The Sew Life with Riesha Nicolle – What I Made in January

I can not believe it is already February. January came and went so fast. Did you get any sewing done? Did you make a list of the things you want to achieve? I did both. I spent a lot of hours in my sewing space and a lot of time reading up on new techniques I want to learn and I made my #makenine9 list. I actually completed the first pattern. The 2 pieces will need to be worn as separates as I didn’t have enough fabric of either choice to make a full outfit. I was serious about the pattern and fabric fast for January. I didn’t even step foot in a craft store. Yay ME!!!

So let’s see what I made in January and what I am working on now:

• First make of 2024 was the Tuesday Tote from the Knotted Threads Co. It was super easy to make and I love how it turned out. It is a beginner friendly pattern. For the outside I used some left over Camouflage Canvas and some Faux leather that I purchased to redo some chairs I had and never finished them.

• Second make McCall’s 7475 Tops – Made these as part of the Stash busting challenge in the Sew Much Talent Instagram group. I made the top twice with left over scrap fabric that was in my stash.

• Third make was Vogue 1929 – Not sure how I feel about this one. It didn’t come out as I expected it to. It was an easy sew, but I think I need another fabric choice. I don’t know, maybe once I style it, I will change my mind.

• Fourth make – Vogue 9319 I am absolutely in love with these pants. They were an easy make. I usually shy away from zippers, but I picked patterns that will challenge my skills. The challenge in this one was the zipper. If you know me, you know I am not a fan of zippers.

• Fifth make was the top to Vogue 9319 – this one turned out really cute too. I used leftover denim for the main fabric and left over cotton fabric that looks like denim, from a dress I cut out but haven’t sewn up yet. 

Up Next: Know Me 2054 by Keechi B Style – View B Cargo Pants – with wrap fly waistband and multiple pockets on front and back. Here is a sneak peek of what I am working with. This pattern is not part of my Make Nine, but it was on my list to make. There is a lot of work on this pair of pants, due to the details on the pockets. I have been sewing a little bit each night, about a hour or so, to not be overwhelmed and to make them look good. Practicing my patience.

Until Next Time, Go sew Something.

The Sew Life with Riesha Nicolle – Make Nine 2024 Edition

Here we are again back at the beginning of 2024 and talking about our Make Nine for the year. I create a list every year. Sometimes I complete them and sometimes I don’t. WIth 2024 being my year of consistency, that’s my word for the year by the way, I was like why not.

The most important outfit of 2024 will be whatever I am going to make for Chicago Frocktails. This event is taking place in Chicago June 8 – 9, 2024. More details to come on this outfit as they are available. I will do a whole recording of what I am making and the process. You will be able to find it on my YouTube channel. 

How did I come up with my list? Well a couple of things.

• I based it off of the skills I want to learn
• Things I struggle with, for example zippers and buttons
• Style of the pattern
• Sewing Level, beginner, intermediate, advanced
• Fabric type

Beginner patterns are always my go to for a quick and easy sew. These are good for last minute, I don’t have anything in my closet to wear, patterns. I have a few Tried and True (TNT) patterns that I refuse to give up.

Intermediate patterns are patterns that challenge my skills and I here for it. I have been sewing since 2014 and it is time to step up my game. There is no reason I shouldn’t be making these patterns.

Advanced patterns are the patterns that I will be making towards the end of the 3rd quarter in 2024. I will build all my skills needed to move forward and be comfortable picking up these patterns to sew.

So let’s get into this list. Of course with new patterns coming out for Spring/Summer/Winter I may want to change a few, but for now, this is my list. I will be making these in this order.

1. Vogue 9319 – Very Easy Vogue Misses’ Tops, Shorts, and Pants – View B and View D

Skills to learn: Wide Front and Back Yokes, Pockets, and Back Zipper

2. Vogue 1674 – Easy Misses’ Dress – View A – Colorblock

Skills to Learn: Lining and Invisible Zipper

3. Simplicity 8702 – Misses’ Knit Jacket, Pants and Leggings- View A and View C

Skills to learn: Color Blocking, Zippers, and Drawstring

4. McCall’s 8438 – Intermediate Misses’ Coats and Vest – View A

Skills to learn: Buttonholes and Buttons

5. Simplicity 9700 – Intermediate – Misses’ Jumpsuit – View A

Skills to learn: Topstitching, Zipper, Set in Sleeves, Buttoned Cuffs, Buttoned Pockets, Side Pockets, and Belt Carriers

6. Simplicity 9893 Misses’ Cape by Mimi G Style– Intermediate

Skills to learn: Cargo Pockets, Inverted Pleats and Flaps, Storm Flap, Buttons, Tabs, Convertible Sleeve

7. Know Me 2063 by Brittany J. Jones – Intermediate – View A

Skills to learn: Elastic Casing, Side Pockets, Front Fly Zipper

8. Know Me 2067 by The Stitch Fitz Advanced- Misses’ Dress – View (undecided)

Skills to learn: Lined Bodice, Boning, Optional Straps and Invisible Back Zipper

9. Simplicity 9894 by Mimi G Style – Intermediate – Misses’ and Women’s Top and Skirt – View A and B

Skills to learn: Bust Cups, Zippers, Topstitching

Until Next Time, Go Sew Something,

Welcome to 2024

Hello, My name is Riesha, also known as Riesha Nicolle on the socials. I am a fashionable, fitness foodie, that loves to sew, workout, and cook daily. Follow me on my journey of sewing a new wardrobe to match my new physique, as well as making delicious meals and working out to keep it. I am also the owner of my own online t-shirt and accessories shop, known as SixTwentyTwoLLC. I am a married mom of 2, a girl and a boy. My family is my world.

