Make Nine 2022 Results

Barring the major fail of Simplicity 8948, this is my most successful Make Nine ever. I finished eight of nine items! Although there were two mid-year substitutions (Oro Rosa Catalina for Magadelna and Simplicity 8601 for McCall's 7627), the new plan still included not-previously-sewn patterns. 

 

Favorites

Hands down, Vogue 9299 and Oro Rosa Catalina are tied for most favorite out of the plan. I love the Vogue tunic so much that I made it three times and intend to make a few more. The Catalina hand bag was so fun to make and I enjoy carrying it. I don't need more than one of this bag, but who knows? Maybe I'll try one of other views. 

 

Unsung Heroes

Initially I wasn't a huge fan of New Look 6698 because it was too big. I got lazy and cut a straight size 18 when I should have cut for my upper bust and made an FBA. In the end, I wore this a lot over summer and really like it. The sleeves are a bit awkward in length on me, but that's an easy fix. I'll definitely make this again and in the proper size.

 

Simplicity 8601 is also a winner. I was worried that the neckline facing would be uncooperative in rayon challis, but it's not a problem at all. I really like this shirt and intend to make another one in wool challis. 

 

Wearables

During a visit to Finland in 2019, I purchased a meter of bouclé with the intention of making a skirt and I did using Burda 2-2020-108.

 

There's nothing wrong with the skirt or fit. I deem it "wearable" because I've found it's been hard to find a top that pairs well with the colors in the fabric. I can always wear a blue denim jacket or white shirt. The purple knit slightly visible in the picture compliments the fabric but in a way that I don't quite like and I don't know why. =) I'll keep searching for other options.

 

New Look 6560 is also wearable but can be fiddly. Again, laziness got the best of me and I cut this without making an FBA. It's not possible to wear without a tank top because of major gaping along the surplice front. As with the other New Look top, I intend to make it again but with the proper adjustments.

 

The Ottobre Pea Coat is mostly finished, but it's not my best work. I will wear it for sure, but I know I can do (and have done) much better.  

 

Pardon the way it looks on the dressform. The coat is bigger than the form, so the fit isn't great. Actually, the fit isn't that great on me either despite spending a lot of energy on the muslin and making adjustments. Overall, I think the coat is just too big in some places and it looks kinda frumpy on me. Meh.

 

The buttons aren't sewn on yet because I'm still deciding whether to use snaps or make buttonholes. The snaps are sewn on, but I don't like how the thread is visible from the side view. I have some invisible thread and will sew on one snap to see how it looks. If I don't like it, then I'll make buttonholes.

I think I'll take it to the dry cleaner to have it professionally pressed. Maybe that will help with some of the wrinkles I can't get out on my own. As for the pattern, I'll write about it separately. This was a labor of love and I don't want to abandon it.

Disappointment/Fail

I am taking a break from Simplicity 8014. I think this was my third or fourth go at view D (without waist seam) and I just don't like it. I didn't laze out this time and made the proper FBA, converted to princess seams. I don't like anything about the dress and have already donated it. I didn't even bother putting buttonholes and figured someone else could wear it as a duster.

 

Simplicity 8948 just did not work and I have no intention to return to it any time soon.

 

***

That's it for Make Nine 2022. I think it's a success to have worked on everything in the plan and have six usable items. I definitely intend to participate in Make Nine 2023. I'm still working on the plan.

L

Make Nine 2022 Update

We're halfway through the year and my Make Nine is surprisingly (for me) going pretty well. I've managed to complete and/or work on 8 of 9 items. One of those items was muslined a few years ago, so maybe that shouldn't count. I re-read the instructions for the pattern so that's something, right?

Top Row

• New Look 6560:  I finished this a couple of months ago (mentioned briefly here). I really like the top, but definitely could have used an FBA. I'll definitely need to wear a camisole underneath and add a snap to keep the front from gaping.

• New Look 6968:  I really wanted to like this top after I saw some versions on IG and YouTube. The issue here is that it's just too big. I got lazy with not wanting to do an FBA (knowing full well that I need it) and cut a size 18 all around. The neckline/shoulder area is just too big for my frame and it shows. You can see the size of the neck opening on my dressform.
  

