Me-Made-May 2017 Week Four

Yahoo. The week the weather got it's act together and it felt like summer! As you can see three days of skirts with bare legs and a general sense of not-caring if my pasty white legs may blind somebody as it is too warm to be bothered!

I wore my new BHL Charlotte pencil skirt on Tuesday and loved the fit of it but it is a tighter silhouette than the red Simplicity 2154 I wore on Friday. Overall a really enjoyable week because it felt like summer had arrived.

Day Twenty Two

Top: Grainline Scout Tee in John Lewis Viscose. Made 2014

Trousers: Gap

Necklace: Tatty Devine Brushstroke S/S 2015

Watch: Red G Shock

Shoes: Red Paul Smith Miller Brogues

Day Twenty Three

Skirt: By Hand London Charlotte Pencil Skirt in fabric gifted to me by my friend Sophie. Made 2017

T-Shirt: American Apparel

Necklace: Tatty Devine Watermelon necklace. S/S 2012

Watch: White G Shock

Shoes: Blue suede Paul Smith Miller Brogues

Day Twenty Four

Top: Grainline Scout Tee 100% cotton from Sophie, Hong Kong (underlined with cotton batiste). Made 2016

Trousers: Gap

Jacket: Levi's denim

Watch: White G Shock

Trainers: Blue Nike Air Pegasus

Day Twenty Five

Top: Merchant and Mills Camber Set Top in viscose from John Lewis sale, London. Made 2017. 

Skirt: Liesl & Co Everyday Skirt in viscose from John Lewis sale, London. Made 2016.

Watch: White G Shock

Bird Brooch: Hand-made 

Shoes: Paul Smith black patent loafers

Day Twenty Six

Top: Zara bought from Traid charity shop in Camden for £4!
Skirt: Simplicity 2154 in poly-cotton twill from Samuel Taylors, Leeds. Made 2013.

Brooch: Tatty Devine

Watch: Red G Shock 

Trainers: Nike blue Pegasus

This year's Me-Made-May is drawing to a close and I have enjoyed it as much as I have for the past three years. It is more fun now that I have a wider range of me-made garments to choose from and interesting to which ones get selected to wear again and again. I will be doing a bit of analysis about my most popular and / or comfortable items next week.

In the meantime enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend as it's supposed to be scorchio!

Check out lots of other cool crafty blogs at #handmademonday organised by Julia of Sum of their Stories.

Me-Made-May 2017 Week Three

Week three of Me-Made-May felt like a loooong week due to a lot of work related things which I won't go into here. Needless to say it was such a crazy week I had to plan my outfits and lay them out the night before so I had less to think about with many early morning starts.

The weather featured quite heavily in garment decision making this week as it started on Monday quite warm and sunny only to turn cold - this was particularly annoying as I had decided to unleash my milky white legs to the world and I ended up feeling a little under-dressed and chilly.

The remainder of the week was all about layering and I showcased my Liberty Laurel shift dress on Thursday which was a very comfortable wear.

Day Fifteen

Top: Merchant & Mills Camber Set top. Cotton seersucker. Made 2017
Skirt: Dolores Pocket Skirt. Made 2014.

Cardigan: Gap

Necklace: Tatty Devine Atomic Necklace A/W 2015

Watch: White G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith blue suede Miller brogues

Day Sixteen

Top: Sew Over It Ultimate shirt in Liberty Plastic Fantastic print. Made 2015

Trousers: Gap

Watch: Black G Shock

Socks: Paul Smith

Shoes: Paul Smith purple Marcello loafers

Day Seventeen

Top: Sew Over It Ultimate Shift Dress in SOI linen. Made 2015

Watch: Olive G Shock

Jacket: Benetton

Corsage: Me-made with black felt and beads. Made 2004

Shoes: Paul Smith purple Marcello loafers

This is fast becoming one of my favourite me-made dresses as I just love the fit and the fabric. I also made the corsage from felt and some beads back when corsages were the rage after Sex and the City. I really should do a tutorial on how to make them!

Day Eighteen

Top: Colette Laurel Shift Dress in Liberty Tana Lawn. Made 2017

Watch: Black G Shock

Cardigan: Gap

Belt: Top Shop

Necklace: Tatty Devine Telephone Wire Necklace S/S 2015

Shoes: Paul Smith grey Dante Brogues

Day Nineteen

Top: Merchant and Mills Camber Set Top made in Samuel Taylors Ikat Viscose. Made 2016 

Trousers: Gap

Leather Jacket: Gap 

Watch: Black G Shock

Necklace: Tatty Devine Frida Kahlo

Trainers: Blue Nike Air Pegasus

How was your third week of Me-Made-May?

Me-Made-May 2017 Week Two

Week two of Me-Made-May flew by. I started at the weekend wearing a very short shift dress Simplicity 9620 that I don't wear for work anymore since it shrunk in the wash. In my MMM2016 review I identified this dress as something I should modify by lengthening it with a section of fabric but I haven't got around to it yet. I think I should definitely do it so I can wear it more often!

