Clothes I Made in 2024

“It is a token of healthy and gentle characteristics, when women of high thoughts and accomplishments love to sew; especially as they are never more at home with their hearts than while so occupied.” —

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Finding My Personal Style

If I were to tell my thirteen years old self that one day I would love to sew, knit, and take part in all sorts of fiber arts, she would have thought I was crazy and beg me not to fall for old school girly things. Fortunately, she would eventually grow up and find that sewing, knitting, and crocheting is for everyone; also, that they are essential survival skills, forms of empowerment, and forms of expression.

I found that I enjoy fiber arts, especially since they serve as an incredible outlet for directing negative energy. But, one of the most exciting results of this new craft of mine was realizing my personal style. I am still in the awkward phases of it, but it is empowering to be able to make, wear, and style yourself in a way that makes you feel authentic.

I am entering my fourth year of sewing, my ninth or so year of crocheting, and my fifteenth or so year of knitting (honestly, it is getting difficult to remember), and creating my own clothes has allowed me to hold my chin higher and stride with confidence.

Here is almost everything I made in 2024, somewhat in the order I created them. I made others, but these are my favorite makes.

Everything I Made This Year

1. Littlewoods Aran

The Littlewoods Aran is a 1980s vintage pattern I purchased from Shadows Patterns on Etsy. Aran sweaters are absolutely stunning with their intricate cables and natural colorways. This beautiful work got its name from the Aran Islands, located off the western coast of Ireland in Galway Bay.

Traditionally, the sweaters were knitted using unscoured wool, which is wool that has not been stripped of its lanolin—the natural oils that make the wool resistant to water. For this project, I used Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed in Cream. It is 100% Irish wool, one ply, and twisted with flecks of brown, orange, and white.

My interpretation of this Aran is oversized and does not include the pockets. I wanted to create a cozy blanket effect with this project, and I wanted to pair it with leggings and skinny jeans. This cardigan uses the moss/seed stitch throughout with cables concentrated on the front panels and collars. If you are new to knitting Arans, it is a good pattern to start with because you do not need a knitting chart, and eventually you memorize the stitch pattern with repetition.

I finished the cardigan with the inclusion of Japanese Style Brown Concave Wooden Buttons with a khaki floral pattern (purchased from Etsy). The buttons’ lacquer finish give them a luxurious feel.

I am extremely proud of how far my knitting has come. In recent years, I have been sourcing my yarns and notions from quality yarn makers and small businesses. It is definitely more expensive, but the difference between my knits from my college days and my knits from today are like night and day! I get to support local businesses and create an heirloom worthy work of art using vetted materials. The drape, feel, and color of this cardigan is a step above my previous works.

2. Amy Overshirt by Anna the Tailor Pattern Hack

This odd denim jacket is a pattern hack of one of my favorite sewing patterns: the Amy Overshirt by Anna the Tailor.

It is NOT my proudest project—everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I made the side pockets too small and the front pockets are too close (I cannot for the life of me fit my hands inside). The sleeves were sewn on backwards and I forgot to mirror the cuffs, so they are facing the same direction instead of opposite directions. I also sewed the buttonholes in the wrong directions, and I broke four needles trying to sew through the thick seams.

Honestly, I did not make the coat the way it should have been made. It was more like a mish mash of sewing denim, batting, and flannel together to create a cheat coat with a shacket pattern. And, for some reason, I thought I could do French seams on this! But, I did learn the limits of my sewing machine and some new techniques that I will implement better for future projects.

Despite this, upon trying on the jacket, it started to grow on me. I made it during a time when I was going through a rough family situation and health issues. I sewed all of my negativity into this piece, and despite its quirky nature, it is sort of nice. The lovely folks on Reddit told me to call these quirks “features,” and those words helped me to see my clothing as an extension of myself: raw, creative, and perfectly imperfect.

I call this jacket my Therapy Jacket, and it helped me survive familial strife, illness, and that time our heating system broke during the coldest day of the year.

3. McCalls 7131 (Two Pairs)

The McCalls 7131 pattern is one of my favorites because it is extremely versatile, and I can create pants inspired by two of some of my favorite styles: hakama and split skirts.

