#2018MakeNine

Hi there! Happy New Year! Here’s hoping that this shiny new year brings better things for all of us.

I’ve decided to take part in the #2018MakeNine challenge, where you identify 9 patterns which you’d like to make in the coming year.  This is despite the slightly mixed success of the #2017MakeNine challenge; I chose 9 patterns and completed 5 of them.

So why take part again?  Despite not having completed all my identified patterns, I still found it useful to have a touch point of what I’d like to make throughout the year.  Some patterns, like the Safran, are still firmly on my radar.  I still didn’t feel to have the skill set by the year end to pick them up.  Others, like the Martha, just didn’t appeal to me quite so much by the middle of the year as they did at the start.  It’s all good; it’s not like I didn’t make any other dresses last year!

So what’s different this year?

Firstly, I’ve combined some of my choices with the #sewmystyle2018 challenge, thereby increasing my chances of actually making things.  It’s got to help, right?

Secondly, I’ve made an attempt to both pick patterns I already own and to pair them with fabrics from my stash.  These aren’t set in stone and a couple of the patterns I still need to purchase, but I’m trying to take a more holistich approach, rather than treating a number of different challenges as separate beasts.

So what do I want to achieve this year?

Firstly, I want to continue to improve my skill set.  I’ve just completed a 6 week pattern cutting course and have signed up to the next 4 week block; I am already feeling much more confident in altering patterns to fit, so let’s see how that goes.  You’ll notice that there are several pairs of trousers in this year’s choices; I am DETERMINED to nail that most tricky of fitting issues.

Secondly, I am absolutely determined (there’s that word again) to reduce the size of my fabric stash.  It’s got out of control and it’s no longer bringing me joy. So it’s time to save some money and set myself some boundaries.

I will aim to buy no more than 3 lengths of fabric a month.

Above that, I will aim to make 3 items from stash fabric for every one I buy new.

So that’s 12 garments a month; sounds like a lot, right? And it is. I won’t make that many every month.  But there are always months in the year where I make more than that in a mad frenzy, so it makes sense to me to have limits in place.

I’m not going mad with this; there will be times and places where that all goes out the window (SewBrum, I’m looking at you!) and if there are gorgeous fabrics I can’t normally get hold of in front of me, I’m not likely to resist.  But I’d like it to be a more conscious decision, rather than me getting giddy and carried away!

So, what are my pattern / fabric combinations?

Kalle Shirt / Shirtdress, Closet Case Files

Fabric: city print cotton voile

This is one of the Sew My Style pattern choices, and I’m planning to give it a go as an alternative to my beloved Melilot pattern.  I didn’t love it on release but have seen a lot of versions which I love so it’s been slow burner for me.  The cotton voile I bought in 2017’s January sale and have been treasuring; time to just sew the fabric, I think!

Tilly & The Buttons Marigold jumpsuit / trousers

Fabric: floral rayon from Cotton Reel Studio

I’ve toyed with this pattern for a while, but felt I was more likely to make the trousers than the jumpsuit and they were too similar to the Sew Over It “Carrie” trousers.  I now have three pairs of those so this pattern’s appearance on the Sew My Style list pushed me over the edge; I will be buying this when the discount code appears.

I bought the fabric from Cotton Reel Studio using the discount code from Sew Up North last May, so again, time to stop being precious and just sew the fabric!

Deer & Doe Zephyr dress

Fabric: floral scuba from Fabric Styles

Ooh look, a Deer and Doe pattern; you’re stunned, right? 😉

I bought this on Sew Saturday in Fabrication and picked the fabric up from Fabric Styles when there was a discount (although at £4.99 a metre you don’t really need the discount, right?)  I’m in search of a going out dress that’s comfy and doesn’t require me to feel like sucking my tummy in.  Clearly, I’m also in need of places to go out, but I’ll deal with that later!

True Bias Lander shorts

Fabric: ? Probably some cotton drill or chambray?

This is the only pattern on the list without a definite fabric match from the stash.  However, if I can get trousers to fit, I can definitely get shorts that fit, right? Which would be really nice! So these shorts from the Sew My Style list are sitting on the list, waiting for a suitable fabric choice to happen.  I will probably wait until nearer summer and see what tops I’ve been making; let’s face it, they’re probably going to be blue.

Sew Over It Florence dress

Fabric: tropical print viscose from Minerva Crafts

I joined the Sew Over It pdf club last year and bought a lot of the new patterns as they were released.  They don’t all speak to me, but I do like a maxi dress and I thought this would make a nice change to my current uniform of jeans for work.

Closet Case Patterns Ginger jeans

Fabric: stretch blue denim

Yep. there they are again: jeans.  I AM going to make this happen this year! I have all the fabric, not to mention the notions, all lined up and waiting.  I also have the Safran and Morgan jeans patterns, so I am determined to get this working this year! Wish me luck!

I just need to decide whether to go skinny or bootcut (yes, I bought both!)

McCalls 7547 dungarees

Fabric: black denim

See, I told you there was a theme of trousers!  I won this pattern from The Foldline for their pattern of the week and am currently working on the fit adjustments needed. I’m feeling pretty confident about this (although I’ve not tried the latest toile on yet, so it could all yet go wrong!)

Dungarees are a little our of my comfort zone, style wise, but that’s something else I’m trying to embrace.

Nina Lee Portobello trousers

Fabric: swan print cotton voile from Stoff Still

AGAIN with the trousers!  I bought these from Nina at the GBSB live with the full intention of making them up as summer trousers.  I then saw swan print gorgeousness in the Stoff & Still sale and the rest is history…..

I have high hopes for this pattern after the success of the Southbank dresses, I’m hoping these fit me as well as that did!

Deer and Doe Bleuet dress

Fabric: Alexander Henry chinese dragon print cotton

So yeah, there had to be more than one Deer and Doe pattern on my list; I do love them!  This one has recently been rejigged and I absolutely love it; I basically want to make the pattern sample in gorgeous green.  But as a starting point, I have this gorgeous Alexander Henry cotton I picked up in a destash Crafty Clyde was having (thank you!) so the two seem like the perfect pairing to me.

So there you have it; I’m hoping this is a good mix of wear-to-death basics and pretty things that just beg to be made.

How about you; are you lining up a list of patterns for the year? Or joining any of the challenges going on?

Becca x