The first half of the week was cold and I still needed layers of clothing (including my well-worn black Gap cardigan) but luckily it warmed up towards Thursday and Friday and you could feel spring was in the air!

Day Seven

Dress: Simplicity 9620 black and white plaid shift dress. Made 2014

Top: Gap

Tights: M&S

Necklace: Tatty Devine me-made at Brick lane workshop. Made 2017

Watch: Red G Shock

Bag: Pink Top Shop

Trainers: Liberty print Vans

Day Eight

Top: Grainline Scout Tee 100% cotton from Sophie, Hong Kong (underlined with cotton batiste). Made 2016

Trousers: Gap

Cardigan: Gap

Watch: Black G Shock

Trainers: Blue Nike Air Pegasus

Day Nine

Top: Merchant & Mills Camber Set top. Cotton seersucker. Made 2017
Skirt: Simplicity 2154 in poly-cotton twill from Samuel Taylors, Leeds. Made 2013.

Cardigan: Gap

Necklace: Tatty Devine A/W 2016

Watch: Red G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith black patent loafers

Day Ten

Top: Grainline Scout Tee 100% cotton from Sophie, Hong Kong (underlined with cotton batiste). Made 2016

Trousers: Gap

Cardigan: Gap

Necklace: Tatty Devine Bubbles S/S 2017

Watch: White G Shock

Shoes: Blue suede Paul Smith Miller Brogues

Day Eleven

Top: Colette Laurel Top. Made 2015
Trousers: Paul Smith
Necklace: Tatty Devine Haberdashery Floral A/W 2016
Watch: Olive G Shock
Shoes: Purple Paul Smith Dante Brogues

The length of my spotty Laurel top works really well with most of my skirts because they tend to sit at my natural waistline but with my Paul Smith trousers which fit at the hipline it meant if I tucked it in to look a little neater it soon wiggled out and bunched around. Maybe I should lengthen the body of the Laurel slightly on my next version?

Day Twelve

Top: Gap

Skirt: Sew Over It Tulip Skirt. Made 2014

Necklace: Tatty Devine Brushstrokes

Watch: White G Shock

Shoes: Red Paul Smith Miller Brogues

Another fun week of Me-Made-May. I am hoping the warmer weather is here for a little longer so I can wear more skirts and maybe some of the dresses I have made this year.

Has the weather affected your Me-Made wardrobe this week?

Me-Made-May 2017 Week One

May is that time of year that fellow sewists, knitters, bloggers and crafters alike sign a pledge to wear their hand-made / up-cycled clothes for the month.

This fabulous idea was set up eight years ago by Zo from So Zo What Do You Know?  blog a pattern designer, sewer, teacher and super mum. It gets you thinking about your relationship with your hand-made wardrobe to identify any strengths and areas for development. Also a good time to cull any unworn items or fall in love with some long-forgotten makes that have not seen the light of day since last summer.

This is my fourth year participating and I am looking forward to analysing my hand-made wardrobe to see how I can refine and improve it further. My pledge went a little something like this....

Day Two

Top: Merchant and Mills Camber Set Top made in John Lewis Splodge Viscose. Made 2016 

Trousers: Gap

Cardigan: Gap 

Watch: White G Shock

Socks: Gap

Shoes: Paul Smith Black Patent Loafers

Day Three

Top: Oliver Bonas

Skirt: Dolores Pocket Skirt in Lucienne Day reproduction print from John Lewis, London. Made 2015
Cardigan: Gap

Brooch: Tatty Devine Atomic necklace A/W 2015

Shoes: Paul Smith blue suede Miller brogues

Day Four

Top: Merchant and Mills Camber Set Top made in Ikat Viscose, Samuel Taylors. Made 2016 

Trousers: Gap

Cardigan: Gap

Necklace: Oliver Bonas

Watch: White G Shock

Socks: Paul Smith

Shoes: Paul Smith Purple Loafers

Day Five

Top: Merchant and Mills Camber Set Dress made in Viscose, Guthrie & Ghani. Made 2017

Leggings: Gap

Cardigan: Gap

Scarf: V&A Revolution scarf

Watch: Black G Shock

Belt:Top Shop

Shoes: Paul Smith Chelsea Boots

Day Six

Top: Grainline Linden in Liberty. Made 2016

Leggings: Abercrombie & Fitch

Socks: Gap

Shoes: Birkenstocks

I've been a bit of a Merchant and Mills fan-girl during the first week of Me-Made-May. The Camber Set Top may replace my love for the Grainline Scout Tee and is fast approaching my TNT top pattern!!

I missed photographing my outfit on Bank Holiday Monday but it was just a Linden sweatshirt and joggers to help facilitate serious sofa time.

How are you getting on with Me-Made-May?

Check out lots of other cool crafty blogs at #handmademonday organised by Julia of Sum of their Stories.

