Wardrobe review and Me Made May



A few weeks ago the rail in my wardrobe collapsed at about 3am, waking me up.  The next day I had to pull out all my clothes and get inside the wardrobe to superglue the rail back in place.
The sheer weight of clothes in my overstuffed crappy little wardrobe was what had caused the collapse.  I have given my chest of drawers over to Little I's clothes so all mine have to now cram into one small wardrobe.

 My clothes were liberally scattered round the bedroom for a few days while I sorted them out and got rid of a few.  I took an inventory of my me mades while sorting.  Here's just a few...and a few realisations. 
Patterned fabric: Oh my goodness, I have a lot of patterned woven tops!  They make me dizzy when viewed en masses.  I also have a fair number of patterned skirts! I still have a lack of plain tops.
Loose billowing fit:
I have a lot of patterned woven loose fitting tops.  I feel a huge urge to step away from sewing loose fitting tops and challenge myself to get to grips with fit.  I like wearing my loose fitting tops but am aware they are not always the most flattering, and sometimes look at bit tent like.  I hate to look pregnant when I am not pregnant! Having said that I have recently sewn two tova blouses, as yet unblogged, I think they are my final loose woven tops for a while.  I am closing that door and please feel free to scold me if I suddenly produce more loose fitting woven tops.  What I want to sew to go with all these loose fitting tops is a pair of Sew Liberated skinny jeans and a pair of summer shorts.  I just have no spending money at present to buy fabric or pattern so they'll have to wait. 

Built by Wendy/ Simplicity 3835
Thrifted and dyed duvet cover
Mystery plaid fabric given to me by a friend
Orange and brown floral from thrifted cutain





Built by Wendy/ Simplicity 3835
Amy Butler fabric, Pink floral fabric bought from Clothkits, floral Amy Butler fabric

Simplicity 3835

Oh my, I have made this six times.  For a while it was my automatic go-to pattern for a speedy sew.   I wear the floral orange and brown, the brown spotty Amy Butler every week at the moment. They hide a multitude of cake eating.   The grey about every fortnight.  The others are short sleeved so I wear them a lot in the summer.  The floral Amy Butler is too tight around the bust and having seen how unflattering it is in photos I have designated it to being unpicked and re-used. 
Simplicity 2599
The reason why I never made a Colette Sorbetto top was I was already using this pattern.

All the 2599 tops are my go-to summer wear.  I have made it five times I think, maybe more.   Just two are in the photo below.

L to R:  Simplicity 2599, Anna Maria Horner Museum tunic, Simplicity 2259, Simplicity Portfolio top

Looking at these clothes I have sewn makes me feel a bit dizzy with patterned fabric.

With this being just a glimpse at my me-made clothes, I think it is definitely time I posted my Me Made May pledge. 

'I, Debbie, of Minnado's House, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '13. I endeavour to wear me-made garments  each day for the duration of May 2013'

And I repeat, "I will stay away from loose fitting top sewing, I will, I will, I will"

MM May days 22 - 26 and being upstaged

Another catch up for May....lying in bed at 4.00am this morning having been woken by by the neighbours happily and drunkenly shouting, I thought of all my me made clothes that are still in the loft....I bagged lots of summer clothes up when pregnant in the winter and shoved them up there to create space.  Now suddenly it is hot I want them back! Still never mind, I am wearing what is not in the loft.  I have new found love for my Portfolio franken trousers made last summer.  They are practical and cool on a hot day and great for running around in.  (My favourite RTW summer trousers are still in the loft).  I still love my Simplicity 2259 tops - the reason why I haven't made a Sorbetto is that I already had this simple tank pattern.    

Day 23 - Simplicity 2259 in tartan, Simplicity 2245 portfolio trousers

On the way to school, Day 24 - my first ever Simplicity 2259 and portfolio trousers



Upstaged by Rocket Girl



 Little I took the photo below for me, waiting for her big brother to come out of his classroom.  I am totally upstaged by Rocket Girl.  Oh and that is not a picnic basket but the basket that Little I needs to transport the selection of pink tat she HAS to take with her.

 On friday the flickr group theme was water and I tried a shot in the bathroom, the light was so bad it didn't work, plus look who got in on the act? Totally upstaged again.



Upstaged by Little I



Day 25 -  Mariposa tunic

I haven't yet blogged my new tunic - it is another Mariposa by Anna Maria Horner.  I used some echino linen and pink polka dot bias binding.  I am not sure if it is too much crazy pattern or pretty.  I will do better photos and a related post soon so you can decide for me.  Much better to let others make decisions. 

On Saturday  I was pleased to find my summer Simplicity 3964 dress was not in the loft but at the bottom of a drawer.  It is a  great dress to wear on a hot day as it is so loose and made in some lovely Kaffe Fasset shot cotton.  





Day 26 - Simplicity 3964 - note door is shut to keep out those upstaging kids



Yay - finished objects or New/Old School Style

I have been sewing in small pockets of time for the last month, based on my Summer Essentials Sewalong Plan. And finally I have two finished objects to share. Yippeee - it is so nice to have actually been able to finish some things. I don't know what you will think but think both these items have a vintage air to them. Like many other Me-Made Month participants, I identified the need for plain tops in my me-made wardrobe. The top is Simplicity 2259 (again, sorry about that, really must try and find another pattern). It is made from some not-very nice white fabric I found in my bin bags stash. Seriously, it isn't very nice fabric, maybe it is some kind of cotton/poly blend but it is a little stiff and creases quite a lot. I would love to be able to make this top in a nice cotton lawn or cotton pique, but I am trying not to buy new fabrics and to use up the stash, so the not-very-nice fabric it is.

