2019 Make Nine Results

This past year, I decided to take part in the "gentle, self-guided, slow fashion initiative" that is #MakeNine

Doesn't that description just make you take a deep breath? It does for me. I love challenges, but sometimes I can get competitive or stressed out about them. But the Make Nine challenge feels much more natural than that! And overall, I'd say I was pretty successful with my challenge. Here's a rundown of how it went:

MakeNine 2019 Reality

1. Avocado dye - I did this! I created a dye by boiling several avocado pits and skins, and ended up dyeing 4 mystery pieces of fabric. You can read all about it in my blog post here. Now I just need to use these fabrics to actually make something! I am open to ideas people!

2. Yarn - Ok so I kind of finished this one. Technically I did make some yarn, but it wasn't on my antique spinning wheel. Honestly I haven't even completely set it up since we moved into our new apartment (like a year and a half ago). But I made yarn because I signed up for a class at my local craft store, and had some dedicated yarn spinning time there. I made a few short pieces of yarn that are very colorful and pretty, and I intend to use it in some embroidery hoop art inspired by this artist! 

3. Fabric Produce Bags - I finished this one too! I mean, it was such a quick project, how could I not! The idea came from the Closet Case Patterns blog, and was such an easy project, and helped bust some scraps too. But I've fallen out of the habit of using them! I might need to just keep them in the car, because I'm always forgetting to actually bring them to the store with me. You can read up on this project in my blog post here.

4. The Kelly Anorak - "Speaking of Closet Case Files... this is the year I finally make my Kelly Anorak! I got the pattern and kit for Christmas last year (as in 2017) and haven't actually touched it yet." This is what I wrote when I planned my make nine last year. Guess what. I still don't have a Kelly Anorak. Here's why: I really really meant to make one, and make it right. So I decided to make a muslin. And then I figured why not make a wearable one, since I love the pattern, I have tons of fabric I could use, and it will really help me evaluate the fit better. Then, I decided to use this same wearable muslin to test out a new idea for a different pattern I wanted to make as well. Which I did, and then immediately had to work on the real pattern for the Threads challenge competition. And then that competition piece ended up taking months..... and I never went back and finished the Kelly anorak muslin. Let alone got started on the real one. Guys, this is getting ridiculous. This is going back on the list for 2020 for sure. And I'm going to get both Kelly's done. For real this time! The wearable muslin is actually really close to being finished. And it's turning out great! I had to get creative with the limited fabric scraps I was using, so it has become color blocked awesomeness with welt pockets. I can't wait to show you guys! 

5. Wrap Skirt by Lila + June - My goal was to make one that is more acceptable to wear year round. And I succeeded. Because it is easy to be more acceptable than a spiderweb. And although I do love my floral retro green skirt, I feel like I need to make an even more basic one for every day wear. Maybe just straight up black.

6. Blackwood Cardigan by Helen's Closet - I absolutely love my sweater! I made it in January, and have been wearing it all year since then. The second hand fabric I found was just perfect for the cardigan. I need to make another one, but I have yet to find fabric that I love as much as my first one! Read about it on my blog here.

7. My Wedding Quilt - Did I honestly expect to finish it? Not really. It's been 6 years in the making... but really who is counting!? I will say that I made the most progress I ever have on the quilt this year (not that this is saying much). And weirdly, I made this progress by hand sewing it. You would think that this would slow the process down. And in a way it does. It takes longer to sew one individual quilt block to another. But the fact that I am hand sewing it means that it is mobile! I can do it on the couch when Finn is asleep on my lap, I can do it in the car, I can do it outside, I can do it while watching a movie with Eddie. I have a little pouch full of the squares, all in order, and my needle and thread, and I can just pick it up and bring it with me on the go. So not finished, but I did make some progress. Just not a significant amount.

8. Joggers - I did actually accomplish this one, but it took the whole year. I started by creating a pattern based off of a rtw pair in February. And I finished sewing them in November. And just took a photo today.... And to be honest, I could use like 3 more pairs already because my super glamorous momlife involves lots of sweatpants.

9. Ultimate Scrap Pouf - Yet another Closet Case Files make. I made this pouf entirely from scraps, as well as filled it with scraps! I had to get creative with the sewing due to some mistakes, and I also already had to repair it because apparently I was too aggressively stuffing my scraps in it! Blog post here.