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 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 Three

In May the spring weather always plays a big part in what you decide to wear in terms of practicality. On most mornings this week it was fairly cool, changing throughout the day to a sticky humid warmth. Hence my rather chaotic range of spring-like then autumn-inspired outfits.

I am looking forward to doing a geeky bit of stats analysis at the end of this Me-Made-May. It will be interesting to see what things I am naturally drawn to wearing again and again and those items that I am digging out of the pile having last been worn during MMM2015. A cursory observation at this mid-way point is my most recent makes are getting more wear because they are well constructed with better quality fabrics compared to those garments made a couple of years ago.  

Day Sixteen

Top: American Apparel

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

Necklace: Tatty Devine Atomic necklace A/W 2015

Watch: Red G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith blue suede Miller brogues

Day Seventeen

Top: Grainline Scout Tee in knit from Girl Charlee UK. Made 2015

Trousers: Gap 

Necklace: Tatty Devine me-made at Brick Lane workshop March 2016

Watch: Olive G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith black patent Marcello loafers

Day Eighteen - photo taken at the end of a long day, hence major creases!

Top: Gap

Trousers: Sew Over It Cigarette Pants in Herringbone Linen blend from SOI, Clapham. Made 2016

Necklace: Wooden pendant hand-made by my Dad for my Mum when they were dating in the late 1960's

Watch: White G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith tan Marcello loafers

Day Seventeen

Top: Grainline Scout Tee in David David silk. Made 2014

Trousers: Gap 

Watch: Red G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith blue suede Miller brogues

Day Nineteen - Evening - A quick change from work clothes for a mid-week theatre trip

Top: Grainline Linden in Liberty knit. Made 2016

Trousers: Diesel jeans
Jacket: Levis

Watch: Olive G Shock 

Trainers: New Balance

Day Twenty

Dress: Simplicity 9620, cotton sateen Samuel Taylors, Leeds. Made 2014.

Cardigan: Gap

Belt: Vintage 80's from Pop Boutique, Leeds

Watch: Clear G Shock 

Shoes: Paul Smith purple Dante

How has your Me-Made-May been this week?

Have you found it difficult to get the right outfit due to crazy weather?

Me-Made-May 2015 final week

My second year of participating in Me-Made-May hosted by the lovely Zoe was so much easier because I had a wider range of me-made clothing to choose from.
I pledged to wear me-made clothing and accessories from Monday to Friday again as I am still finishing the renovation of my house and knew I would be wearing the same painted DIY clothes most weekends. Having said that I did manage to squeeze in a few me-made outfits on the odd weekend when popping out of the house.

Before I conclude my 'findings', this is what I wore for the final week of May.

Day 23

Top: American Apparel

Skirt: Marilla Walker Ilsley skirt - me-made 2015

Scarf: Marimekko

Jacket: Levis

Shoes: Vans

Day 24

Top: American Apparel

Skirt: Warhol Dolores Pocket skirt - me-made 2015

Shoes: Birkenstock

Day 26

Top: Gap

Dress: Simplicity 9620 - me-made 2014

Leggings: Abercrombie and Fitch

Shoes: Vans

Day 27

Dress: Blue vintage dress - me-mended 2014

Shoes: Vans

Day 28

Top: Uniqlo t-shirt (Jonathan Adler collaboration)

Skirt: Colette Ginger skirt - me-made 2013

Leggings: Warehouse

Necklace: Marimekko

Shoes: Paul Smith purple Dante brogues

Day 29

Dress: Dixie DIY Bonnell - me-made 2015

Day 30

Top: 1970's vintage

Skirt: Marilla Walker Ilsley skirt - me-made 2015

Shoes: Birkenstock

My colourful final Me-Made-May 2015 collage.

Observations

I don't think it needs spelling out but I will anyway; I love separates!

As you can see from the above collage I have a wide range of black and white OR solid colour separates interspersed with a generous sprinkling of colourful abstract prints.

Seven new makes

I managed to make lots of new items in April and May that broadened my selection of me-made choices this year; Liberty Simplicity 1634 top, self-drafted tree skirt, Colette Laurel top, Colette Spotty Sorbetto top, Liesl & Co Everyday skirt, Warhol Dolores Pocket skirt and Dixie DIY Bonnell dress.

