Society of Charm Make 9

February 19, 2023April 4, 2023 JannekeLeave a comment

Oh my, have I been inactive here over the past year! Many awesome things happened, but sewing wasn’t one of them. At least… not sewing as I envisioned it to write about on this blog. It’s time for a few minor changes here, which I plan to introduce over the coming weeks, and from there hopefully for the rest of the year… let’s hope I find back the time and energy to not only sew a few things, but also write about them!

Last year was (at least in the Netherlands) a year where most covid restrictions got lifted. And to be honest, I think everybody was a bit confused what to do with the regained freedom. The year was full of events, activities and trips, which I all enjoyed so much. It also meant my head was not in the sewing space. In addition to that, I did not have a physical sewing space yet. I moved house late 2021 and my hobby room was a painting/storage room wel into 2022. It’s all fine and understandable, but I do miss sewing a lot. As I follow a lot of makers on social media, I was sometimes feeling dismayed, overwhelmed and even a bit disappointed. Therefore, I decided not to look back too much sewing-wise (but all the more to the beautiful experiences I had!!) and look forward to 2023, a year in which I hope to revive my creativity in my new and awesome sewing room.

One of the creators I have been following and supporting for a few years already is Gretchen Hirsch, or Gertie. She is well known for her super cool vintage-inspired patterns, and I have a very long wish list of patterns I want to make. If you are a Patreon member, you can enter the Discord group, with lots of sewists showing off their creations, helping each other and discussing everything sewing related. Every year she designs patterns around a different theme, and for 2023 it’s ‘Society of Charm’, which sounds promising! Of course I don’t know what patterns are going to be released, but I made a selection of patterns from last year that I would like to make this year, and compile them in a dedicated Make 9 for 2023. Let’s dive into the list!

The society dress: Is it practical? No… is it gorgeous though? YES! This is a stretch velours dress with a hood, perfect for lounging at home or feeling fancy just because. A short version of the dress is also given, which is very work-appropriate.
Lady dandy waistcoat: I love the look of waistcoats, but don’t own one that has a fit I like. This pattern released in October last year, and I have been drooling all over it ever since. If I manage, I would like to combine it with an edwardian walking skirt for extra drama.
Caroussel dress: cute and simple! This dress looks like a perfect basic piece with a bit of extra flair to me. It can be made with or without the flounce, I will decide later which one it will be.
Ginger sailor pants: Another one of those items I have been waiting for! There are many patterns with the sailor pants look, but most just attach two rows of buttons to the front of a normal pair of pants and call it a day. This pattern has the actual front flap, and that’s why I really want to make a pair.
Artist apron dress: Another pattern that has multiple variations available. Long, short, with or without pockets… more like an apron or rather like a cute summer dress… I will have to decide which version I want to make, but I will figure it out when I get there.
Midge breton top: At first, I wasn’t really excited by this pattern. Just a slightly baggy shirt with a pocket… but the more people showed their versions, the more I wanted to make one (or a few) myself. That’s the good thing about the Charm Discord group I guess!
Lizabeth raglan top: Another pattern I didn’t know what to think of at first, but the longer I looked at it, the more options I see. It is a perfect pattern to play with patterns and solids, or to make one with a closure down the front.. I would like to make one and see where it goes.
Joan wiggle dress: A very interesting and stylish pattern. with two different neck lines and also an option to make it as a blouse. I don’t necessarily want to make one in fancy sequin fabric, but I imagine it will be suitable for daily wear in a solid colour or a nice pattern.
Charlotte beret: I love wearing berets, and I love stash buster projects. This is the perfect combination of the two, so I will have to look for scraps of suitable fabrics to make a few of those for next winter!

I think this list is attainable and balanced. Although it contains four dresses, one of them can be made as a blouse and the rest of the items are very suitable for day to day wear. Let’s get started, I’m looking forward to 2023!

Update and Make Nine 2022!

March 10, 2022April 4, 2023 JannekeLeave a comment

Oh my, where does the time go? In January, I made a promise to myself to be a bit more active here, and it’s already March… So much for that resolution! But it’s ok. If I look back at the past half year, I am not surprised I had little to no time for sewing. A lot of big changes took place, my life has turned upside down, but to be honest, it’s mostly good things!

Last September, I realized the house I was living in was no longer a home for me. It’s the house I lived in with my ex boyfriend, but after breaking up, almost two years of covid and meeting new love, I decided it was time to move on. Not just mentally, but also physically. My former house was huge, with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a huge attic and a garden. Way too big for one person, too expensive, and poorly located. Yes, one of my best friends lives down the street, but my workplace was always a 50 minute drive away, the house very often damp and cold and so much work to keep in a reasonably clean and neat state (especially the garden). So I started looking for a new place…. and got ridiculously lucky! I registered with a housing company someone recommended to me and saw an interesting place, on a Monday. That following Friday, I could have a look at the house, and the Monday after that it was mine! Although I was very happy, it was very sudden and therefore, a lot had to be done in a very short time. Paperwork, packing boxes, throwing away a lot of stuff, and then fixing up the new place. In the Netherlands, rental houses come without floor (my international friends think it’s the stupidest thing ever) and the walls could use some paint and new wallpaper too. In the end, we managed to do almost everything before I moved in, and all that is left now are small DIY jobs that can be done in my weekends. I guess I won’t be sewing for the coming month or so (mainly because my hobby room is still a room for some painting projects etc), but at some point in time, I am sure I will bust out my sewing machines again! In the mean time, I might just write about my DIY projects in and around the house 🙂

