Skip to main content

Me-Made-May: I'm Giving it a Try!

I bet you've been wondering where I've been?! Between work and home, I've been keeping myself REALLY busy! I've had a few fabric buying/selling trips in the past two weeks and at home, I hosted a Mother's Day dinner, worked in my yard, set up my vegetable garden and trying to keep up with the daily grind. My husband and I have also been planning small getaways for various weekends throughout the summer, so we had our first this weekend to Gettysburg, PA! 

Before May began, I really wanted to participate in Me-Made-May. I wanted to make a real effort to wear my handmade clothes and learn to love them (if I didn't care for them all that much.) But with everything that was going on, I just didn't want to add more to my schedule or put pressure on myself. It was just more to think about on a daily basis! But after reading some of the pledges, I came to the conclusion that I can set myself really small goals! So here is my goal:




I, Julie from Fabric Mart Fabricistas, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '14. I will wear at least one handmade garment, three days a week, for the duration of May 2014. I also pledge to sew using only indie patterns for the entire month of May.

So I have two pledges--remember how I said I didn't want to put too much pressure on myself? Well I didn't give myself a number of items I planned to sew, so if I only make one, it's ok! Three garments seemed to be attainable, so I wanted to give it a try. 

I'm three weeks into the challenge. How am I doing?
I've been able to keep up with wearing at least three handmade garments every week. Actually it was a little harder than I thought. I don't have enough casual garments appropriate for the weather to get through the month! So I'll definitely be re-wearing some of my creations. I was really surprised by this because I felt like I would have more than enough to get me through the month. Here are my downfalls: I have a lot of dresses and skirts that are not suitable for everyday wear. To fulfill the pledge, I was able to get away with some of the dresses for an event or two and going to church. This definitely brought to my attention the fact that I need more casual things in my wardrobe! I need basics! (And rid of the not so great RTW basics in my closet.) 


This is only a few of the items I have worn in the past three weeks. A few of the other items I never blogged about and forgot to take photos when I wore them! I wear my Minoru Jacket a lot, almost everyday! It is so comfortable and perfect for the cool mornings and breezy days. 

The other part of my pledge was to sew only with Indie Sewing Patterns. This has been really easy because I stock piled a few in the previous months. And what patterns do I want to make in the near future? Casual is key! 

Currently on the sewing machine: 

Abby Cardi by StyleArc
I am a huge fan of StyleArc Patterns. Since they are coming from Australia, I buy a number of patterns at one time. I want to get the most out of my shipping costs! I've made the Abby Cardi before. This time I'm making it out of a lightweight Missoni-look Sweater Knit.



Up and coming: 
I still want to tackle pants. I started some pants in early spring, but have yet to finish them. I'd like to try the Clover by Colette Patterns. Reviews on this? What do you think about it?


I also would like to make some casual tops for spring/ summer but do not have any in mind at the moment. 

Who else is participating in Me-Made-May? How are you fulfilling your pledge? 

Comments

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Pattern Emporium’s Lyrical Top Featuring Fabric Mart Fabrics

 Sewn in a lightweight  rayon challis , this top combines style, comfort, and fluidity. There’s one thing I love in a summer sew: effortless drape—and the Lyrical Top by Pattern Emporium delivered just that. This pattern is a new release, and when I spotted this dreamy rayon challis from Fabric Mart Fabrics, I knew it was the perfect pairing. Lightweight, breathable, and with just the right amount of movement, the fabric really brought the pattern to life. Today, I’m sharing all the details—from fabric choice and construction to styling and fit—plus a few thoughts on why this top might just become a repeat sew. Pattern Overview: The Lyrical Top by Pattern Emporium The Lyrical Top is a relaxed-fit design with bloused sleeves and a gently flared frill cuff. It comes with three sleeve lengths and two neckline variations. I chose the tie-neck view, but there’s also a collar option for a slightly different vibe. I’ve been looking to add more stylish tops to my wardrobe this year, a...

Made By A Fabricista: Oversized Jenna Shirt for Summer Fun

 I may or may not have had several meltdowns during the making of this Closet Core Jenna Shirt… But let’s back up first. During the month of May, I promised to wear handmade garments every single day for the popular sewing challenge “Me Made May.” I really enjoyed thoughtfully putting together my outfits each day. While I was doing this, I was taking notes of the gaps in my wardrobe. Particularly, I don’t have many transitional shirts that could work for on-camera work attire and be comfortable for the weekend. When I saw this delicious cotton lawn on the Fabric Mart website, I knew that I wanted to make a button up shirt that would be both work appropriate and a nice overshirt for summer evenings over my tanks and tees.  I have made a few button up shirts before using a vintage Stretch & Sew pattern but I decided to try my hand at the Closet Core Jenna Shirt (up to a 60” chest) which has had rave reviews on social media and pattern sites for being a great pattern with e...

Made By A Fabricista: A matching set and a happy error.

 Hi sewing friends! Today I’m sharing a new outfit I made inspired by looks I’ve been seeing pop up in my Facebook and IG feeds a LOT this year. I’m talking about those monochromatic matching top and bottom outfits, sometimes in linen, sometimes in a flowy knit - the ones that advertise they go effortlessly from loungewear to office wear to going out wear. So I decided to “sew the look” using Fabric Mart fabric and a few patterns I already in my massive pattern library. First, let me share that I have very few solid color pieces in my closet. I’m so taken in by whimsy and geometric prints that this is still a gaping hole in my wardrobe -  a matching solid color set was actually a practical addition for me.  So let me walk you through how I created this look, and also tip you off to an error I made while cutting that worked out pretty well after all. Can you spot the error? Hint - it’s somewhere in the top: Here’s how I went about building my matchy match outfit. And here’...