Me Made May 2016 Review

First of all, thanks to Zoe at So-Zo for organising this fabulous event. After taking part in Me-Made-May for the the third year in a row I wanted to do some analysis of the clothes I have enjoyed wearing, the patterns I am attracted to and the quality of the fabric. My pledge was to wear one or more me-made or me-mended garments during week days which I managed to achieve without too much of a stretch.

In completing this analysis I want to identify how I could streamline my wardrobe and identify what clothes should be my next challenge / project to make.

Me-Made Wardrobe Colour Palette:

Creating a visual representation of all the me-made garment fabrics I have worn this month really helped me identify my preferences.

This is what was revealed......

a) I am partial to an abstract print

b) I love monochrome

c) I also like bold blues, pinks, reds and greens!

Types of Clothing worn during May:

Further analysis highlighted I chose to wear more me-made tops than any other garment with skirts a close second during the month of May.

Pattern Companies worn in May:

I already knew I was a major Grainline Studio fan-girl when it comes to pattern companies. The results speak for themselves. I am definitely drawn to independent pattern companies much more than the big 4 (Simplicity / McCalls / Butterick / Vogue).

Year of Construction:

Another aspect I thought would be interesting to observe was the date I made the clothes I had worn during May. As suspected, I don't have many clothes before 2009 and a lot of garments made between 2010 - 2012 have been re-fashioned or given to charity as the quality of both the construction and fabric were not great.

My best year for making was 2015 and with half a year left of 2016 I think it will be my best year yet!

2009	4%
2013	8%
2014	21%
2015	42%
2016	25%

In conclusion to MMM in 2015, I highlighted a number of garments that were missing from my wardrobe that I wanted to make before MMM 2016. I am happy to report I managed to make a pair of trousers, a shirt (which incidentally I didn't wear this May) and a fully lined jacket (which I also didn't wear).

Plans for 2016 after analysing Me-Made-May.

Re-fashion or donation to charity:

• Bettine dress - Attach a bias section on the skirt to make it longer and therefore more wearable
• Simplicity 9620 dress - not worn this MMM because it's too short. As above.
• Mathilde blouse - Give to charity as I never choose to wear it!
• Grainine Scout in B&W (I didn't wear this version in May) - The cotton is too heavyweight for a top - should I cut up for patchwork?

Future Projects:

• Finish Navy Simplicity 2154 pencil skirt (currently half made)
• Complete black and white By Hand London Flora (currently half made)
• Finish Liberty print Colette Laurel dress (currently 3/4 made)
• Re-work the By Hand London Charlie Dress - the bodice is still not 100% right
• Make another pair of SOI Cigarette Pants - black and white print / Navy / Grey
• Make a Grainline Moss skirt - now I know how to do a fly zip
• Make a pair of Grainline Maritime shorts
• Make more dresses - I have lots of BHL and Christine Haynes patterns in my stash

Overall I have really enjoyed Me-Made-May this year and look forward to seeing how my me-made wardrobe will have evolved by May 2017. Maybe I need to pledge to wear me-made clothes for the full seven days of the week next year?

How did you get on?

Me Made May 2016 Week One

This is my third year taking part in Me-Made-May the brainchild of the lovely Zoe of SoZo Blog.
I pledged to wear something me-made or me-mended / up-cycled every weekday.

I also mentioned I would blog a weekly progress report and share my outfits on Instagram (I have subsequently quit IG due to the overwhelming desire to update my own IG or check other peoples updates in an alarmingly addictive manner). I have scrapped the IG bit of my pledge and will stick to my blog!

My first foray into MMM in 2014 was a rather repetitive and sparse affair.  Since then I have been refining my makes and have taken quite a number of me-makes to the charity shop or am in the process of re-fashioning them. This leaves me with a much more usable wardrobe in 2016 but there is still work to be done....

Day Two

Top: Colette Laurel Top in 100% cotton from Samuel Taylors, Leeds. Made 2015

Jacket: Top Shop 2009

Trousers: Gap

Bangles: Marimekko

Watch: White G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith purple Dante Oxfords

Day Three

Shirt: Gap

Skirt: Simplicity 2154 in poly-cotton twill from Samuel Taylors, Leeds. Made 2013.

Cardigan: Gap

Necklace: Marimekko

Watch: Red G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith black patent loafers

Day Four

Top: Grainline Scout Tee 100% cotton from Sophie, Hong Kong (underlined with cotton batiste). Made 2016

Trousers: Gap

Cardigan: Gap

Watch: Clear solar G Shock

Shoes: Paul Smith brown loafers

Day Five

Top: Gap

Trousers: Sew Over It Cigarette Pants in linen / cotton blend from SOI Clapham. Made 2016

Cardigan: Gap

Watch: White G Shock

Shoes: Paul Smith brown loafers

Day Six

Dress: Vintage hand-made 1960's dress purchased at Pop Boutique, Leeds. Mended 2015

Watch: Olive green G Shock

Shoes: Paul Smith black patent loafers