough that one of any type is enough. Well...I wanted two and now I have two! 😁

 

They're the perfect size for me and they both get lots of use. Will I make this again? Definitely! Will it be for me? We'll see. 😉 I have a bunch of other bag patterns that I'd like to make.

This wraps up my 5 Handmade Essentials. I sew other patterns for sure, though these are my TNTs and palate cleansers.

 

What are your 5 Handmade Essentials? Do you sew a pattern multiple times or do you have a limit to how often a single pattern is made?

 

***

 

There won't be any sewing going on for a while. I'm in the process of painting the paneling in my basement and putting in a new floor...well...bae and I are going to try to put in a new floor. I...um...hmm. Something says I should probably leave this to professionals. Then again none are calling me back soooooooo DIY it is!

 

L