Hakama are a style of traditional Japanese pants that are wide legged and pleated. They are among my favorite types of clothing, and I wear them as part of my kendo uniform. They are extremely comfortable and the geometric shape lends an air of sophistication and discipline. However, I would feel out of place wearing Hakama outside of my dojo or out of context, especially in the southern United States. So, I thought a modernized rendition would be more appropriate.

My indigo pair was made using woven cotton from Sevenberry, a Japanese textile company known for their quality fabrics. The fabric is called Nara Homespun Cloud Floral Indigo. They were super easy to make, and the end result has just enough structure to mimic hakama, but light enough to flow like a skirt. I get loads of compliments when I wear this beauty. The finish on this pair is also much neater and cleaner than my previous pairs—which makes me extremely happy because there’s nothing like making a garment with fabric you have invested in, only to mess up along the way.

My dark mulberry pair, also made with the same pattern, is another favorite of mine. Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of the fabric, but it is a linen and rayon blend with a lot drape and slip. This pair was meant to be my rendition of “secret pants” by mixing the split skirt and walking skirt styles.

My pants do not have the same flare, but many people still think it is a skirt when I wear it. I find that this garment looks amazing with historical shoes, so I get a lot of history bounding fun out of this. My favorite combination so far has been to wear these pants with my American Duchess Watson Women’s Edwardian Lace-Up Boots, but they also look really cool with my Londoners, or a regular pair of black pumps.

The only thing that disappoints me about this pair is the fact that the linen and rayon mix dulled after only a couple of washes and it started to pill a little. Thankfully, the color is dark enough that it hides this issue, and I still wear these pants regularly. I have coworkers sniffing around, wanting me to make them one. 😜

4. Gathered Rectangle Dress by Rosery Apparel

Janelle from Rosery Apparel is one of my favorite sewing content creators. She is a wholesome designer and vlogger based in Tasmania, Australia with the most impeccable color palette and a knack for upcycling.

I created this Gathered Rectangle Dress for my bestie using Janelle’s tutorial. I had a lot fun making it, but was more excited to see how much Bestie loved wearing it. They chose this stunning dark rose gold fabric with flowers outlined in gold.

I was proud of this make since it was my first plus-sized project. Plus-sized figures pose a different set of challenges since you want the garment to fit well, be comfortable, and be sturdy. I took several measurements and lined the bust with muslin. Also, instead of shirring the fabric, I used durable elastic bands as the tutorial suggests. This gave Bestie lots of support and structure.

The end result did not disappoint. Even Cleo couldn’t keep her paws away!

4. Men’s Short Sleeve Shirt by YS Patterns

This is the Men’s Short Sleeve Shirt by YS Patterns. I’m getting more confident sewing collared shirts. This is my first official “men’s garment” via pattern. Overall, it was easy to assemble. I did forget the pocket and sewed the buttons on the wrong side (apparently, men’s shirts have their buttons on the right, not the left, but no one noticed)!

This shirt was a request from my younger brother. He has been experimenting more with his personal style, so he asked me to make him a shirt out of this swanky paisley blue fabric. I finished the shirt with olive wood buttons.

This pattern was easy to assemble, and the fit was so nice that I had to take photos of me wearing it before gifting it to my little bro forever! This outfit cooked in black jeans.

5. Scrap Linen and Lace Camisole

This was an experimental piece made out of linen scraps and lace. I had this idea to create a breezy camisole by draping the fabric on my body and sewing the piece together. No pattern.

It doesn’t fit perfectly well, but I still like the end result. The straps are a little short, and some of the back is a bit revealing, but overall I like how breathable it is. It is a nice beach garment.

6. Scrap Fabric Bandannas

This summer, I worked very hard to use up both my fabric stash and scraps from my cabbage pile. I was inspired by Beepworld’s fabric stash busting video to turn my small scraps into bandanas.

These ended up way cooler and more functional than I anticipated. I turned all of my bohemian and quirky scraps into quick and easy hair accessories that I ended up wearing daily during the summer. Why have I waited this long to make bandanas?

7. Simplicity 8424 B and D

This was my first attempt at a ballet athleisure pattern. For the tank, I used the Simplicity 8424 Pattern D. It comes with three top patterns and three legging patterns. I really love the look of D with its wrapped look and ruching. It wasn’t the best fitting top, but not bad for my first try! I also learned that ruching works best with solid fabrics. I used the Dark Ditsy Floral Double Brush Jersey Knit Fabric from JoAnn Fabrics. It’s a 90% Polyester, 10% Spandex blend. This is one of the more comfortable jersey knit options with a soft feel and moisture wicking capabilities.

