My sewing bucket list

My sewing bucket list bucket

Do you have a sewing bucket list?

There are a lot of things on my sewing list I’ve ticked off over the years, and yet there are still projects that pique my interest.

Here they are:

(listed in no special order and with no special time-frame for completion!)

A new ultimate trousers pattern.  The sort of pattern I would take with me if we were ever evacuated.  I’ve actually started on this pattern and I’m planning to do more later in the week as part of my Me-Made-May pledge.

Chanel Jacket.  Some consider this the holy grail of jacket sewing.  The construction interests me but not the 60-80 hours it reputedly takes.  It would be kind of interesting (in a nerdy sewing way) to do a side-by-side comparison of a kosher Chanel jacket and one made in the regular way I make jackets, using the same fabric.

Kilt.  Wouldn’t mind making a kilt one of these days, but who would wear it?  (I’m not asking for volunteers, btw).  In Australia they’re mainly seen on highland dancers, bands or at Scottish weddings.  I do love tartan.

Some simple shoes like these.  Does that count as sewing?

The perfect oven mitt.

A coat from this checked blanket, preferably using every scrap of it.  Importantly, I don’t want it to look like it was cut from a second-hand blanket.

My sewing bucket list Checked blanket

A garment that combines fabric/sewing with either knitting or crochet, which is an interesting design brief and not often seen.

A triangular bike bag that fits inside the frame, like this one I spotted outside a cafe:

My sewing bucket list Bike bag

A garment made from folded fabric, origami-like.

Really great handsewn buttonholes.  Mine are passable at the moment but not outstanding.  To get motivated I might have to make a beautiful garment with lots and lots of them.

A sewn, rather than knitted, winter hat.  Thinking of something like my regular hat pattern, but in corduroy or soft wool, and possibly with a closer fitting, smaller brim.

A design or pattern with a humanitarian application.  Did you ever hear about this wedding dress designer who helped design a better protective Ebola suit?

A jumpsuit.  I’ve never worn one, but I’ve made patterns for them a long time ago.  I have in mind to make Ralph Pink’s Lux Jumpsuit, but haven’t braced myself to tape together all 46 pages of the PDF pattern yet.  I may also consider making a two-piece jumpsuit.

A fabulous jacket/cape combination to wear cycling.  I loved the tartan one worn by the African lady on the bike at the beginning of Paddington 2.

There.  I’ve bared my soul and revealed my sewing desires.  It’s a list to aspire to and inspire me.

What do you plan to sew? Any projects or techniques on your sewing bucket list?

Cheers!

6 Comments

  1. Julie on May 21, 2018 at 9:31 pm

    I love the blanket idea. It opened up bitter sweet memories of a partially completed jacket in exactly the same colour combo but with smaller checks (probably a good thing given I’m all of 5’)…. I have no idea what happened to it – one too many moves and some ruthless culling. However things are on the up and up as I now have a designated sewing space and my equipment is seeing the light of day after many years. Thanks for supplying a good dose of inspiration!

    • lizhaywood on May 22, 2018 at 9:46 am

      Hi Julie, I may be contemplating the blanket/coat idea for some time yet. I have the feeling it’s one of those things that will either look amazing or bomb spectacularly!
      Hooray for your designated sewing space!

  2. Dot anderson on May 21, 2018 at 10:26 pm

    Love your bucket list I would wear tartan skirt, takes 10m if material which is expensive, and if you want the Real McCore you would have to get fabric from Scotland, postage would also be expensive.

    With Australian ancestry related to England, Ireland and Scotland. I am surprised that these skirt never took off in Aussie land.

    I shall add to my bucket list a tartan skirt bought from Scotland, stewart tartan off course, and I would have to visit for a fitting. I can only but dream, but that is what bucket list are about. I would also add tailors dummy
    Thanks dot

    • lizhaywood on May 22, 2018 at 10:05 am

      Hi Dot, you could go one step further and design and register your own tartan (I heard Viv Westwood does!). This place will weave it for you: https://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartandesign/ and then sew it into a kilt.
      Cheers!

  3. Tory on April 30, 2023 at 8:07 pm

    I hand sewed a kilt for my new son-in-law in his mother’s family tartan (all those pleats!). It was definitely a labour of love. While I loved the challenge of the project, it was the most challenging garment I’ve ever made, and I doubt I will ever sew another one.

    However, the lad looks truly magnificent in his custom kilt!

    • lizhaywood on May 8, 2023 at 11:21 am

      Wow! Something you only make one of in your life.
      (Still haven’t ticked this one off my list.)

Leave a Comment