#2017makenine

I'm not on Instagram but love the idea of nominating nine items that you want to make in 2017 so I'm playing along here.

All photos used in the collage above are via the individual pattern companies.

I've loved the Sophie Swimsuit pattern since it was released and wanted to have a pair made up for our recent trip to Byron Bay - I ran out of time but hope to get these made up soon.

I don't know if flares will be popular again this winter but I still love them and plan to make the Birkin Flares from Baste and Gather.  In winter I live in denim so being able to play with a different silhouette will be great.

The Cascade Duffle Coat has been on my to sew list since it was released.  I have all my supplies but I bought the PDF pattern and I just can't bring myself to stick that many pages together!  I've just bought the paper pattern so hopefully this gets made before winter rolls around again.

The Ruby top/dress is another pattern that has been on my radar for ages.  I really want to make both the top and dress variations - I think they'll be really versatile additions to my wardrobe.

The Blaire shirt from Style Arc is a departure from I normally wear but it has been calling my name since it was released.  I'm going to make this in white linen but I love the version my sister just made in a gorgeous rayon.

Number 6 isn't a pattern, it's a gorgeous pieces of fabric.  I couldn't resist the beautiful city lights silk crepe de chine from Tessuti Fabrics but I've been too scared to cut into it in case I stuff it up.  Time to get over it - there's always more beautiful fabric!

Everybody wants beautiful undies and I want to add the Montgomery briefs from Orange Lingerie and the Bella and Esme undies from Evie la Luve to my collection.

I feel like this is a really achievable selection.  There's a nice mix of quick makes and more detailed projects and I know I'll feel pretty awesome if I manage to get all these made up.

So do you Instagram?  I'm tempted to sign up but all the comments about the new algorithms have made me wary.  Are you on Instagram and do you like it?

Second time around - Ginger and Jalie

Dodgy photo alert!  I finished two and a half items over the long weekend, but I'm not sharing any of them today!

These Ginger jeans and Jalie 3245 top were made over my unintended blogging break.  Unfortunately my camera isn't working at the moment so I'm reduced to iPhone photos and you can't really see the details.

The Ginger jeans are almost exactly the same as last time but with a half inch adjustment for excess fabric under the butt and pull lines explained in this post.  I also slimmed the calves down even more to make these a truly skinny jean.  

The fabric is a really stretchy Ralph Lauren over dyed denim bought from Emma One Sock earlier this year.  It's beautiful and the fabric was lovely to work with.  I also used standard thread this time - my machine just doesn't like top stitching thread.

I've made the top before too but it seems I never blogged it.  I've used a gorgeous coral wool jersey I bought at The Fabric Store with my sister earlier this year.  From memory the only change I made was to add an extra inch in length.

Two nice new basics for the wardrobe.  Love the colour of the top and the shaped hem, but think I could have gone down a size.  I also love that I have jeans that are comfortable and long!  Oh the joys of sewing.

I love the feeling of the high waist but I'm not sure I like the way they look when you can see it through a top (like in the photos above).  I'm also not sure I have the right body shape for the high waist look, so I think I'll try the lower rise at some point in the future.

Ginger Jeans - take one

I'm so impressed with this pattern!  It gives a great result and the sew-along is just fantastic.  I am ridiculously happy with this pair of jeans even though I know that they're far from perfect.

These photos were taken after a long day at a netball tournament and these jeans passed the wear test with flying colours.  Despite sitting down, standing up, jogging and climbing spectator viewing stands these jeans were completely comfortable.  The only twinge of discomfort came from my jeans button, it's irritated my stomach.  I think that's likely the cheap button (not nickle free) - I'll be buying the good hardware from now on.

So, the details.  These are Closet Case Files Ginger Jeans view b (high waist, skinny jeans) in a size 14.  I added one inch in length above the knee and narrowed the calves by taking in both side seams by 1/2 inch tapering to nothing 4 inches below the pattern notch near the knee.  I also moved the position of the back pockets up 1/4 inch and in 1/4 inch.  I also extended the front pockets to form a bit of a waist stay - love the way that worked.  I used a stretch cotton blend fabric for the pocket linings and waistband facing and chose to leave out the waistband interfacing and the leave off the belt loops.

As you can tell from the photos the fit is not perfect.  I'd say about 50 per cent of the wrinkles are due to my poor fabric choice.  I used a moleskin fabric of uncertain content that I bought at Joys Fabric Warehouse back in November.  It has some horizontal stretch, but no vertical stretch and doesn't have great recovery so by the end of the day the knee area and the back of my legs felt really baggy.  My machine really didn't like the top stitching thread, so I ended up with three machines set up and now my sewing room looks like a bomb hit it.  The fly insertion method is unique, but I absolutely love it will use that method from now on.

The areas I really want to focus on for my next pair are the front crotch area (removing the wrinkles there) and removing some of the wrinkles from the back thing area.  Both of these fitting adjustments are covered in the sew-along so I just need to read over it again.  And next time I'll use denim!  

I'm not sure the novelty is going to wear off any time soon - I've already started planning my next pair and I'm thrilled that I've finished one of my top three for winter :)

My top three for autumn/winter

I loved the responses on my last post about what you were planning to sew next, it really got me thinking about my own plans.

I dug through my stash for inspiration, grabbed a note book and pen and started making a list.

It was a great list, but there were way too many items.  I'd be lucky to have a total of five hours a week for sewing so there was really no way that I was going to be able to make 20+ things.  I thought about splitting it into work and casual priorities and making a list for each, but in the end I decided it would be much more realistic to aim for three items that I would really love.  So here's my top 3 for autumn/winter...

Closet Case Files Ginger Jeans

image Via Closet Case Files

I have worn my current jeans so much I can actually see through the fabric on the backside - they're not going to last much longer.  Also I have had the same style/pairs for many, many years and I am completely sick of them.  The sew-along looks fantastic and I've loved every version of the Ginger jeans I have seen.  I want some of that goodness for myself. 

Grainline Archer

image via Grainline Studio

Curiously - I have no shirts in my wardrobe. I had a white tuxedo shirt in rotation for over five years but it's no longer in a state fit to be worn out of the house.  I really need a classic white shirt and again the Archer has had great reviews.

Grainline Cascade Coat

image via Grainline Studios

I hit buy on this pattern the day it was released - I love it.  With the amount of outdoor sport my kids play I need a good coat.  I have fabric and toggles in my stash and can't wait to get started on this one.

I might also have bought fabric to make Vogue 8926 :)  I was inspired by the picture below on pinterest and I'm considering this one my bonus!

image via pinterest

So that's my top three, plus one, for autumn/winter.  If I can make all these I will be absolutely thrilled.