me made may

Me Made May 2019 Recap

Me Made May 2019 - Sew DIY

I’ve been doing Me Made May since 2013 (before I was even on Instagram!) and I’ve enjoyed it every year. I love getting to see how people wear their handmade clothing. And now that I’ve started designing patterns, I also get to see how people wear things made with my patterns. It adds a whole new dimension to the month.

Because I’ve been sewing garments for literally decades now, it’s not at all hard for me to wear something that I’ve made everyday. I usually am wearing something that I’ve made. Often, my entire outfit is me made. So, a goal for MMM did not feel as obvious to me. As May 1 approached, I considered what I could do that would be a fruitful challenge for me. I needed something that would keep my interest and hopefully teach me something too.

So, I looked back at my photos from previous years. (Previous MMM blog posts: 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. No recap for 2018.) I couldn’t help feeling that my outfits used to be more fun. More colorful and creative. I decided that my goal would be to have more fun with my outfits. Most days it was fun to wake up and be challenged with having fun. (By the way, I’m an enneagram type 7 so a challenge to have fun is perfect for me.) As the month went on, I did tire of the challenge; especially on days when I was just going to be working at home and wanted to be as comfortable as possible.

Looking back at past years, I think I am wearing fewer colorful things but it’s not super drastic. I’m living in a slightly cooler climate than the first few years I participated and that does limit my wardrobe choices. My summer dresses are just the most fun things in my wardrobe. I guess a takeaway for me is that I should consider incorporating more color into my wardrobe. I did buy a bunch of colorful fabric recently so that will certainly help.

I did try to wear different things everyday which wasn’t challenging because I have a lot of clothes. That did push me to wear things that I haven’t worn in a while and reminded me how much I loved them. In past years, I’ve changed up my accessories more often than I did this year. I’m a little more streamlined now carrying the same purse everyday (this one from Lo & Sons) and wearing the same shoes a lot. It really wasn’t warm enough this month for sandals so I stuck with flats or sneakers.

As far as actual garments, I really have something me-made in every category except for slim fit or skinny pants. Part of my Make Nine list this year includes the Ginger Jeans and I have grey stretch denim. So, this will be the year that I finally make the Gingers. I feel like everybody else has already made them a gajillion times so it’s high time that I tried the pattern myself.

I kind of wish I had had a bigger realization than “oh I need more jeans” but alas. It is what it is. I think about clothing all the time. And I make tons of things so it shouldn’t be a surprise that my wardrobe is packed with the things that I wear often. And things that I am happy to be wearing. So, I will continue doing as I have been. Sewing things I’m excited to try and using fabric from my stash.

Me Made May 2017 Recap

Me Made May 2017 Recap

This month has truly flown by. I feel like it was just a couple days ago when I wasn’t sure if I wanted to participate this year or not. I was feeling kind of meh about the whole thing and not really sure what my goal was. Honestly, my goal is still a little murky. But, quickly after the start of the month, I did start enjoying being more thoughtful about what I would wear. This year was a little different from last year in that I was working fewer days, so my outfits were much more casual than if I was going to be seeing people. When I’m not going to the office I will wear whatever is most comfortable and sometimes that’s just a weird pile of clothes.

Looking back at my recaps from the last few years, I’m happy to see that I’m still wearing a lot of the same clothes. In the last few years, I’ve tried to be more strategic with my making and only make things that will get a lot of wear. With a few exceptions, I’ve done a good job of that.

Me Made May 2016 Part 2

The second half of May found me much busier than the first half. I was working nearly every day (weekends included!) and it was a chore to get dressed as well as find something interesting to wear and photograph it. Those are the days when I just reach for my uniform - jeans and a Lou Box Top because I know it’s going to be comfortable and still look good. It was still unseasonably cool for the second half of May and working in an air conditioned office I had to layer up. It’s really made me realize that my handmade wardrobe is more conducive for warm weather. So, maybe over the next year, I'll add some more jeans and a button down or two to the closet.

ME MADE MAY PART 2 RECAP

Check out the first half right here.

Day 17 Inari Tee in gold dot Nani Iro double gauze

Day 18 Knit Lou Box Top (seen here) and knit pencil skirt (similar here) from the book Built By Wendy Knits

Day 19 Sanibel Dress

Day 20 Ikat print tank

Day 21 Linden Sweatshirt and Seafarer Top

Day 22 Traced Racerback Tank and Hudson Pants

Day 23 Racerback Knit Dress and Halifax Hoodie

Day 24 Gray Scout Tee

Day 25 Polka Dot Ella Top

Day 26 Floral Tania Culottes and Cap Sleeve Nettie Bodysuit

Day 27 Striped Knit Pencil Skirt

Day 28 Chambray Eucalypt DressGeneva Panties and Halfiax Hoodie

Day 29 Silk Inari Dress

Day 30 Baseball Skirt (unblogged, get the pattern here)

Day 31 Floral Tank McCall's M6751 

Have you participated in Me Made May? Did you learn anything about your wardrobe or what you want your wardrobe to be?