Make Nine Sewing Challenge 2025

The Make Nine Challenge is a self-guided challenge that encourages makers to slow down and be more intentional about what they are making. You can learn more about it here: The Make Nine Challenge. Because the challenge is self-guided, there are really no rules. Some like to pick nine sewing patterns to make, while others will pick nine types of fabric they want to use.

Any maker and hand crafter can participate in Make Nine and you can tailor it to yourself. There are no prizes or awards; it’s more of a community-building exercise, a way to connect with other makers. Make Nine has several hashtags on Instagram and many YouTubers and Bloggers participate.

This will be the first time I’m going to try the Make Nine challenge. All nine of my makes are clothing, but I’m going to focus on categories instead of specific patterns or items.

Here is my Make Nine for 2025

• Pants
• Jeans
• Athletic Wear for Disc Golf
• Tailored Winter Coat
• Resize Hiking Pants
• Dresses and Skirts
• Green Blazer
• Summer Tops
• Bomber Jacket

Ever since I started sewing, my goal has always been to make my own pants. One reason I want to make my own is because, at 5’7″, I struggle with finding pants that are long enough, and often pants won’t even come in tall versions, so I’m usually limited in my selections.

Add to all of that the fact that I have a large waist-to-hip ratio. I have a small waist or wide hips depending on how you look at it.

I always assumed that making my own pants would eliminate all these problems, but I quickly learned that sewing patterns have roughly the same fit issues, and sometimes they add more issues to fitting. I almost always have to lengthen the rise on my pants patterns, even pajama pants. I like to say that pants are easy to sew but hard to fit. I’m hoping that 2025 is the year I finally make some well-fitting pants.

If you’re having problems fitting pants, you’re going to have similar issues with jeans. I often have to order jeans online, and then I run into another issue: while regular jeans are too short for me, long or tall jeans are usually too long for me, so I have to hem them.

Not only do I want to make jeans but I want to make jeans with interesting design details, such as sailor style with the front button plackets. Usually, in ready-to-wear, these styles of jeans don’t come in longer lengths.

When my husband took up disc golf, he made his first disc golf cart and even had me sewing a few things for him. I teased him that disc golf was apparently a gateway to carpentry and crafting. He finally talked me into giving it a try. I really enjoy playing disc golf, but of course, I have to look my best out on the course, so I will be sewing some outfits for summer, and I’ll probably have to start thinking about Winter wear as well.

I have always loved the look of a pea coat or a wool, tailored-style coat, and I feel like I am ready to tackle the task of making my own. I recently bought the Lagan Coat pattern from Itch to Stitch, and I think that is the one I’ll be making, but I still need to find some fabric.

This one has already been started. I even wrote a blog post about it, but I have several more pairs of hiking pants that I need to modify. I’m assuming I’m not the only one who will sew an entire dress but put off some quick mending and altering. You can check out the blog post here: Altering Hiking Pants for a Better Fit

I’ve never been much of a dress or skirt person, but a couple of years ago, I made a denim shirt dress with Simplicity S8014, and I love that dress. I want to try making some more.

I currently have a burgundy and cream tweed style blazer that I purchased from Amazon about three years ago. Despite being a little short in the sleeves, I really like that blazer and I usually pull it out for Fall. For some reason, I really want one in green tweed, but I want to make one that will fit me better. This project is reliant on me finding the perfect fabric, so there is a chance it won’t get made this year.

I’m pretty casual, and I am not a very social person, so I really have no reason to make myself outfits for summer barbecues, but there are several patterns that I really want to try. I even have a thrifted tablecloth that I think will be perfect for one of the patterns.

This is the one make where I actually have a pattern and the fabric. I just keep putting it off, and I really want to get it done before spring. I am planning on using the Causeway Jacket From Itch to Stitch, and I have some embroidered denim I got from Joann. One of the reasons I sat on this project for so long was because I was waiting for a good sale or coupon for the fabric.

These categories have been in the back of my mind for a while now and I created this list with the mindset that there is no pressure to get anything done. After all, sometimes life gets in the way or I could find new projects that will occupy my time instead. I will keep you posted throughout the year when I do work on them.