Conclusions and challenges

I enjoyed it much more this year as I have been honing my me-made wardrobe since MMM 2014, but there is still work to be done. I mentioned in my concluding comments last year that I needed to make some trousers - looks like this will be something I need to address before next MMM! I would also like to bust more of my fabric stash, actually make some of the dresses from my embarrassingly extensive collection of patterns , make a button up shirt and maybe some shorts. 

Favourite thing

My favourite aspect of taking part in MMM is the sense of camaraderie and friendship from other sewing bloggers. I loved the daily scroll through the Flcker group and instagram photos as well as discovering some awesome new blogs to read.

I have now added the following amazing sewers to my ever-expanding blog roll:

• Kathrina from Frobelina
• This is Moonlight
• Jo Sews
• Just Sew Jenna
• Sew Amy Sew

I am already looking forward to Me-Made-May 2016 and I hope that I will have met some of my sewing ambitions during the rest of the year.

The seven year shift or Simplicity 9620

I realised during Me-Made-May that I wear seperates a lot! They are more versatile for my day-job and I enjoy mixing things up with different combinations too.

I do like a nice dress though and in April, as the realisation of MMM loomed closer I figured that I did need to mix things up a bit. Enter Simplicity 9620 in black and white plaid.

This was not a conscious choice of pattern but happened to be a UFO that had sat in my stash pile for about seven years! It had moved house in this unfinished state two times - can you believe that!?

Anyway, back to the pattern.
It is a very easy make. A simple cut on fold for both the front and back (you heard it! NO fastenings) with bust darts and back darts with facings for the neckline and armholes.

The main body of the dress had already been sewn together (seven years ago) so the only thing that I needed to finish on the plaid shift was the facings and hem. I had the neck-facings already cut out but only one armhole facing; and with no extra plaid fabric I had to free-style the finish on the armholes with a rolled hem (machined on the first roll, then hand-stitched on the second).

It didn't take me very long to finish this little cutie and made me wonder why it was abandoned in the first place. The only issue I have with my finished garment is the placing of the plaid. I obviously was not as detail focussed when I originally cut this shift out seven years ago; if I had the chance to re-do it I would make sure the prominent white line in the plaid was centralised in the middle of the dress. I would also aim to match the side seams better too.

At least it shows with extra practise and the help of fellow bloggers like Andrea,  Katie,  Tilly, Winnie and Jen I have improved my eye for detail and my knowledge of garment sewing. Yeah!

Me-Made-May 2014 week three and NYLon14

Wow, week three has been crazy! Firstly the sun has been out so it has opened up more wardrobe options, which is great... and secondly I got through to the interview stage (on Thursday) for a new job I applied for on Monday - is it weird that some of my first thoughts about the interview was "What me-made things can I wear?"

Onto the me-made round-up where I managed to wear me-mades for six out of the seven days.

Day 12

• Colette Sorbetto in white polka dot cotton. I modified the pattern by adding pin-tucks.
• Gap black trousers
• Gap green cardigan
• Me-made Tatty Devine bunting necklace
• Paul Smith purple Dante brogues

My old faithful Gap trousers let me down on Monday because during the morning I felt a little extra waft of air around my derriere and realised to my horror that the back of my trousers had literally worn away and ripped. 
Luckily, I have a sewing machine at work so I fashioned a wrap style skirt out of a big scrap of fabric and quickly sewed a patch on the hole! I never thought I would be adding to my me-made wardrobe with some on-the-spot mending!

Day 13

• Simplicity 2154 in red twill. Such a lovely fit on this - I definitely need to make another one!
• Gap white and navy polka dot shirt
• Paul Smith blue Miller brogues

Day 14

• Grainline Scout Tee in black and white polka dot cotton - I need to take some of the excess fabric out of the back by running a centre seam through it. I felt slightly uncomfortable in this the whole day.
• Blue Gap trousers
• Uniqlo scarf Celia Bertwell collection
• Paul Smith grey Dante brogues

Day 15 - Job interview day

• Me-made Tatty Devine bunting necklace
• Gap black and white polka top blouse
• United Colours of Bennetton charcoal grey suit (bought in the sale for £45 three years ago)
• Gap charcoal grey tights
• Paul Smith red Miller brogues

