Make Nine 2020 Results

Back in May, I posted a new Make 9 because I was not inspired by the original plan made in January. I can happily say that I made lots of progress and completed 6 of 9 items.

 

First, the Burda love is in full effect. I don't know why I continue buying Big 4 patterns when I rarely sew them. I can probably find a similar pattern in a Burda magazine and be more confident in the drafting/fit. I digress.

COMPLETED

•  4-2008-107 (blue jacket):  Wore it once whilst working from home. Love it and will certainly wear it again.
  
• 1-2008-125 (blue shirt):  This was a surprise favorite. I detest stretch cotton poplin, but was very happy with the comfort and fit of this pattern. The style is very distinct, so I don't think I'll make the pattern again. But, maybe I'll give stretch cotton poplin a second...nah. That stuff is evil.
• Blue Calla Amaryllis (tote bag):  After much fussing, swearing, and broken needles, the bag is finished! It was worth it and I'm glad I kept with it.
• 2-2005-129 (striped skirt):  I like the style, but not the fabric. This is likely going in the donation pile.
• 11-2016-102 (plaid skirt):  Still haven't worn it. I keep forgetting about it. 
• 1-2018-121 (polka dot skirt):  Quarantine eating has made this skirt a wee bit tight. Maybe I'll get to wear it next summer.

 ABANDONED

• 5-2005-120 (orange shirt):  I tried to like this, but I just don't. The front and sleeve ruffles are cute, but the wrinkles are not. All this needs is buttonholes and buttons, but that's not going to happen because I'm not motivated to finish it.
• 1-2008-105 (shirt of a 1000 buttons):  Still want! It's in the plan for 2021.
• 1-2008-109 (skirt):  Good skirt; not interested in it right now. Maybe later.
  

I really like this concept and intend to continue with it in 2021. The tentative plan has some interesting and time-consuming Burda magazine patterns. 😬 We'll see how that goes! I'll post that along with my sewing year-in-review next.

L

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

Burda 2-2005-109 (skirt)

This skirt was the first item finished of my 2020 Make9 (now revised) plan. I was on a ruffle kick last year and kept thinking about this skirt every time I saw it in my Burda binder.

This looked different in my mind.  Oof.

I was going to use a horizontal striped rainbow-colored linen (you know the one that err'body bought from JoAnn...that one).  But I switched to this red and white vertical striped linen because I was knee-deep in a little mini wardrobe and wanted the skirt to coordinate.

Eh. Not a good idea.

Vertical stripes just don't work with this pattern. The front and back pieces are very bias and you can tell. Plus matching the lower front with the yoke is impossible - and believe me I tried.

Also I can't stand how the skirt creates that fold in the front. I should have known this because the same fold is shown in the line drawing! I guess I sewed it correctly?

Let's check out those side seams. 

Right side looks good, left side? Not so much. *facepalm*

I didn't have enough fabric to make the hem-band as wide as it appears in the line drawing. This makes the skirt seem unbalanced - at least to me.

And can we talk about the construction of the hem band? It's...weird. The waist ruffle is a separate rectangular piece gathered to fit. The hem band ruffle is formed by sewing under the top of the band and gathering it to fit.  Then you attach it somehow (?) to the front. I couldn't decipher Burda's instructions and just made something up. Of course by the time I realized this, I didn't have enough fabric to cut a second smaller rectangle and sew it like the waist ruffle.

The waist yoke is wider than as it appears in the line drawing. It doesn't affect fit and isn't a big deal, but still. It seems like it throws off the proportions.

Overall, the skirt is a little too "prairie" for me. Maybe this will be better in a solid and with enough fabric to make the wider hem band.

I'm committed to wearing it at least once just to give it a try. After that, it's going in the donation pile.

(skirt paired with Ottobre 5-2012-7)

I made another skirt from the revised Make9 and LOOOOVE it. I'll review that one next.

Until then, peace!

L

Revised Make Nine 2020

Originally, I had high hopes for the patterns I chose for my first Make9 plan.  Yet as time passed and my waist expanded, those patterns began to look less appealing. 

After looking through my binder of Burda line drawings, I found a few patterns that piqued my interest. Two patterns I've wanted to sew for a while, so at least I'm remaining consistent with my original Make9 goal. The other patterns are 100% "oooo...shiny" and look like they'd be fun and interesting to sew.

Top Row

• 4-2008-107:  I think this will be a good replacement for a Kwik Sew jacket I made a few years ago. I wore that jacket so much so that it's completely faded. Plus, it's a little too small now. I could just make another version of the jacket, but I've made that pattern 3 times already. Time for change.
• 1-2008-125: I don't know why I like this so much! I love those pintucks on the sleeves! The pattern calls for stretch cotton poplin which I hate. HATE. But I'm willing to give it a try. At the very least, I get to use up some of the stash.
• 1-2008-105: Listen.  LISTEN! This shirt is all drama and I LOVE IT. There are over 30 extra-long buttonholes and I just know I will be fussing after the second one, but I WANT THIS SHIRT.  

 Middle Row

• 1-2008-109:  Nothing fancy here. Just a skirt with front angled pockets. I have some cuts of herringbone and striped denim that I think could look good with this pattern.
• Blue Calla Amaryllis:  This was part of the original plan and I left it because I am SO close to finishing. The bag is on timeout because sewing pleats in leather has broken three needles and crushed my spirits.
•  5-2005-120:  I actually started a version of this pattern back in January. But the fabric was too flimsy and I couldn't get those front ruffles to sit nicely. I have another fabric that is a bit more substantial and hopefully will be a better match.

Bottom Row

• 2-2005-129:  This was also copied from the original plan. It's finished, but looks way too Little House on the Prairie for me. The pattern is fine, but the stripe I used just isn't working at all. A solid would be much better for sure. I'll write a review later.
• 11-2016-102:   Again, nothing fancy. Just a skirt with a flounce.
• 1-2018-121:  I first noticed this pattern when Dressmaking Debacles' made her version. Loved it and immediately added it to the queue. I finished this one also and like it much better than the prairie skirt. Review soon!

That's it for the update. I'm not going to stress myself if I don't get all of these sewn or change my mind again. There is enough to be stressed about and sewing is supposed to be fun.

 

Take care and be safe everyone!

 

L