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Make Nine · Modern and Vintage

Make nine 2021

March 26, 2021April 4, 2023 Janneke

2021 is already three months old, and I finally decided it was time to start writing on this blog! I’m a bit late to the party, but I do really like those Make Nine posts I see popping up at the blogs and feeds of other sewists. I thought this was a perfect opportunity to start the year, and my blog, with a small wishlist of thing I plan to make, finish or learn. Some of those I already have the materials for, others are in my head or on my Pinterest board for ages. I am not going to keep this as a must-do list, but rather as a source of inspiration. I don’t know what 2021 will bring, but I hope it’s going to be a year full of creativity and beautiful projects!

So, without further ado, here is my Make Nine for 2021:

1: THE BASKET OF DOOM

This basket has been in my sewing room forever… In previous versions it might have been a different basket or even a box, but I have always had a spot like this. Unfinished projects, repair jobs I am not looking forward to, clothing that has become too big, it all ends up here. As you can see, this basket is very full and quite frankly bothering me a bit. Over this year, I hope to empty it. I know there are also nice pieces in there, so who knows what I will rediscover?

2. LAPWING COLLAR BY ALICE STARMOORE

I love knitting, and I have been eyeballing this absolutely gorgeous piece for a very long time already. Somewhere in 2019 I got the Glamourie book by Alice Starmoore, and was instantly captivated by the beautiful images and pieces. This collar is not in the book itself, but can be bought as a separate kit form her website. Though it is maybe not as wearable as some other pieces, I think I would very much enjoy making it and find a way to wear it anyway. Sometimes it’s just form over function right?

3: COLETTE LADY GREY COAT

I do have a lot of coats, but this one stands out as another coat I would like to make and will definitely wear. Inspired by Gertie’s Lady Grey Sew-along, I would like to try my hand on some tailoring techniques instead of just putting it together as per the instructions. This is a good opportunity to expand my skills and practice some slow sewing.

4: A PIECE OF LINGERIE

I have been sewing for about 22 years now, but never made a single bra. I did make tons of historical underwear (linen undershirts, corsets and the likes) but never an actual piece of underwear I would wear in my day-to-day life. During my sewing I love listening to Love to Sew Podcast, where making lingerie is discussed regularly. Helen and Caroline always say it’s so much fun and not that hard, so I feel like I should try at least once.

5: A PAIR OF PANTS

Ah yes, the dreaded pants… I hate buying pants and jeans, and I think I’ve sewn a pair of pants only once or twice. I always considered my body shape to be ‘difficult’ when it comes to pants, as the size difference between my waist and hips is about two sizes. I plan to write a piece on body image and sewing in the future, but I think sewing a pair of pants fits really well with that theme. I am not sure yet which pattern I am planning to use, but the Lander Pants by True Bias seem like a good option.

6: RITA BLOUSE

For the past few years, I have been gravitating towards vintage style pieces. I love wearing them, but mostly at special occasions. Finding pieces that are casual and practical enough to wear in day to day life was not high on my priority list, but I definitely want to include more of those. The Rita Blouse by Gertie reminds me of an H&M blouse I had in high school. I wore it till it fell apart, but never made or bought something similar to it. I feel like I will make and wear multiple of those. It looks like a perfect wardrobe staple to add an instant vintage feel. Gertie even offered instructions on her blog te sew it in a knit, so I might try both wovens and knits!

7: CIRCLE SKIRT

Tying into the “I want more vintage vibe in my wardrobe” subject: circle skirts! I love them, they are so comfy to wear and can be styled both elegant and casual. A big plus is that they also fit my body type quite well, so I truly don’t understand why I don’t have a single circle skirt in my wardrobe. An option would be the Stanwyck skirt by Charm patterns if I would like to have all the nice extras, but if it’s just a simple circle skirt I can also draft the pattern myself. We will see!

8: COLETTE MYRNA

Last year, I made a long Myrna dress for a wedding, in a lightweight green linen. I instantly decided I need more Myrna in my life! The dress looks so elegant, but is very comfy to wear. I can’t wait to wear it again next summer! Because I already have a long one, I want to make the knee-length version too. It might be a bit more practical and work-appropriate than the long version. It also comes together in a breeze, so a perfect last-minute summer project in my book.

9: UNTITLED THOUGHTS AMELIE DRESS

This dress has been on my wishlist for a very long time… The back is so interesting, and I have seen it going around the sewing community for quite a while now. In light of recent developments (as in: me getting a tattoo on my back very soon) I might want to sew clothing that shows pieces of my new ink. I do see that the fit is very different on different people, so it might be a challenge to get it to sit right. I am up for the challenge though…

With 9 months to go in this year, I think I will not finish everything on this list the coming year. With COVID going on, nowhere to wear your fancy clothes to and a sewing mojo that is below zero, I will not force myself into making everything on the list. I do hope however that it will serve as a reminder to myself of what I know I love to do, pick up the sewing a bit more and even write about it on this blog. Thank you for reading, feel free to leave a comment and I hope that more will appear on this corner of the internet over time!