First a look back at 2018:
I completed 5 items from my 2018 Make Nine List: summer pants, raglan tee, embroidered kitchen towels, refashion from stash (3 refashions), and Christmas sewing.
Embroidered blouse, crochet yoke tee, basket quilt with (previously) embroidered center, and collared button shirt were not finished (or started). Will anything carry over? Let’s see.
The Make Nine Challenge was started by Lucky Lucille, and the photo collages are popular on Instagram.
Last year my make nine was just nine hand written notes. This year I am being less vague, and I’m showing either the pattern or fabric I will be using.
2019 Make Nine
- Embroidered Blouse – Using the Folkwear pattern “Old Mexico Dress”, the yoke will be hand embroidered.
- Crochet yoke tee – with the pictured crochet thread.
- Itch to Stitch Mountain View Pull on Jeans – for comfort and because they have real pockets. I was planning on using a stretch denim I already had but didn’t have enough fabric.
- Maria Denmark Day to Night Drape Top – I don’t have the fabric yet.
- Autumn Twilight Cross Stitch Picture – I have never stitched a full size picture for framing before and I like this flying geese scene. This is a kit with 16 count aida. It will be challenging, but it’s doable.
- Hand knit accessory – a scarf knitted with the pictured navy and gray yarn.
- Stretch Denim Shorts – this is the fabric I wanted to make the pants with. I might use the same pattern for the shorts.
- Knit Fabric Dress – I could use a basic dress, and notice I have never liked wearing traditional dresses with zippers. I’m not sure if I will use a pattern, or just make an elongated tee.
- Spring Jacket – McCalls 7333 – I am planning to use a linen blend fabric I already have.
The list contains a variety of most everything I know how to do: sewing, freehand embroidery, cross stitch, knitting, and crochet. So much creativity – at least in my mind and on paper, ha!
I have actually started 3 of these projects already! I love making lists, do you?
Stitch It Again 
I think you did amazing work in 2018–and so many things finished! The projects for 2019 look motivating–lots of variety to try different things depending on mood.
Thank you! A lot of these were quick projects; the cargo pants with setting in snaps and so many pattern pieces took longest. I like the variety of projects I have planned for 2019 too. Some are hard to get started on, and I will have to set aside time to work out the kinks.
Happy New Year, Lisa! I’m sure all nine projects (and more) will get finished. Regarding #8, a tee shirt dress is the most comfortable garment ever. Looking forward to seeing all your done projects.
Happy New Year! Well, going by my track record from last year, I’d say that I won’t get to them all. My first two are carry overs, and I still have to put some thought and trial and error in how I will do them. Maybe something else will catch my fancy, but my list is a good starting point and I seem to feel that new year motivation in January. I’m interested to see all the complex and detailed things you’ll be sewing, too.
Hi, enjoying your blog! I’m new to sewing by machine and am so inspired by your projects. I just finished my first throw pillow with a zipper. I’m going to ease into slightly harder projects before attempting actual clothes. Patterns and customizing the fit is so intimidating.
Hi, thank you for your nice comment! Your plan of building new sewing skills step by step is a good one. Some clothes projects that are good for beginners are wrap skirts, tee shirts, pajama bottoms, or even refashioning old clothes or thrift clothes. The Stitch Sisters kaftan from my September 2018 post is also a very simple patternless pattern sewn from rectangles that can be made as a dress or tunic. Try not to worry about making mistakes; enjoy using your creativity and learning.