It’s a little less than a year since I started sharing my sewing on social media so I’m still finding all the challenges and “traditions” of this community. I always want to join in and when my other love – travel – has allowed, I have taken part sporadically, in a couple of photo challenges (#miymarch #sewphotohop and #bpsewvember) and a making challenge (#sewtogetherforsummer).

I’ve seen mentions of #makenine throughout the year and finally caught on that it is a declaration of intention. Forward-thinking sewists boldly declaring their plans of the year.

Confession time: I’ve never been a person who really plans her sewing but I decided to jump on this bandwagon.

I know planning is good, it focuses the mind, it creates goals and targets and it provides accountability. People who plan are good people. I want to plan, I can make plans but somehow for my hobby, I always tend to be a bit more fluid. I always have several ideas bouncing around in my head and the combination of the dozens of patterns and metres of fabric in my stash mean that I almost always have many irons in the fire. Then, of course, there is always another pattern or another piece of fabric.

Before you say it I know this is why I need to plan.

I have decided to use #makenine to help me make sense of these ideas. So I’m presenting here my #makenine for 2018. Only I can’t possibly limit myself to just nine items. Hence my title today. I’m going to try to distil those ideas and give you a rundown of the concrete plans I have for things I want to make. The Premier League will consist of the nine most desired makes.

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Number ONE  is Claude Montana Vogue V2973 I love this funky Moto-inspired twosome. It’s a lot of work, there are over 40 pattern pieces in total.

Number TWO Carmelo Pomodoro’s suit has been languishing in my pattern stash for some years. The current trend for bomber jackets brought this back to mind. I have the fabric and hope to have this ready for wherever I go for my summer trip.

Number THREE and actually completed before I publish this post is an article from Wendy Ward’s book A Beginners’ Guide to Sewing with Knitted Fabrics. I was involved in reviewing this book and while I’ve already made my test garments, I’m keen to make up some more pieces from this book which I would heartily recommend.

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Number FOUR Last year I had a go at making a bra and ran away with my tail between my legs. This year I am determined to conquer this sewing challenge. I’ve got plenty of fabric and findings and I must make bras this year.

Number FIVE Loungewear – Athleisure is the thing it would seem and I have some in mind. With a great fabric, I’m going to create something worthy of chillaxing in.

Number SIX I as you might imagine you can’t be a clothesaholic without having a little handbag love as well. I have a yearning to make a faux leather slouch bag something like below. I’ve been thinking about it for a bit and so this is on my list as well.

Number SEVEN I have sketched out a little design for a Mondrian-inspired dress like the classic sixties YSL shift dress. I want to draft it myself and it has already had more than its fair share of sewcrastination. I know there are some tutorials out there so I’m going to do some research and draft a pattern.

Number EIGHT- a wrap dress should be in my wardrobe, therefore, if you’re going to make a wrap dress, it may as well be a Diane von Furstenberg hack which again I’m setting myself the challenge of seeing if I can throw together the pattern.

Number NINE I’ve never managed to persuade Himself to let me make him something but he actually seems keen now so some man-sewing, probably a shirt is on the to-do list and if it works out a jacket as well.

Okay, that’s the top nine intentions. I’ve actually completed some since I announced my #2018makenine after Christmas. They won’t necessarily be in any order but I really want all of these to happen this year.

Of course, nine items are nowhere near as many ideas, dreams and whims that I have in my head, nor will it go far towards reducing my stash of fabric and realising my pattern hoard. Therefore, I’m going to put together a “Championship League” of other makes in the pipeline.

Watch this space to see how I get on.

Elaine x