Last night I was trying to find something to wear to go to a gig my husband was playing in, when my husband remarked how I had loads of clothes to choose from and he only had a couple of pairs of trousers! “Ah but believe it or not I HAVE worn each of them at least once” I replied.
However, I’m always aware of a comment made years ago about one’s wardrobe and that was that if you haven’t worn a garment in the last 3 years it’s likely you never will. So, sometime during February, I am going to drastically thin my wardrobe down and rid myself of those garments I bought or made but which, in my opinion, just don’t suit me. Hopefully, once I have completed my 2018 makes I might actually have some garments that might see the light of day for longer than one wear.
And this nicely leads me on to my #2018 make 9 challenge.
So, I have had a rethink at the start of this year and I am going to make clothes like the kind I am more likely to wear. I’m not going to be carried along with the ‘buy it and stash it’ culture and I’m going to try to be as sensible as possible in using up what I have already accumulated in the space of a year.
So here’s my make 9 list…
- Minoru Jacket by Sewaholic –
- I was going to make the Kelly Jacket as I had that pattern, and I still will do but this one caught my eye. I just loved the way the collar stood up and I liked the gathered yoke area. I’m still choosing fabric and have ordered some samples and colours to make a final decision, so watch this space as they say.
- Granville Shirt by Sewaholic
Over the past year, I’ve heard many positive comments about this shirt. And I do like a shirt to wear with trousers so I’m feeling quite positive about making this pattern up.
- McCalls M7020 Top
I came across this top on Instagram and Mimi G was wearing it. I was really impressed by the style of it. I made a note of the pattern number and went on a search for it. It seems that it may be out of print because no one in the UK seemed to stock it. So, my search took me to eBay USA where I managed to acquire it and with a small amount of postage I received it a week or two.
This was the first of my make 9 to be completed and I used some wine coloured Jersey that I had purchased from an online shop. Not the colour I had expected on receipt but still nice enough to keep.
I started with the cowl neck version as I feel more comfortable in that style of neckline.
The end result was very pleasing and I teamed it with one of my handmade brooches. So, I certainly will be making more of this style. I personally found it very comfortable and flattering. And the hubby likes it so that’s an extra point in itself!!! 😉 - Kwik Sew K4135
I purchased this pattern at the start of 2017 because I like the design and the colour scheme was simply my kind of colouring. I like the way the green popped out against the black and I like the two colours in the pink version. My only fear is trying to find the right kind of fabric so that it drips very well. If it’s too soft it will hang very loosely and not look very nice, if it’s too heavy it’s going to stick out and emphasise I supposed to disguise my large hips.
I’ve got great expectations for this look good on me so I would be pretty sad if it doesn’t.
6. New look 6251
In winter and Autumn and even in the summer on a evening I like nothing better than to wear a fleece just to keep me warm. I know I could probably buy a fleece quite cheaply but I would like to try and make one so that I can add my own design influence on the top. If it works well then I’ll probably be turning out a lot more not only for myself but perhaps for my husband too.
7. Simplicity 2289
Another one of those patterns that I happened to come across, heaven knows how but I took an immediate liking to the style. Again I think it has either been discontinued or wasn’t available in the Uk because I had to obtain it on eBay from the USA.
I’m really looking forward to making this garment and hopefully more than one if it turns out nice.
8. Closet Case – Ginger Jeans
I bought this pattern last September and was and still am pretty keen to make my first pair. I now have all the necessary fabric and hardware and on the advice of Joey Sewy vlogger and many others who mentioned it on instagram, I have subscribed to the sew along. Sadly for the moment, everything seems to be preventing me from getting going on them. I have managed to watch 3 parts of the sew-along and really must force myself to watch the rest of it. That done, then I should be up and running to make what almost everyone who has made them say are the best fitting denims they have ever had.
9. Vogue 8577
I came across this pattern in the ‘Sew Today’ magazine that I subscribe to. I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Top that with the fact that Sian’s mother of Kittenish Behaviour vlog fame made the same dress (Sian did too but for me, it was even better seeing what it looked like on an older lady). I was blown away by how beautiful it was. So, I have the pattern, I have the fabric, I don’t have all the notions but I could get that in no time. When I do start making it, I will go for View C but I shall extend the sleeves to make them lie between the elbow and the wrist. Now that’s my kind of sleeve length.
BUT, it’s February, it’s thick with snow, it’s blooming cold and although I am doing some sewing, the thought of creating a summer dress at this point in time isn’t really at the top of my priority list at the moment. So watch this space.
10. Tasche Mabel or in English Mabel Bag
I came across this bag sew along on a youtube Vlog and simply fell in love with the colour scheme. The creator is German and the sew-along is in German, the pattern is explained in German and the ordering process for the pattern was in German. I don’t speak or write German so this was an epic task involving Google translate to help me make my purchase. When I had paid for it I had a problem in finding or receiving the download. So then I had to communicate in German via google translate to explain that although I had paid for it and I had checked my spam and bin box it simply wasn’t there. After several emails back and forth using google translate to find out what the creator was saying I finally received the pdf email. At the same time, I also purchased a German purse pattern (details of that will come in a later vlog) and have since made it through the powers of google translate a pencil and patiently rewriting the German instructions in the German side and being given the English version which I consequently wrote down. Had this been French and me being half French I could have flown through the instructions but German was totally alien to me. Nevertheless, I succeeded and went on to create a purse that I absolutely love. So, I’m hoping that I have the same pleasure at using the end result once I have finished the Mabel.
So, I aimed at trying to recreate a colour scheme as close as possible to the photo. I have the green fabric, the spotted fabric and the mock leather fabric. What I have failed to find it the patterned fabric in the middle BUT I have found something similar tho not the same colour scheme. So I’m going to hang on for a while in the hope that I might be able to find something closer to what I really am looking for.
So there you have it, my make 9. One is complete and I have another 8 to do before the end of the year. Watch this space to see if I can accomplish it.