The leggings, which is Pattern B, were my first ever pair. I used the Organic Cotton/Spandex French Terry by I See Fabric, which is 95% certified organic cotton and 5% spandex. The quality of I See Fabric’s fabrics is absolutely wonderful. Everything is super soft and breathable. If you’re a sucker for neutral and earth toned fabrics, this place is for you.

I had to play around with the measurements a bit, but after adjusting for the bagginess of my legging template, these turned out rather nice! I could have done a better job with the waistband (way too much gathering), but I can live with the results.

8. Wool and the Gang Amanda Sweater

Because I torture myself with knitting multiple sweaters that take a year or more to make, I like to have a bulky one on a pair of needles for instant gratification. This is the Amanda Sweater from Wool and the Gang. It has roomy sleeves, a sleek moss stitch pattern, and it so warm that I can wear it in place of a coat sometimes. It is knit with soft and chunky Crazy Sexy Wool in Eucalyptus.

Although chunky single ply yarns are notorious for having a… short shelf life, I try to be careful when I wear my Wool and the Gang pieces by only wearing them as outerwear, and using a lint remover to help reduce pilling.

My kitty Cleo is in love with it more than I am. She attacked it while I was making it, then slept on it when I was trying to block it.

9. Bluebird Pine Shop Colorblock Cardi

This chunky cardigan from the Blue Bird Pine Shop was part of my experiment to create an entire outfit in under two weeks. It also helped to break the monotony as I knit three sweaters using tiny yarn (oh, the torture). It was made using Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn from Lion Brand in Cream, Fisherman, and Kale.

Cleo is a fan of this one too. I made it to serve as another blanket, over-sized piece that I could enjoy around the house, but also feel comfortable enough to wear it outside. I am most proud of the coconut buttons, which took me seven years to find a total of four. 😭

This is the project that inspired me to actually wear my favorite colors. It’s incredible how few clothes in stores are green. I made a pair of leggings and a tank top to match the cardigan. It’s a cute outfit, but honestly, I rarely wear the pieces together. I prefer them with other clothes.

10. All About Ami Dotty Cardigan

This is the Dotty Cardigan Knit Pattern from All About Ami on Etsy. This is probably my favorite make of the year. It only took a few months, it fits wonderfully, and I am in love with the olive color. This cardigan nearly broke my heart because I worked so hard on it, sourced beautiful yarn, and swatched like crazy, only to accidentally felt it during my routine blocking. I forgot my cardigan was in the dryer when I was trying to fix how much it had stretched (a technique I use all the time), and I lost some of my original stitch definition.

Fortunately, the pattern is still somewhat visible, and the cardigan does fit better. After adding my buttons and faux leather label, it does still work. This was my favorite make of the year, and it was nearly my favorite make of all time had I not felted it.

The yarn I used is the Kelbourne Woolens Germantown Bulky in Olive. I was originally supposed to use Berroco Vintage Chunky, but the gauge wasn’t adding up correctly and the pattern wasn’t showing up very well with the Spruce color. Germantown ended up being a more suitable yarn. I originally wanted to use green marbled buttons, but Hubby thought the wooden ones gave it more color. After thinking about it, he was right; the green ones were washed out against the fabric. I got the buttons from Lyanwood again! They have these decorative swirls that remind me of Elder Scrolls Skyrim.

11. Skulls Cardigan

This experiment turned into my most worn summer cardigan. It is a simple kimono style cardigan that I free handed using a web and skull lace from Joann. Unfortunately, I cannot find the fabric; I think it was discontinued.

I cut the hems of the cardigan so that they looked tattered like Morticia’s sleeves. Since it is made with synthetic fibers, it was fairly warm to wear in air conditioned places.

12. Fabric Quarter Wallet

I made a wallet using some random fabric quarters I had hanging around! I free-handed this project to replace a wallet of mine that was falling apart.

13. Sundial Quilt

I made this quilt for the 2024 Halloween season. Inspired by spooky themes, I wanted to create a quilt that Hubby and I could burry ourselves in while we watch horror flicks. Cleo joined us too!

This is probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever sewn so far. People assume clothing is hard to sew, but I believe quilting takes a special kind of patience and precision that clothing does not always require. It takes a lot of measuring and fine cutting and sewing to ensure your cut0outs lay flat.

