Me Made May 2018 Week Three

Me-Made-May week three was a rather hectic affair after a phone call from Ofsted (UK school inspectors). On Monday I didn't leave work until after 9pm hence a rather blurry dark photo at the bus stop. Needless to say, I felt exhausted for the rest of the week but my me-made clothing game was still strong!

Day 14

Top: Old Navy hot-dog print shirt (from the boy's section)

Skirt: Simplicity 2154 Fabric: poly-cotton twill, Samuel Taylors. Made: 2013.

Jacket: Levis denim 

Necklace: Tatty Devine hot dog

Watch: Red G Shock 

Trainers: Nike

Five years later and my red Simplicity 2154 pencil skirt is working hard. It is an easy skirt to make and has a spilt at the back to make it very comfy too. Welcome to my slightly deranged face after working for 16 hours straight in preparation for the Ofsted visit.

Day 15

Top: Simplicity 1634 Fabric: Liberty Tana Lawn. Made: 2015

Trousers: Gap 

Necklace: Tatty Devine me-designed 'Untitled'

Watch: Black G Shock

Shoes: Paul Smith blue suede Miller brogues

The Simplicity 1634 pattern has a vintage vibe with the slash neckline and 3/4 length sleeves and I think it works really well with the colouring of the Liberty Tana Lawn print. The facings have a tendency to flip about so I have sewn some very tiny stitches at the shoulder seams to hold it in position.

Top: Merchant and Mills Camber Set Top. Fabric: John Lewis Viscose. Made: 2016 

Trousers: Gap

Watch: Black G Shock

Necklace: Tatty Devine sewing machine A/W 2017

Socks: Gap

Shoes: Paul Smith red Miller brogues

I wore pretty much the exact same outfit last May. On the left, we have 2018 and on the right 2017. The viscose top has slightly shrunk and my trusty Gap chinos have faded a little, but if it ain't broke.....

Day 17

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

Trousers: Gap

Watch: Black G Shock

Necklace: Tatty Devine stars A/W 2017

Shoes: Paul Smith purple Miller brogues

This was the first shirt I ever made and it is still going strong. I really should make another version in a plain viscose or cotton because the fit is good and it has classic styling.

Day 18

Top: Tilly and the Buttons hacked Bettine top. Fabric: Gingham, Samuel Taylors. Hacked: 2017  

Skirt: Sew Over It Tulip Skirt. Made: 2014

Necklace: Tatty Devine scissors

Watch: Black G Shock

Trainers: Nike

My tiredness and general mental state at the end of the week can be summed up by the twisted skirt and fixed grin in this photo. As a post-Ofsted treat, I called into Ray Stitch in Islington to pick up a zip and some bias binding for a work in progress item which I will hopefully be blogging about soon! The blue Sew Over It Tulip skirt gets lots of wear and my hacked Bettine top is also much more wearable since chopping it into a top.

Day 19 & Day 20

The weekend was spent doing some DIY, hence the fetching attire above. The t-shirts are about 15 years old and are now customised with a variety of household paints. As for the green trousers, I inherited them from my Dad. They used to be his gardening pants and they fit me amazingly well. I keep thinking I should trace the pattern. They are a high-waisted original 1970's trousers with deep pockets and a pin-tucked crease down the front. They would make the perfect work trousers in a smart suiting fabric. 

Are you stuck in a me-made rut with your outfit selections?

Have you noticed any repeat combinations you like to wear again and again?

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?

Sew Over It Ultimate shirt

I have completed my first ever shirt with the fantastic help of sewing teacher Julie at Sew Over It in Islington. I took the Ultimate Shirt class in July which consists of three 3-hour workshops that cover measuring your body, adjusting the paper pattern and then the construction of the shirt. It falls under the advanced skill class and there is homework every week too!

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would be confident enough to try shirt-making on my own now after setting in my second ever collar (the first on my McCall's 6696 shirtdress) and working out the cuff attachment along with the finish of the cuff opening.

All in all it was a great learning experience with lots of opportunity for beautiful neat top-stitching (I can't say it's 100% neat everywhere - but it was my first attempt!)

An added bonus was a friend I met on a sewing workshop years ago (pencil skirt at Saturday Sewing Sessions) also took the class so it was nice catching up again.

I must also mention another sewing friend Alex who kindly took the photos of me in Neals Yard, Seven Dials. This mini photoshoot was fuelled by some rather lovely treats at Hotel Chocolat which we discovered was another shared interest (then again, who doesn't love chocolate!).

The shirt is made in a Liberty Tana Lawn called Plastic Fantastic which I purchased Liberty's online when they had a 50% off abstract prints sale a couple of months ago (which made this only £22.50). I have to admit the fabric turned out a little more lilac than I could tell from the computer screen but I still really like it. The quality and weight of the cotton is delicious! I bought 2 metres and I still have just under half a metre left.... now what could I make with that? Any ideas sewing friends?

My first open set sleeve using a French Seam. You need ALL OF THE PINS! 

Lots of pins to even out the sleeve curve. I managed almost NO puckers in this sleeve which I am immensely proud of.

You must stitch about 2mm around the marked cuff point and then cut to reveal the cuff opening. A bit tricky.

The pattern doesn't ask you to use any form of interfacing on the button stand so I used Stitch and Tear on the reverse side of the buttons to give the fabric a bit more stability when sewing the buttonholes. It really worked a treat!

Happy with 95% of the top-stitching on the shirt. Hopefully next time it will be 100%

Overall I am pretty happy with my new shirt. I now feel I could tackle the Grainline Archer which I have had for over 2 years unused!

Things I changed on the SOI Ultimate Shirt:

• I added 6cm to the length of the sleeve - Yes I know! Gorilla arms....
• I didn't add the front and back darts on this shirt as I felt it worked better without on me
• I sewed the cuff buttonholes the wrong way so must remember NOT to do that next time

Future changes:

• I have already amended the paper pattern by adding an extra bit on back near the shoulders as its a little tight
• Still need to do the corresponding amendment to the top of the shoulder on the front pattern piece
• *Might* lengthen the body for extra tuckability-into-trousers-and-skirts?

Have you got any good tips about shirt making? I would love any advice or tips.