I started my fitness journey, seriously, in 2014 when my mom passed away from stomach cancer. This is also when I started sewing. I used fitness and sewing to help with the grief of losing my mom. My t-shirt shop name is her actual birthday, 6/22, the name was my husband’s idea.

Now that you know a little bit about me, let’s get into my goals for 2024.

Goal #1 – Finances – Financial Freedom

My main goal for 2024 is to achieve Financial Freedom. I have a few bills that I have created over the past few years, that I just want gone. In order to do this I have put myself on a personal budget and will be spending less. I want for nothing when it comes to material things. I have a sewing space that includes any any and everything you could possibly imagine, some of the things I have, have never been used. Such a shame.

An action plan for the month of January is to not buy any fabric or sewing patterns. I will be using all the things I have in my space. If a project calls for a fabric that I don’t have, I will be choosing something else to create my next project. I did not come up with this idea on my own, it is part of the group Sew Much Talent on Instagram. I am so excited for this challenge and I think it is going to kick start my no unnecessary spending.

Goal #2 – Personal Development – Expanding My Sewing Skills

This is a tough one. I love to sew with Knit fabrics. So, in 2024 I will be using more wovens, oh gosh did I really just put that in writing? Okay, yes I did. It is going to be the only way that I grow. I have used wovens before, it’s not like they are brand new to me. I just don’t always go to the projects where they are required. 2024 is a year of growth for me. Here is a list of a few things that I am going to master:

• Zippers
• Woven Fabrics
• More Tote Bags/Purses
• Specialty Fabrics – Fancy Fabrics

Here are a few of my favorite items in a woven or little to no stretch fabrics.

Goal #3 – Health and Fitness – Staying Consistent with Taking Care of Myself

I have a plan that I am using, actually working with an online coach, 2 more months and it will be cancelled. Not that the program is not working for me, because it is, but I am using all that I have learned to be able to do the workouts and meals on my own. This way I am taping into Goal #1 – financial freedom, and using the plans accordingly on my own. My plan is 4 days of strength training, Lower body – glute focused, Upper body – shoulders and arms, Total body, and a body weight only workout day. I do cardio 3 days a week, Saturday and Monday are Xtreme Hip Hop Classes, and Wednesday is a traditional step class. I take the classes because I am not disciplined enough to do cardio on my own, I don’t like it. LOL!!!

Be Consistent

McCall’s 8408 Misses’ Patchwork pants and shorts.

Pattern description: Patchwork shorts and pants with contour waistband features a fly front zipper, back darts, topstitched hem and pockets.

Pattern rating by simplicity: Average

Pattern rating by me: intermediate

I am looking forward to Fall Sewing this year, as I am planning projects that are out of my comfort zone. I have a few coats/jackets on my list that I have not sewn before and I want to add denim, mainly jeans to the list, which I just completed my first pair. I used McCall’s 8408 for this project. I am absolutely in love with these jeans.

McCall’s 8408

I used a fabric that I saw at my local Joann’s, it is also available online, today, but not sure how long supplies will last.

This fabric is called blue patchwork denim fabric. It’s in a dark denim. It is 57 inches wide, 88% cotton, 8%, polyester, and 4% rayon. I fell in love with this fabric when I first saw it in the store of course it was not on sale so I waited to purchase it. Glad I did. The original price is $20.99 a yard. I was able to get it on sale for $11.99 a yard. It was worth every penny.

For the contrasting color in the middle I used a denim, but I’ve had this denim in my stash for a while. I actually purchased it at Cali fabrics in San Francisco California. They have a lot of great choices in fabric. It’s one of my fabric shops that I go to when I visit. I was able to get the pockets on the back and they are lined up perfectly so I was proud of that. I was also able to get in the fly zipper. I did not put the front fly flap on it. I wanted the zipper exposed to give it a more vintage look so I kept the front flap off.

I made sure to keep the insides as clean as the outside. So what I did was once I attached each piece front and back to the to the leg pieces, I used my serger to clean up the seam lines. It gives it a nice clean finish, and my fabric was fraying.

AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE WAY THEY FIT.

Until, next time, SEW WHAT?

I got a DreamBox and I absolutely…

Love it!!!!

In February I bit the bullet and purchased a DreamBox for my business/sewing/craft space. It was the best investment I have made for my business and I absolutely love it. It arrived the week of my birthday, April, so happy birthday to me!

Pretty much everything has a home, with the exception of a few items here and there.

I purchased the DreamBox, the DreamCart, and the cubby. Been contemplating on the Sew Station, but I really would like it, just so my sewing machines will have a permanent home. I purchased the pre-built version, I did not have the time or patience, to put it together or wait for my hubby and son to build it.

It came in 3 pieces, the left side, the center, and the right side. It took the hubby and I about 2 hours to have it all built and ready to load, we took a few breaks so it may have been less time.

The piece you see to the left in this photo (above) is the DreamCart. It Opens and closes like a folding table, has 4 rolling wheels, 4 shelves on each side and opens up to a cutting table that is 69.5″ long. Great for cutting jumpsuit and pants patterns.

The cubby (above) was an afterthought, but it holds all my art supplies. This way each “craft” has its own home. In the DreamBox (below) the right side houses anything sewing related (except for the rolls of heat transfer vinyl) and the left side is anything related to sublimation and my t-shirt, and more business.

I will have to say that my favorite part of the DreamBox is the dry erase boards, they are on both the left and right side. I purchased those after everything was set up. I write an inspirational quote each week and my sewing projects that I am working on. This way I am not looking for a note that I can never find. I have updated the list since this photo was taken.

Here are a few photos of what I am working with, still needs some organization and bin covers to make it pretty, but all and all I am so impressed with my set-up and new room.

Happy crafting, happy sewing, and happy t-shirt making. Whatever you craft, just be happy doing it!!!