2024 Make Nine
I do a Make Nine list every new year, I really enjoy planning at this time of the year and I always feel quite motivated after a week off work!
My Make Nine this year is using fabrics that I already have. Some of them were bought for these specific projects, whilst others I have paired up with a pattern from my stash. I also already own all the patterns, as I’m trying to use some of what I own and not get distracted by the new and shiny!
1 - Wraparound Dress from Simple Modern Sewing
This wrap dress has been on my Make Nine list before, but I’ve been put off by having to trace the pattern from the book. After having a Fibre Mood subscription for a few years, I’ve actually got better and faster at tracing patterns and I don’t hate it quite as much as I used to.
The dress is a simple (as the book would suggest) wrap bodice with a gathered skirt. I’m going to add in seam pockets to mine.
The fabric I will be using is a viscose linen blend from Minerva - it’s one of their exclusive prints and I love how bright and cheerful it is. I’ve noticed that I prefer abstract prints to florals at the moment.
I’m aiming to make this in January so that I can take part in #sewjapanesejanuary hosted by @bloglessanna on Instagram. I’ve never managed it before, so I’m hoping this year is the year! Simple Modern Sewing is by Shufu-To-Seikatsusha and is a few years old, but has some lovely, timeless designs in. If this dress comes out well (which I think it will given other reviews I’ve read) then I’ll have to make some more patterns from this book.
2 - Tie Neck Blouse from The Maker’s Atelier
This is another pattern from a book, but I have made this before and I know that I love it. It’s a simple tie neck blouse with a button front. I made my last one with elbow length sleeves, but think I will go full length for this one. The fabric I have for this is a Lady McElroy viscose (I made my last one from a lady McElroy viscose too). I think it will be perfect for work and will go with all my black trousers.
This is the first version I made back in 2019
I’ve just checked and realised that the book seems to be out of print, but The Maker’s Atelier have a stand alone pattern that has a couple of extra options that looks very similar.
This is the standalone version of the pattern
3 - Bisque Trousers by Vivian Shao Chen
If you read my post about all my present making last year, then you will have seen that I made these trousers last month for my sister-in-law. She loves them and I was really impressed by the finished garment. I like the back darts and the deep front pleats. I’m making my first pair from a cotton linen blend fabric. I got this fabric at the beginning of the year from Minerva, I love wearing linen trousers but my legs are a bit cold at the moment. This fabric is thicker and more structured, so I think it will work really well made up into these trousers. I made the wide legged version for my sister-in-law, so will print out the tapered leg view and make that one for myself first.
4 - Anna Skirt by Fibre Mood
Anna is a classic jeans-style skirt by Fibre Mood. It has a waistband with belt loops, front fly, back yoke and back vent split. It is more midi-length and slightly A-line. I bought the pattern last year (it is from an early edition of the magazine from before I subscribed) and will make it out of a petrol blue/green corduroy that I bought in 2022 from Felicity Fabrics at the Knitting and Stitching Show. I’ve just checked their site and they don’t seem to have the colour I bought, but have a navy blue which I think is the same. I saw a lot of these types of skirts in the shops over Christmas and I have been wanting a corduroy skirt for a long time. I have high hopes that this will be everything I’m looking for!
5 - Melbourne Trench Coat by Tessuti
I’ve never bought a Tessuti pattern before, but they were at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching show in November and had a rail of made up garments. This coat caught my eye because it seems to be everything I have been looking for in a coat pattern. The only downside is it’s an unlined coat, so I will need to draft a lining I think.
I already have 4 fabrics lined up to make this out of, an orange British Millerain waxed cotton, a red wool and cashmere blend coating and a houndstooth wool coating. I’m going to start with the waxed cotton, which was the least expensive out of all of these and the one that probably doesn’t need lining, so I can make the pattern up as intended on the first go.
The paper pattern cost me £30 (!!!) so I feel like I need to make a few for it to be worthwhile!
6 - Potters Jacket by The Modern Sewing Co
Another jacket I’ve been eyeing up for a while. I was planning to make a lightweight chore-style jacket last autumn, but it quickly got very cold and I just as quickly went off the idea. So this one is planned for Spring / Summer. I have been looking at various chore jackets (there are a lot of patterns around) and settled on this one because I like the welt pockets and the fact it is fully lined. I think it will be a longer, more involved make but will hopefully stand the test of time. It also comes in two lengths, and I think I’m going to make the longer one as I made a cropped jacket last year.
I have a few fabric options for this, including a navy cotton twill, and lightweight grey wool and a mustard chunky corduroy. I’ll decide what to use when I come round to making it, depending on the season, etc.
I made a wearable toile of this last year, and realised I needed to make the shoulder straps slightly longer and the underband slightly smaller. I have since cut out the pattern again in the band size below my current one.
I did buy some lingerie supplies from New Craft House to make a few bras, so I will use these with my existing stash of mesh and jersey. My RTW bras are on their last legs, so I’m keen to be able to make a few well-fitting bras to replace them. It’s also tempting to make the matching pants, I’ll have to see what supplies I have leftover!
I have made the mini version and the standard version of these as gifts, so I’m keen to make one for myself. I know that the standard size one is a good fit in my pannier box on my bike, so I want this to be my work rucksack (which inevitably is my everyday bag). I think I will add a few more internal pockets and maybe a couple at the sides, below the zip, to suit my needs. I’m still using my Desmond Rolltop Backpack that I made about 5 years ago, but it’s really on its last legs after heavy use.
I made a black linen Zadie as soon as the pattern was released, then another in viscose and another in chambray, as well as 2 dress hack versions. All of mine are very summery versions, so I want to make a winter / autumn / evening appropriate one. I’ve got some rust viscose velvet from Rainbow Fabrics, which is beautifully flowy. I will make the legs full length and might also lengthen the sleeves and add a cuff. The binding might be too difficult in the velvet, I’ll do a test first, but may add a facing. I already drafted a facing for my dress versions so I can use this and just extend it for the trouser front opening section. I have a few semi-formal occasions coming up, so if I make this quite soon I can get lots of wear out of it before I revert back to my summer versions!
I know it’s nearly the end of January, and I’ve taken a long time deliberating my Make Nine. I’ve already got a couple of these cut out and ready to go, so I’m hopeful for a thoughtful and considered year of making :)