This year I made a goal to sew nine specific items in a #MakeNine format. I planned to make:

• Simplicity 1801 designed by Cynthia Rowley - purchased the pattern
• Named Clothing's Sointu Kimono Tee
• Patterns for Pirates' Wiggle Dress
• Colette Patterns' Moneta Dress - made the dress!
• Closet Case Patterns' Sasha Trousers
• Grainline Studio's Morris Blazer
• True Bias Patterns' Ogden Cami - made two camis!
• Closet Case Patterns' Charlie Caftan - purchased the pattern and fabric
• Sew Over It's Pussy Bow Blouse - made the blouse

I only made three of the items I originally intended to make. I wish I had prioritized making a few more of these pieces and will try to make most of the remaining pieces in 2020, although the Morris Blazer isn't the style I'm currently looking for in a blazer and I don't want to take on a project that demanding right now. I'm not sure how I got distracted from my #MakeNine goals, except for finding patterns I liked better or wanted to round out my wardrobe. I find that I don't wear the Moneta Dress much, but get a lot of wear out of my Pussy Bow Blouse and Ogden Cami.

I also prioritized making a few replicas of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's best looks and have the patterns and fabric for one additional replica. I think these makes were some of my favorite and brought me the most joy. I will certainly be making more duchess look-a-likes.


After two full years of blogging my sewing makes I can see a measured improvement in my sewing skills and I have a much better understanding of my personal style. I have also learned that I prefer to have a bit more freedom in my sewing and do not plan to make a traditional #MakeNine plan this year.

I would like to start my 2020 sewing by focusing on patterns and fabric I already own, really like, and want to have the opportunity to wear. 2020 is the year of sewing my fabric and pattern stash! What are your 2020 sewing goals?

I've had my eyes on the ogden cami pattern for well over a year now and added it to my 2019 Make Nine list hoping to inspire myself to finally get around to making it. Well, I haven't made many of my 2019 Make Nine sewing projects, but found this summer's Ogden Ida Swap to be just the inspiration I needed (with a deadline and a partner depending on me) to make the ogden cami!


I found this gorgeous rayon fabric on sale at JoAnn early in July. I knew this fabric would be a perfect match for the ogden cami as soon as I saw it and the colors would compliment most things in my wardrobe. I had to have it!

I purchased two yards of the fabric in order to make an ogden cami for myself as well as my swap partner. I used a simple black cotton blend from my stash for the lining to conserve as much of the fashion fabric as possible.


This pattern was very straightforward and satisfying to make. I sewed our ogden camis using French seams, which added a bit more time but was well worth it. French seams create a very professional looking finish and one I was happy to share with another sewist.


My husband and I recently traveled to South Korea and I was able to pack both the ogden cami I made for myself as well as the one I received in the swap. I was glad to have such easy and lightweight blouses with me; Korea was HOT!


Amy, of Amy Nicole Studio, made the floral ogden cami picture above for me and I couldn't be more happy to have received it. First, you know I love all things floral. Second, all those colors make this cami "go" with everything. Thank you for making such a beautiful garment for me Amy.

Amy's version is fully lined and used a rolled hem. I think I'll take a few hints from her when I make my next ogden cami. And rest assured, there will be more!

Time estimate: 6 hours (to batch sew 2 ogden camis)
Size: 4
Fabric used: 2 yards, 100% rayon purchased from JoAnn and 1/2 yard cotton blend from my stash
Care instructions: machine wash cold, gentle cycle; line dry

Cost to make two ogden camis:
pattern: $8.50 (plus marginal printing costs)
rayon fabric: $12
*used thread from my stash
TOTAL: $20.50, or $10.25/cami plus shipping costs for one cami

I chose my "2018 Make Nine" with a few garments I wanted to add to my closet and a lot of skills I wanted to add to my sewing repertoire. My goals for the year including learning how to sew a collar stand, fit a jacket, and "master" knits. I'm still working on that last part...