The pattern is from the book Jelly Roll Quilts in a Weekend. This did not take me a weekend, but in my defense, I did not use jelly rolls.

14. Obsidian Ribbed Beanie

This is my freehand knit beanie that I made using Knit Picks City Tweed Aran/HW in Obsidian. Unfortunately, I think the yarn is going to be discontinued because this color as well as another color I have (Snowshoe) is no longer available.

This was the first in a series of hats I made to replace twenty-something year old hats that have seen better days. Hubby loved it too, so I ended up making one for him as well. I will share a pattern soon.

15. Blusher Slouchy Beanie

This is another free hand beanie I created using yarn recommendations from the owner of my local yarn shop. I made two of these, one using Kelbourne Woolens Scout in Autumn Heather and Berroco Aerial in Poppy, and another in Kelbourne Woolens Scout in Ocean Heather and Berroco Aerial in Cherry. The cool thing about these beanies is that I used color combinations that I normally wouldn’t choose. I adore the outcomes.

The yarns used are definitely on the luxury side, but the drape, color, and texture on these beauties are unmatched. I’ve worn these hats every week since fall. The colors are mesmerizing, and the mohair adds silken fluff to the wool.

I plan on make more. Will share a pattern soon.

16. Diamond Dust Beanie

This hat was inspired by the Brooch Pom Beanie Toque Winter Hat originally from Torrid. The hat is sold out and discontinued, but I figured I could make my own. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn in Black. I then purchased rhinestones and five brooches separately to attach after knitting the beanie. The 5″ Black Faux Fur Pom & Loop by K+C is from JoAnn.

This hat gets worn regularly along with my Blusher Beanies. I love going to work and watching the rainbows reflect off the rhinestones in the morning. It’s almost as though the hat is wishing me a wonderful day.

17. Sword Bag

I am super proud of this sword bag. I wanted a traditional case to carry my shinai in, so I created this bag using temari ball fabric, faux leather, and a carrying strap.

This design is created based on traditional shinai bags, but I did take some creative liberties by using different fabrics. The primary traditional characteristics I stuck to were the side openings for the sword, and the upper pocket for the tsuba and tsuba dome, or any other smaller components.

The tsuba is the guard piece between the hilt and blade that protects your hand and keeps the sword balanced. The tsuba dome prevents the tsuba from sliding off the hilt.

18. Pirate Shirt

I caved in and made the famous pirate shirt. I used two videos to help me get it right: Bernadette Banner’s video and Ora Lin’s tutorial, which I highly recommend since it is very detailed and properly explains how to sew the gussets.

As much as I enjoy a solid historical garment, I am only someone who likes to occasionally dabble in historical sewing, so I will whip out my sewing machine in a hot minute. I used a sewing machine to sew most of the shirt, but I did hand sew the gussets and the reinforcement for the collar.

This is made this out of muslin instead of linen since I was trying to stash bust my massive pile of muslin. I also added some machine stitched embroidery along the shirt’s hem. Unfortunately, I made the cuffs too small, so to remedy this issue, I created ties instead of buttons, which ended up becoming a fun and beautiful feature.

I was thoroughly impressed after making this shirt. Not only do I love how breathable it is, but the shirt is shockingly comfortable and fun to wear. Ironically, I do not feel like I am wearing a costume—which I think is very important when trying to add historical garments to wardrobes. It contains just the right amount of eccentricity I am comfortable with, and I enjoy experimenting with various outfits.

19. Jamison Skirt

I was so excited to conduct my first pattern test. This is the Jamison Skirt by TheCuratedCurvy. It is a bohemian style skirt with effortless elegance. It is very easy to assemble, and can use a variety of different fabric types. I used a black polyester satin.

20. Monkey and Minnie Christmas Stockings

These super fun Christmas stockings come from the Beginner Christmas Stocking Knitting Patterns Bundle from Monkey and Minnie on Etsy. They’re based in the UK, and offer several special occasion patterns that are easy to follow.

I love how customizable these patterns were. In the end, I made three different stockings. I added some hollies and a reindeer and used primarily scrap yarn. Had a lovely Christmas with these hanging on our mantel. Hubby gave me the best stocking stuffer: a t-shirt that says Every Villain Is Lemons, inspired by Spongebob. Yes, I am such a child.