At the start of the year I set out some of my key 2018 sewing plans for the #2018makenine Instagram challenge. This is going to be a big year for sewing - now that I’ve developed a well-fitting basic bodice sloper it’s opened up whole new worlds of possibility to bring some long-awaited ideas to life - plus, my fabric stash is rapidly outgrowing its designated vintage suitcases, and I need to turn it into dresses!
The top nine I’ve identified covers a range of styles and includes some of my top priority makes. These should also be achievable, given that I either already have or can easily get the fabric for most of these projects (difficulty in finding the exact right fabric that matches the vision in my head is often a sticking point in my sewing plans! The plaid jacket set in particular has proved very difficult to find ‘just the right’ fabric for and the only one on this list that I’m still on the hunt for - the swatch here is just as an example).
1. Carmen - boat-neck bodice with fitted midriff from Gertie’s ultimate dress book, in a fun tropical novelty print cotton.
2. Perfect Match - I love the coral stripe tropical-weight wool dress I made last year so much I bought the same fabric from Classic Textiles in grey for a variation on the theme!
3. Carefree Valentine II - I already made a black version of the dress worn by Ginger Rogers in Carefree, but I don’t wear black (and besides, I didn’t get the fit quite right). So I’m re-making it in navy blue rayon crepe, with red felt heart appliqué and gold embroidered arrows.
4. Plaid peplum jacket set - a pattern-hacked Simplicity 8242 (1940s reissue) for the jacket, plus grey pencil skirt with asymmetrical buttoning.
5. Ocean Sunset - a 1940s style dress in silk double crepe and charmeuse, featuring a colour blocked bodice and a gored skirt with contrast box-pleat inserts.
6. Bow-dacious - a version of Butterick B6380 in luxurious dove grey rayon crepe from Misan West, with voluptuous pink silk organdie bows on the pockets.
7. Betty - the yellow and green apples set worn by Betty Grable in Pin Up Girl. I’ve been planning this since seeing the film for the first time, but I’ve struggled to settle on a fabric. I was originally planning on rayon crepe, but I think I’ve decided on a linen-weave rayon with a nice heavy drape that I got from Fashion Fabrics Club.
8. Gossamer Threads - I’ve become slightly obsessed with 1940s spiderweb dresses (in particular ‘that’ Jack Herzog number), and I’ve decided I definitely need an ivory silk jersey hooded gown with gold embroidered spiderwebs. Because, obviously.
9. Joanie - and now for something a little more practical! Another boat-neck bodice for the collection, and I’m planning to add an asymmetrical tie-collar for a bit of an early 60s touch. This will be made up in a fab stretch wool piqué from Misan West.
This is (gulp) just a fraction of my incredibly ambitious sewing list for the year - which I will have to somehow make time for in between working full-time AND blogging AND organising a July wedding AND all the travel I want to do this year - not forgetting of course writing an ebook, selling through etsy, designing novelty prints and the rest! So yeah, I’m going to be keeping myself busy this year, that’s for sure.
What exciting sewing plans do you have for the year?