I made most of my 2018 Make Nine, but didn't end up finishing all of my original selections. Some of my makes were actually toiles that I would like to make again next year now that I know how to fit them better. I will also be more intentional about selecting better fabrics. I plan to make another Sewaholic Granville button-up shirt in a gray gingham from Rifle Paper Co. and a few more varieties of the Blackwood Cardigan by Helen's Closet. In 2019 I hope to finish my current Make Nine goals and make a wrap sweater, blazer, and underwear as well since these are items I definitely want to add to my wardrobe.



My 2019 Make Nine goals, pictured above, will fit into my wardrobe really well and transition from work to evening and weekend events. I've picked Simplicity 1801 designed by Cynthia Rowley, Named Clothing's Sointu Kimono Tee, Patterns for Pirates' Wiggle Dress, Colette Patterns' Moneta Dress, Closet Case Patterns' Sasha Trousers, Grainline Studio's Morris Blazer, True Bias Patterns' Ogden Cami, Closet Case Patterns' Charlie Caftan, and Sew Over It's Pussy Bow Blouse. New skills I would like to learn include bias binding and the Hong Kong finish. I think I'll need a purchase a bias tape maker with some of my Christmas cash! I may also try to join a few Sew My Style monthly challenges, depending on the pattern selected.

However, I want to be sure to leave enough time to make a few garments I haven't thought of yet, so I don't want to over commit! What are your sewing plans for this upcoming year? Do you plan to review fabric or test patterns?

I am so fortunate to come from a long line of seamstresses. When I decided to be more intentional about developing my sewing skills this year I new one of the things I wanted to learn was how to sew a button up shirt. In addition to learning how to sew a button stand, collar and collar stand, and placket, a button up shirt is something I wear to work often and would be a great addition to my me-made wardrobe.

After spending a small amount of time searching the sewing community's social media I learned about Sewaholic's Granville shirt pattern, which always came with rave reviews, so I added it to my 2018 Make Nine goals. However, I wasn't confident enough to begin this project on my own so I coordinated a weekend sewing extravaganza with my mom and her sister, my Aunt Karen. These two women are my sewing gurus and I learned a lot from them while making this wearable muslin.


After laying out all of my pattern pieces I realized that I didn't have enough material to make a long sleeved sample so instead I settled for a short sleeved version and will probably still need to practice a placket before I make a final version. In fact, I had so little fabric my mom had to dig up a contrasting from her stash for the collar stand, which turned out to be one of my favorite parts of this shirt!


After reading the pattern back and having a brief tissue fitting with my mom I decided to cut out a size two, carefully folding pattern pieces in case that wasn't my final and correct size. The pattern and instructions were fairly easy to understand and I loved the option of a current style and fit in the traditional format of a tissue pattern with printed paper instructions. However, my one major difficulty with this pattern was the length of the collar stand piece. Between the three of us we just couldn't figure out why it seemed so long, even after pulling out a button up shirt Grandma had made years ago to compare and searching other maker blogs. Eventually I decided to cut off 5/8" from one end of the collar stand, since I was working on a muslin, and the assembly went much smoother from there.


My mom and Aunt Karen were taught to attach the collar to the collar stand before attaching the collar stand to the shirt. I decided to stick with the pattern instructions for my first time using this pattern and attached the collar stand to the shirt, topstitching a portion of the collar in place. I think the method I used from Sewaholic's pattern could make a weak pivot point in the collar and will likely try Mom and Aunt Karen's method next time I make this pattern. One additional tip I learned from Aunt Karen was to put the interfacing inside or on the bottom when possible in case it were to bubble.


As I said above, I ended up making a size two, which fit well throughout the waist and hips, but was far too tight in the shoulders and arms. When I make this pattern again I will make a size four and grade down to a size two for the waist and hips.


I was so glad to have the lightweight red and white button up made in time for Independence Day and wore it a lot that whole week!

In addition to the fabulous family time sewing this shirt I was blessed to have my sister photographing its assembly as well as the final product. Pictured below, my modeling my new make over family vacation in Cincinnati.




Stay tuned for my long sleeved gingham version this fall!

Time estimate: 20 hours
Size: 2
Material used: assumed printed cotton blend, gifted from family friend
Care instructions: machine wash cold, tumble dry low

Cost to make shirt:
pattern - $25
fabric - gifted
buttons and thread from my stash
TOTAL: $25

Photography by K.Willerick Photography. Go check out her site!