 

Each pattern size is printed separately, so there was no easy way to blend sizes. I'm sure I could have figured something out, but I chose haste over proper fit. Meh. I'll wear it a few times and probably let it go.

• Simplicity 8948:  This pattern has been in and out of rotation many times and I've finally taken time to work on it. I cut size 14 everywhere and made a 1-inch FBA, rotating the dart to the shoulder pleats. I also added a 1/2-inch broad back adjustment. I worked through a second muslin with the changes and don't think it looks that good. It's too tight across the back and something is wonky with the neckline pleats. So this pattern is a fail for now. I need to protect my fragile sewing mojo and working more on this is not a good idea. =)
  

Middle Row

• wild card (fabric purchased abroad): I bought a cut of bouclé from Eurokangas whilst in Finland in 2019. It has the most wonderful colors, but is also hard to match with other fabrics. Weird. This purple wool knit is the best I could find for now.
  

The skirt pattern is Burda 2-2020-108. I cut a size 42 and added one-inch side seam allowances (ended up not needing the extra room). I also cut two inches off the overall length because the skirt was too long for my height. The skirt is lined with rayon Bemberg and the waist is faced with 1.5"-wide petersham.

• Oro Rosa Catalina cross-body bag:  This was a replacement for the Oro Rosa Magdalena circle bag. I love this bag so much - even with all of its flaws. More thoughts on this bag and pattern are here.
  

• Ottobre 5-2011-11:  This is the pattern that was muslined some time ago. Like with New Look 6698, I tried avoiding an FBA by cutting a larger size. Given that this is a coat, having the extra room isn't a bad thing, though there are some areas (sleeves, side and center back) that can be taken in. I think I'll do a second muslin with a smaller size and an FBA.

Bottom row

• McCall's 7627:  This is the only pattern on this grid I've yet to tackle. I made view B  from this pattern in 2018 and wear it regularly. I'd like to make either view C or D, but after reading my old review, I'm not sure I want to fool the wrap-tie area again. I have to look at the instructions. If it looks like the same hassle, I will replace this pattern with something else.

• Simplicity 8014:  Welp, I've tried this version twice...no...three times and it's no for me.

I cut a size 16 and made a 1-inch FBA, converted to shoulder princess seams. Still, the bust is a bit tight and I'm over it. I think the fault here is in the fabric. It's a medium-weight chambray with no give and just not suitable for this design. I've already put this in the donation pile. Maybe someone can wear it as a duster.

• Vogue 9299, view B: I LOVE THIS TUNIC. OMG. Listen. I do not know what took me so long to make this. Well, that's not true. 😅 I was lazy with making the FBA. I've got it in my mind to just take the time and make the adjustment because I know I need it.

I traced a 14 in the neckline, shoulder, and upper armscye - transitioning to 16 in the lower armscye and everywhere else. I also made these adjustments:

• 5/8" FBA, converted to shoulder princess seams
• removed 1/2-inch in length between shoulder and bust (on front and back)
• removed 1/2-inch across the sleeve cap to match the last adjustment

I'm almost finished with a second version of this tunic. I'll write a second blog post about both versions when I've finished the second. Suffice it to say, I will be making many more tops/dresses from this pattern!

That's all for the update. I'm happy to have completed 2/3 of the grid so far. Ideally, I'd like to finish the pea coat before it gets too cold to wear it.

 

I'll probably switch gears to sewing for the upcoming PR Mini Wardrobe contest. The rules haven't been posted, but I'm sure there will at least be some combination of tops, bottoms, and perhaps a topper. I'm working on muslins of intended garments and will share some details soon.

(I don't know what's going on with the font formatting. Blogger can be finicky. Apologies if the text sizes are off.)

L

 

Unintentional Endless Combinations Mini Wardrobe

Pattern Review occasionally runs a contest called Endless Combinations (EC). The idea is to create a wardrobe where each subsequent garment coordinates with the previous one.

