Introducing the Make Nine Challenge

So, you may have noticed that there was no announcement concerning the February challenge. We had a theme & a sponsor all lined up, but the editorial team decided we needed to take a little breather to sort things out behind the scenes. If all goes according to plan, we will be back in March or April with a fresh new challenge. As far as our lovely community & contributers are concerned, nothing is changing. We’re just tweaking a few things behind the curtain so that editorial responsibilities flow a little more smoothly & your hardworking editors don’t get burnt out!

In the meantime, we have a gentle challenge in effect. If you’ve been reading sewing blogs for more than twenty minutes, you have surely heard of the Make Nine challenge, created by Rochelle New from Lucky Lucille blog & Home Row Fiber Co. Today the Monthly Stitch editorial team is sharing our 2019 Make Nine plans, & we are encouraging you to do the same! Maybe you already have a Make Nine you’re working from, or maybe this is the first you’re hearing of it! It’s definitely not too late to set some sewing goals for 2019. We welcome contributer posts on any finished garments from your Make Nine queue!

Mel http://instagram.com/thecuriouskiwi

top row L-R: Decades of Style #3007 1930s Button Dress, Vogue 1247 by Rachel Comey (OOP), Victory Patterns Simone dress.

middle row L-R: Style Arc Patterns Italia shirtdress, Style Arc Patterns Giselle dress, Style Arc Patterns Ariana dress.

bottom row L-R: Tessuti Fabric Lois dress, a denim jacket (pattern TBD), Vogue 1679 Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress (OOP).

Nikki http://instagram.com/1107nikki

top row L-R: a swimsuit (possibly the Closet Case Patterns Sophie or the Bombshell, or the Swimstyle Jazz tankini), Burda 7767 men’s shirt, frangipangi dress (maybe the Gather Mortmain dress or Style Patterns 2721 [OOP]).

middle row L-R: Papercut Patterns Sapporo coat, assorted baby things for friends, McCall’s 6696 shirtdress.

bottom row L-R: teal tartan coat (Style Arc Stella coat, Lekala 4613, Burda 8172, Pauline Alice Ninot jacket, maybe a coat from a 2007 issue of “Prima” magazine), True Bias Ogden cami, nightwear (probably using a pattern from a 2010 issue of “Prima magazine).

Ciara http://instagram.com/ciaraxyerra

top row L-R: Closet Case Patterns Jenny overalls, Alice & Co Pattern Intrepid Boiler Suit, Simplicity 8342 top (OOP).

middle row L-R: Cloth Habit Watson bralette, internal stitchdown work boots, Digital Pattern Library Belted Sweater.

bottom row L-R: McCall’s 7682 dress, Sew House Seven Nehalem pants, Butterick 6318 dress.

Kyla http://instagram.com/kylakulaky

top row L-R: Sophie Hines Euler bralette, Megan Nielsen Ash jeans, Patterns for Pirates Tulip Tee.

middle row L-R: Sew House Seven Tabor tee, Alina Design Co Fulton Sweater Blazer, Seamwork Patterns Jill coatigan.

bottom row L-R: True Bias Patterns Hudson pants, Seen & Sewn Patterns Tracy Bee top, Sew Over It Ultimate Trousers.

Elizabeth http://instagram.com/thatssewlily

top row L-R: Schnittchen Patterns Coco jacket, Designer Stitch Patterns Chelsea cardigan, Sew Over It Patterns Joan dress.

middle row L-R: Sewera Patterns High-Neck Shirt, Sinclair Patterns Sofia sweater, Colette Patterns Sorbetto top.

bottom row L-R: Alina Design Co Chi-Town Chinos, Cloth Habit Harriet bra, Closet Case Patterns Sasha trousers.

There are hundreds of other examples of Make Nine challenge queues under the #makenine hashtag on Instagram. You don’t have to limit yourself to patterns either. You could do like Nikki & choose some special fabrics from your stash to set a #makenine intention for the year. You could take a page out of Mel’s book & fill your Make Nine with garment ideas rather than specific patterns. The goal is to just start thinking about what types of garments you’d like to tackle this year–& there’s no pressure to tick them all off the list by the end of the year! This is the second year that the Watson bralette & the McCall’s shirtdress have been on my Make Nine. I got distracted by other things & didn’t get to them in 2018.

& before I forget, we do have a winner for January’s Seasonally Inappropriate challenge! Thanks so much to everyone who contributed! We had nine eligible posts & Melanie, who made two Sorbetto tops, has won a free PDF pattern of her choice from January sponsor Closet Case Patterns! Congrats!