Bit of a tricky one here because I felt a lot of my me-made clothes would not be suitable for a job interview. Needless to say I managed to sneak in my me-made Tatty Devine necklace into to mix. In case you are wondering, I GOT THE JOB! Yipeeeeee

Day 16 - Too Pretty for Pants

• 1960's Vintage dress - me-mended (fixed a hole, re-covered the butti=ons and did some minor fittings adjustments)
• Warehouse black leggings
• Clarks gold sandals 

I wasn't sure what the Friday theme was all about, but I guessed it was about not wearing pants (which in a UK sense could get you arrested in some parts of the country - but from a US perspective it means NO trousers... I assume?)

Day 17 - NYLon14 - Sewing bloggers meet up at the V&A

• Simplicity 9620 - in a lovely soft medium weight cotton with some stretch bought from Samuel Taylors in Leeds
• Top Shop black belt (not in this photo)
• Clarks gold sandals (not in this photo)

Yesterday was such a gloriously sunny day for NYLon 2014 - it was my first ever attendance to a sewing bloggers meet-up and I wasn't sure what to expect. I did know that I wanted to walk to the V&A because the weather was so lovely so I set off at 09.30 and got there with plenty of time to spare.

After signing up to attend the event via Rachel's blog over at houseofpinheiro I knew I would wear my yet to be blogged about SImplicity 9620 because its such a lovely fabric and its a comfortable dress to wear (after wearing my other black and white plaid version on the first day of Me-Made-May). It was the perfect choice due to the weather turning out soooo lovely and warm the simple shift dress was not too clingy and the bright coloured print was nice and cheerful for such a fab morning.

Here is a great shot of all the sewing blogers and their fabulous hand-made garments. Check out the gorgeous colours, prints and styles - such amazing ladies!!

I mis-understood about the NYLon name tag swap - this had been organised by Rachel a month or two ago where she had paired up bloggers to make name tags for each other (which I didn't realise and made my own tag). I started it on Friday night and then got up early on Saturday to finish off; the advantage of making your own is that it co-ordinated with my outfit!

The following ladies and I had a good old chat about sewing, patterns, seams and pretty much any other sewing related stuff at NYLon and I am going to add them to my blogroll. It was really great to meet you all:

• Claire from The Panda Sews
• Ingrid from We the Sewing
• Alex from Alexandra Law
• Tamsin from Pimp my Curtains
• Janet from Kitchen Table Sewing

Me-Made-May 2014 week one

So I have slightly veered off my original pledge already!
My intention was to wear me-made-makes from Monday to Friday every week and then at the weekend wear my delightful DIY gear (Do-It-Yourself in the demolition / house renovation sense rather than the lovely sewing-blogesque stuff).

I totally forgot that this weekend is a Bank Holiday and me and my other half had already planned some house renovation for Monday - i.e. I will be wearing my DIY gear rather than a lovely me-made-mash-up. So whilst I was out and about today I made sure I wore a me-made outfit to cancel out my non-me-made tomorrow!... hope that makes sense?

I have joined the Flickr group so you can see my full outfits on there. Here is the breakdown of me-mades:

Day One

• Simplicity 9620 black and white plaid shift dress (will blog about this later in the week)
• Warehouse black leggings 
• Paul Smith red dip-dyed Miller brogues

Day Two

• Clothkits Trellick Tower skirt kit (People will always need plates collaboration)
• Gap black long sleeved t
• American Apparel black leggings
• Black vans

Day Three

• Colette Ginger skirt in cerise pink cotton (version 3, fully lined and cut on the bias)
• Uniqlo t-shirt (Jonathan Adler collaboration)
• Warehouse black leggings
• Paul Smith purple Dante brogues
• Marimekko necklace

Well as you can see straight away I seem to have favoured black, white and cerise pink for my first three me-made outfits - which I only really noticed when compiling the images for Flickr and this post. It wasn't intentional, honest?!

Tomorrow I will be wearing this delightfully decorated outfit for some fun activities including, re-routing central heating pipes, plumbing in a shower and fixing down plywood onto floor joists....