An example from the 2016 contest rules (edited for clarity): 

1. Sew blouse A.
2. The next item, B, could be pants and must work with blouse A.
3. Item C must coordinate with item B. It could be another top or a jacket. It does not have to work with item A; if it does, that's a bonus.
4. Item D must work with item C. If you made a jacket for item C, item D could be a skirt, another pair of pants, or a top.

Of all of the wardrobe plans I've tried, I've had the most success with this and the Stitcher's Guild 6PAC. One time I sewed an 11-piece wardrobe for a contest. By the time I was finished, I was SO bored with everything that I stopped sewing for a few weeks. Plus I only wore maybe 2 or 3 of those 11 garments and gave the rest away.

Here are the garments I made using this idea. I didn't start with this intention; it just fell into place.

First I made Burda 2-2005-129.

I wanted another denim chambray shirt, so I made Ottobre 5-2012-7. I used a blue/white/red gingham scrap for the undercollar and inner collar stand, cuffs, and front band. 

Not really feeling the skirt's prairie vibe, I opted for something more structured and made Burda 1-2018-121.

Thinking this would look good with a short jacket, I made Burda 4-2008-107.

Finally I completed the set with Simplicity 8606 using a red floral polyester woven from JoJo. 

Here is a collage of all the possible combinations from the five garments.

Hands down my favorite looks are in the first and last columns. I just do not like the prairie skirt! I know I said I'll wear it at least once, but...uh...I'm not so sure about that anymore. The angled stripes just aren't doing the skirt any favors. Big ol' meh!

Added bonus: three of the five garments I made are a part of my 2020 MakeNine. Woot! If I ever get that tote bag done, I will be halfway-ish through the plan. Baby steps. =)

I will write a review of the Ottobre shirt and Burda jacket next.

***

I'm working on a shirt for #Faye'sTopsThatPop sewing challenge starting on 1 Jun. The color works with some garments I made at the beginning of the year and continues the spirit of Endless Combinations.

That's all for now. Stay safe everyone.

L

2019 Make Nine Challenge

I've seen this challenge around the internets and on the 'gram for a few years.  The challenge seems simple:  commit to making nine things within the year.

There are some other considerations, but I'm going to do my own thing.  More information about the challenge and its history can be found here:  The Make Nine Challenge.

I'm not setting any specific rules.  This isn't a capsule wardrobe or a quest to fill holes in my closet.  These are projects that I've put on hold (for no good reason) or garments that I've made before and enjoy wearing.

Here are my tentative plans:

Top Row

• Burda 9-2006-104:  I made this in 2015 and wear it religiously during spring.  For the second version, I want to go all out and include contrast piping on the pockets, collar, lapel, gun flap, sleeve tabs, and epaulettes.  This will be an epic project, but I'm excited about it.
• Burda 11-2017-106:  I made this in 2017 and really like wearing it. 
• McCall's 7429:  I'm making this as part of the Sew Twists and Ties challenge. The neckline looks a little choker-ish.  We'll see how far I get with this one. 

Middle Row

• Ottobre 2-2006 #5:  I need more classic button-up shirts.  This one has horizontal and bust darts that I can use to convert to shoulder princess seams.
• Blue Calla Boronia Bowler:  Ever since following Kyle's construction of this bag, I have not been able to get it out of my mind.
• Jalie Éléonore:  Been there.  Done that.  Doing it again.

Bottom Row

• Burda 5-2011-113:  Something about this jacket intrigues me.  I have zero use for it and would probably have to make a skirt or pants or something to go with it.  I want it anyway. =)
• Butterick 6388:  My friend Anne and I have talked about sewing this dress ever since it came out two (three?) years ago.  It's time for me to stop talking and start doing.
• Ottobre 5-2010 #11:  I used to have a gray pea coat that I wore all of the time.  Now that it's too small and I can sew, seems fitting that I should make a replacement. 

With the exception of the Burda skirt and the Jalie pull-on jeans, none of these projects will be quick sews.  It'll probably take me all year to work through the list.  Sometimes I get bored with a project and have to set it aside in favor of doing something else.  I'm not pressuring myself or setting any deadlines.

I'm almost finished with the skirt and washed fabric for the McCall's dress.   So far, I'm off to a good start.  We'll see about the rest. =)

L