#MakeNine2019, Pt. 1

It is super late in the year to put out a Make Nine list, but I just started sewing last month, so I'm going to give myself a pass on this one.

Wardrobe Wants and Needs

Honestly, I want so much but what I need is a professional wardrobe that is still comfortable and reflects my personal style. My style as it's developed over the years has had some weird divergences but mostly I want to look and feel comfortable, competent, and romantic. I think most people know what I mean by comfortable and competent: I want to look put-together, for my clothes to match and reflect a cohesive style, while not being too structured and in breathable, layer-able fabrics. By romantic, I mean reflective of my love of modernized Victorian-esque and Edwardian-esque elements: blousoned tops, bishop sleeves, puffed sleeves, high cuffs, band collars, wide skirts, etc.

Some of these elements are currently outside of my sewing skill level, so I will be focusing on simple relaxed items. Pulling something together for a more cohesive look in the restraints I have has definitely been a challenge! But I think I have arrived at  #2019MakeNine that is a useful, inexpensive, and expressive capsule to fill in the bare spots in my wardrobe. Most of the patterns are from Seamwork. When I reached out on instagram about sewing on a budget another sewist (Dan Does Crafts) pointed me toward their subscription service which is only $9/month for 2 patterns. I already have a backlog and for fourthere sewing adventures I'm look at Mood Sewciety's free patterns that go all the way up to sizes 26-30!

Bare Spots

• Matching Sets (jacket + pants, jacket + skirt, top + pants, top + skirts) to give a more suit-like appearance but in relaxed fits and comfortable fabrics
• Layerable tops (woven tees, knit turtleneck tops, and bodysuits)
• Dresses (wrap, button-front, and t-shirt bodice + gathered skirt)

The Patterns

(top to bottom, starting on the left)

1. Seamwork Jenna Skirt
   I will add 8-12 inches to the length to make it more of a midi 
2. Seamwork Adria Top
   This is the top I am working on currently and I've found that I will need to do a full-bicep adjustment (yay, new sewing skills 🙃). I will also use this and the Bo top to make a dress by adding a simple gathered skirt to the hem
3. Seamwork Bo Top
4. Seamwork Aster Top
   I want to make a dress from the Aster top as well as a shirt, but not by adding a gathered skirt. I want to lengthen the pattern to look like the dresses below. This is a project I will probably save for last or close to last, as it will involve the most pattern altering and fitting, and I want to be moreconfident in my basic sewing skills before tackling it. I'm looking forward to making this top and dress because it's the only make that addresses that romantic spirit, though fabric and pattern choice will also affect the garments I've chosen to make and push them towards the romantic ideal.
   
5. Seamwork Akita Top
   I want to use this top pattern and the Jenna skirt to make 2-piece dresses for when I need something a little dressed-up. I think this can be accomplished using matching heavier/more formal fabrics kind of like the one below:
   
6. Tessuti Monroe Turtleneck
   This is the only pattern for knits in my Make Nine. I sew mostly by hand and I've been a bit intimidated at the prospect of sewing knits by hand. As I become more familiar with machine sewing, I'll decide when to attack this project.
7. DIY Rectangle Dress following DIY Daisy's instructions
   I've followed DIY Daisy on instagram for a while, and I love her approach to diy sewing. She mostly uses rectangles to make oversized tops, skirts, dresses, sleeves, and ruffles. Realizing how simple it could be to make my own unique clothing pushed me to back into the sewing world this year!
8. Seamwork Quince Duster
   I am in love with this look! I want to make a heavier jacket in lightweight denim or twill (lined?) and a few light dusters/house robes in a drapey rayon. After I've tackled the original in the long version, I want to use the short version of this pattern to approximate the Wiksten Haori, which doesn't come in my measurements. The alterations will be 
   • 3-4x neckband width (maybe take some width off of the front of the body, as well?)
   • narrower sleeves
   • large square pockets on the neckband seam
   • curved armhole, not squared-off
   With these two coats, I will be set for nice handmade outerwear this coming fall and winter. 
9. DIY Wide-Leg Pants following A Pair & a Spare's instructions
   I already have a pair of wide-leg pants that I love (though I do need to take the waist in a bit) and want to make some more of them. This A Pair & a Spare tutorial will help me do just that!

Romantic Inspiration