Make Nine [or Nineteen?]

As a lover of to-do lists, to-sew lists are a no brainer! No wonder I’ve been drawn to the #makenine and #makenine2020 hashtags on Instagram and the original @makeninechallenge account established by Rochelle of Home Row Fiber. Rather than posting that annual #BestNine grid of her most-popular posts of the year, Rochelle inspired makers to post the nine projects they’d like to sew, knit, or complete in a self-determined time-frame. Of course, since I am NOT a passionate sketcher, I’ve been gobsmacked by the hand and tablet-drawn illustrations folks make of their must-sews. And then there’s the results! Those 9-grid images of makers’ finished projects are inspiring.

I thought I’d join in by posting my last nine projects, as well as my nine next must-makes. While I admire minimalism, I’m not particularly capable of restraining myself when it comes to dreaming about new wardrobe options. It’s hard to pick just nine of the pieces that are bound to change your life! And, with Bea signed on to learn to sew a few basic wardrobe staples this summer, I went to town and made a #makenineteen grid, for fun.

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My #Makenine Makes, 2019-2020

If you read SSJ regularly, a few of these will be familiar…

1. Delphine Morissette Tangerine Blouse in two layers of Robert Kaufman Black Sophia Washed Lawn. [Okay, so it’s not on the list below, but I now have gingham to replicate Delphine’s red and white version on her blog! EEK!]
2. Wicksten Tova Top with expanded arms, additional linings and back yoke in Rob Hodgson Across the Universe Teal Pigment Rogue Planets
3. Wicksten Tova Top expanded arms, additional linings and back yoke in Liberty Winterbourne Berry Woodhaze
4. Paper Theory Kabuki Tee, lengthened slightly, in Rashida Coleman-Hale Akoma Tomato Duafe
5. Wiksten Haori, unlined, in Kimberly Kight Homebody Navy Window Pane
6. Merchant & Mills Gyo Top in Kimberly Kight Homebody Navy Window Pane
7. Rubbed-from-Ready-to-Wear Cross-Back Apron in Robert Kaufman Essex Dyed Espresso
8. Wiksten Haori in Robert Kaufman Essex Dyed Espresso and Chiemi Fujita for Cotton + Steel Kibori Ouji Coral with additional pockets in the lining and contrast collar.
9. Denim Wine/Baguette Carrier & Pie Carrier Set created by scrutinizing an out-of-budget online product image and hacking it to my liking and fabrication.

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My next nine makes!

1. Sew Liberated Arenite Pants. In a soft navy linen? Later, as sweats?
2. Papercut Patterns Pinnacle Top. First with some remnant silk and then with stretch fabrics [on a new serger]?
3. The Internet-Famous Paper Thoery Zadie Jumpsuit, maybe in a soft flannel or plaid, even, for winter?
4. Named Inari Tee, in all the colours.
5. Pauline Alice Romero Trousers. I LOVE SAILOR PANTS! These are actually FIRST on my list! I’ll try them in a teal linen, with a denim to follow, if the make goes well! [I like the looks of the the hack suggested by Sleepless in Bavaria on Minerva Crafts: swapping the Simplicity 8175* curved waistband for the straight Romero waist.]
6. Vintage Butterick 5763 Wrap-and-Go Skirt with angled pocket in a teal linen, first. Then, an obnoxious cotton. Ooh, or a fall printed corduroy!
7. Vogue V9138, view B, vest, in emerald velvet or royal-blue corduroy, combining my fave blue vest from Gerwig’s Little Women movie with Cate Blanchett’s vest and jacket looks in Oceans 9.
8. Wilder Gown from Friday Pattern Co. in gingham, perhaps with some bias-cut tiers or sections. Or, perhaps separates! A wilder top and a tiered skirt!
9. Blanca Flight Suit from Closetcase Patterns in a colourful denim or stretch corduroy. Maybe with some block-printed patches, even!

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My dream #makenineteen!

1. The Internet-Famous Paper Thoery Zadie Jumpsuit, maybe in a soft flannel or plaid, even, for winter?
2. Closet Case Pietra Pants in a soft plaid for fall.
3. Pauline Alice Romero Trousers. I LOVE SAILOR PANTS! These are actually FIRST on my list! I’ll try them in a teal linen, with a denim to follow, if the make goes well! [I like the looks of the the hack suggested by Sleepless in Bavaria on Minerva Crafts: swapping the Simplicity 8175* curved waistband for the straight Romero waist.]
4. Sew Liberated Arenite Pants. In a soft navy linen? Later, as sweats?
5. Blanca Flight Suit from Closetcase Patterns in a colourful denim or stretch corduroy. Maybe with some block-printed patches, even!
6. Vogue 1562 wool dress coat, in black, as pictured, with hot pink or leopard lining.
7. Vogue V9138, view B, vest, in emerald velvet or royal-blue corduroy, combining my fave blue vest from Gerwig’s Little Women movie with Cate Blanchett’s vest and jacket looks in Oceans 9.
8. Named Inari Tee, in all the colours.
9. Papercut Patterns Pinnacle Top. First with some remnant silk and then with stretch fabrics [on a new serger]?
10. Cascade Duffle Coat from Grainline, in a black wool, with a patterned ribbon or embroidery, to replicate that coat I NEVER should have given away after the kids were born. You know the one 😉
11. Butterick B6353, perhaps in navy or pink, to put a modern twist on is-it-Givenchy-or-Edith-Head’s great “dress with yards of skirt” for Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina.
12. Closet Case Charlie Caftan in a wild print.
13. Wilder Gown from Friday Pattern Co. in gingham, perhaps with some bias-cut tiers or sections. Or, perhaps separates! A wilder top and a tiered skirt!
14. Vogue v8379 wrap dress. A DVF knockoff in a warmer stretch for fall.
15. Three-arm-hole wrap dress with shoulder detail by Simplicity 8049 in a deep dark peacock satin or long and long-sleeved in a fall flannel.
16. Vintage Butterick 5763 Wrap-and-Go Skirt with angled pocket in a teal linen, first. Then, an obnoxious cotton. Ooh, or a fall printed corduroy!
17. McCalls 7960 A-Line Wrap Skirt with side pockets, view D, in a fall plaid.
18. McCalls 6959 Wrap Dress with a Liberty floral bias trim.
19. The elusive, Vintage Butterick 4699, three-armhole two-way wrap-dress in one pattern piece. I refuse to pay upwards of $35 plus exorbitant shipping for a reprint of a quick sew. I may very well self-draft based on the easy outline on the back of the pattern, using #15 above as a hack.

Despite the Covid associations, Nineteen is a lucky number for us! It’s our anniversary on July 19! And Bea’s birthday is on a 19th in the fall!

*But, let’s say you’re superstitious and you need a #maketwenty ? Well, what about that Simplicity 8175 pattern I mentioned re the sailor pants above? With a big patch-pocket, wouldn’t it make a great and potentially more comfortable hack for @tt_stories very posh green number on Insta?

What are your must-makes?