Many Instagrammers published for the end of 2019, their top 9 best memories/moments, best vacation spots, best dishes, creations... of 2019 in the 9 photos in 1 format, a format proposed by Instagram.
I then asked myself the question and if I too should present you my top 9 of my sewing projects from 2019, which ones would I choose?
That's where it gets tricky... because I had a hard time choosing among my creations.

Why?
- First of all because I sew a lot. I have made many pieces. And when I wanted to select, it was not always easy to know if I had sewn it in 2019 or before,
- Then because each garment has its little story. I love sewing by crush and buying fabric while traveling to keep dreaming of my lovely destinations,
- And finally because each piece teaches me something...

In short, I had to make a choice and I kept two criteria:
- satisfaction rate and stars in the eyes
- learning rate by making this piece.
So, here goes the top 9.

Number 1: The purple blouse from Maison Fauve revisited or the art of modifying a pattern
I think everyone has understood my love for the purple blouse from Maison Fauve. Currently, it is the pattern I have repeated the most times, that is 7. I have them in all colors, patterns... but the one I prefer is the combination of a cotton embroidered with blue flowers and a white dotted swiss gauze.
Why?
1. It is very comfortable to wear
2. It is very pretty (starry eyes +++)
3. but above all I learned, thanks to my teacher, to transform the pattern to make raglan sleeves. The goal was to showcase the embroidery sleeves (learning++)

Image from the Maison Fauve website

I still love the middle back pleat, the little piping that highlights the yoke seam, and the three small buttons that allow for a lot of fantasy and creativity.
Both fabrics come from Stragier and the buttons from Véritas.

Number 2: My Malibu Alert swimsuit or the art of sewing lycra
I set myself the challenge about a year ago, like many seamstresses, to no longer buy clothing pieces that I knew how to sew. So I no longer buy dresses, skirts, sweatshirts... but a swimsuit? Well... I had to try and I started with the book Apprendre à coudre sa lingerie et ses maillots de bain by Charlotte Jaubert from Editions Mango and I was accompanied by my teacher for making this piece.

I chose to make the swimsuit featured on the book cover, that is, the one-piece swimsuit with a pretty bow on the back.
I learned to tame lycra, laminette, elastics, mesh... but also the serger because to sew lycra it was really necessary to have full mastery of one.
We got there after a few courses and what pride to wear your handmade swimsuit.

Number 3: The irresistible Bomber from Les Beaux Gosses for my handsome guy or the art of making someone happy.
I loved making this bomber model in wax for my man. He liked being able to choose his fabric, give his opinion on the color harmony, do fittings... in short, have his jacket made to measure. He is very proud to wear it and receives lots of compliments, enough to raise the star rating in his eyes and mine.

I won’t dwell on the sewing experience I described in a previous article. However, this jacket allowed me to review the installation of patch pockets that I had already tackled for pants. I made a study piece to be sure of my approach. On the other hand, I was able to practice installing a lining without assistance, except for my man who supervised the progress steps from the corner of his eye.

Number 4: The Centaurée dress from Deer And Doe or the art of using your fabric scraps
The Centaurée dress from the Deer and Doe brand is, like the purple blouse, one of my biggest crushes. I made 6 and every time I head to a sunny destination, they are part of the trip.
I won’t dwell either on the sewing steps which you will find in a previous article.
What I like and love: being able to make colorful, feminine, and fun dresses from my fabric scraps or from coupons.
I already know there will be other versions in 2020.

My Cornflower in Korea (Seoul)

My Cornflower in Japan (Takayama)

My cornflower in Japan (Goshiki Numa)

Rolled hem detail

Number 5: The Bloom Sweatshirt from La Maison Victor or the art of using your serger efficiently
My Bloom sweatshirt, there are at least 4 versions and I still love it just as much.
It is with this sweatshirt project that I really learned to use my serger at full capacity. Until then I used it to overlock the edges of my cotton pieces or to make rolled edges but not to assemble.
After a course on how to use the serger, here I am ready to make my sweatshirt. One hour of assembly later, I could wear my jungle version sweatshirt. I wear it a lot. So I made a second one exactly the same so there is no frustration when the first one is in the laundry.

Since then, several versions have come to complete the wardrobe.

Number 6: My Bodysuits from Marie Poisson or the art of sewing jersey
Well, after taming my serger, I continued on my momentum and made my first bodysuit. Thanks to the pattern and advice booklet from Marie Poisson, I was able to make several versions of the bodysuit in the version: lizaig model.
I let you read the info from the article published previously.
What I mainly take away from it is the learning:
- sewing lingerie-type elastics,
- sewing a gusset for the seat,
- sewing elastic bias.
I find that this model is very comfortable and can be worn with pants or a skirt. And then it completely changes from t-shirts.

Number 7: The Embrun pants from Maison Fauve and the tailored pants from Emilie Pouillot-Ferrant or the art of sewing your first pants
If my favorite pieces are skirts and dresses, I had to resign myself to sewing pants as well. I admit that this piece scared me a little with the crotch measurements, the piped pockets, the fly...
And then, I found the pattern and explanatory booklet from Emilie Pouillot-Ferrant which is a marvel of explanations. With the help of my teacher, I made my first pants. I admit I am very proud of them with these golden piping on the pockets.

And then, since I was no longer even afraid, I continued with the Embrun pants from Maison Fauve. I love its little sailor touch.
If Emilie's pants taught me how to sew the fly, the Embrun pants taught me how to do the saddle stitch to highlight the topstitching. 

Number 8: My man's shirt or the art of dressing him and saving money
My darling wears shirts to go to work. He has a nice collection but as you know, shirts age, they get holes at the elbows, they yellow... I took on the challenge of making replacement shirts for him. Every time a shirt is to be discarded, I make a new one.
For your information, I recover buttons from shirts to be discarded, which saves a little money.

This year 2019, my darling received 5 new shirts: 1 white, 1 white with a mustard collar, a blue striped one, 1 burgundy striped, and 1 blue checkered with a Mao collar. His favorite (and mine too, by the way) is the white one with the mustard collar. I will make more in this style in 2020.
The patterns presented are those from the book by ryuichiro Shimazaki, a goldmine for making shirts.

Number 9: My princess dresses by Tomoe Shinohara
or the art of dreaming
or the art of becoming a little girl again with the twirling skirt
or the art of enhancing Japanese prints

I love dresses. It's the piece I prefer in my wardrobe.
When I went to Japan 2 or 3 years ago, I brought back in my suitcase the first volume of the book "The dress - one piece" by Tomoe Shinohara.
In this book, Tomoe offers us dresses and accessories. Many of these patterns immediately caught my eye with their pretty pleats, their feminine cut highlighting the waist. And then, all those lovely details of belts, sleeves...
And when I like something, I don't count... so I made 4 and I don't intend to stop there because other models are waiting.

Most of the fabrics used for these dresses come from Japan and mainly from Kyoto and Tokyo. I am a true fan of prints, especially Japanese ones.

There you go, I hope you liked this selection.
I will better list my achievements this year in order to have a better overview of my accomplishments.
I already have the notebook... now all that's left to do...