Lace detail

I started making the top back in May hoping to have it finished to wear in Me Made June but other things got in the way. First of all I made a peter pan collar to go on this but I made it wonky and the fabric was so thin it showed all the seams. So that went into the scrap bag. Then, I had a plan to make it with a small box pleat down the front. Then, when I rolled the neck edge and hemmed it, it looked a little clumsy so I covered it up with lace instead.

This was about the only white lace I had in my stash, most of the lace I have is creamy or coffee coloured. I have looked at this piece of lace for ages now (only about three years), wondering how to use it. I like it on this top, and think it gives it a bit of a retro look.

A view without cardigan

The skirt I made from a piece of fabric I also found in my bin bag stash. I love this fabric. It has a barkcloth texture and I am guessing it is 1960s or 50s. Despite washing and hanging out on the line over several days it still has a faint eau-de-musty to it. I kept the skirt really simple, just a rectangle with a casing and elastic for the waist because I was so reluctant to cut into this fabric! I also lined it with a very lightweight leaf patterned fabric a friend passed on to me. This may sound nice but really, believe me, the leaf pattern is old-lady blouse and not in a good way. It does make good lining fabric though.

I had hesitated over making the skirt because I liked the fabric so much. But I rationalised that it is better to give it a new lease of life than be stuck in a cupboard.

The only thing I spent money on in making these two items was the elastic and at some time I would have bought the thread. Plus two pieces of fabric rescued from being hidden away in the cupboard.

More MMJ - 18, 19, 20 and 21

The days just seem to go by so fast with MMJ posts to catch up with. Thank you to those of you who commented with your thoughts on MMJ and blog posts. It was fascinating to read them.

Day 18

Up and out early to take Little I and T to tennis club. This will be funny to anyone who knows me in real life as I am a very unsporty person with great uncoordination and yet here I am - tennis mum. Who would have thought it?

In the afternoon it was T's school summer fete and funny weather. I wore Simplicity 2259 - this was the first one I made and I wear it a lot. It is quite a light fine cotton. As it was chilly I wore charity shop gap jeans and boots. I needed to wear something with lots of pockets for holding the kid's coins at the fete. The fete was good fun the bouncy castle was bouncy, the cake stall was full of fairy cakes with sprinkles on top, and I found a great bargain of a set of wooden painted coat pegs on a board for 20p. I will be putting it up in our new house to encourage coat hanging up.

Day 19 - Sunday

This is the only day of the week when I don't have to get up and be somewhere early! I was so tired. I snuck back into bed three times but Little I and T kept finding me. Honestly - these children - I mean they wanting feeding and everything!

I wore a stripey pink and white t shirt made using the Sew U Homestretch

t shirt pattern. I gave this shirt a scoop neck and three quarter length sleeves. I don't think it is particularly flattering on me but it is comfy and good under other things! However, I thought it would look nice with this

old pink cardigan and the photos showed me it looks not so great! The t shirt sleeve bunches up under the cardigan. Bleurgh.

Day 20

Not a great photo to show detail of my top. But look I am shockingly out of my house! It is an Amy Butler Anna Tunic. This was the first Anna tunic I made and the neckline is a bit high. I have made two more since then and have lowered the neckline on them both.


Here is an old photo showing the tunic slightly better. I love this pattern. It is really easy to follow and can be made to different lengths to give different results. I didn't line this tunic as per the instructions but just bias bound the armholes instead.

Day 21

Me Made Simplicity 2259 floral top and Me Made skirt from Built by Wendy

I hope this outfit would in magazinespeak be subtle muted neutrals, not dull and boring.


Little I was determined to join in. Please note the shoes...they are ebay Keds bought at easter but I hadn't blogged them yet. They are quite comfortable, with a quilted inner sole and have lovely spotty trim and spotty wedges. And even better they were only £5! They have hardly been worn. I love them as I like wedges, and I like spots. I tend to fall over in heels. (Even without any alcohol)

7th June and 8th June

Day 7:
Me Made Simplicity 2599 top, tate skirt - an outfit I am comfortable wearing. It got too cold by lunch time though and I had to swap my skirt for some trousers. The top is so nice to wear as it is made from some cotton lawn, really light and lovely, originally blogged here.
Verdict: I could wear this every day. (Though that could get boring and a bit smelly) I find it almost impossible to be sad in this top.

Day 8:

I am trying to wear some of my unworn me-mades that languish in the back of the wardrobe. Me Made stripey vest blogged here and refashioned denim dress. Scarf made by my mum about ten years ago. I have never worn this dress. I bought it last summer in a charity shop and shortened it and made patch pockets for the front. Every time I try it on I am worried the poppers will pop open as I wear it. It is so cold that I put jeans and boots on underneath. But that may change if I get warmed up!

Verdict: The vest is a great staple, especially for wearing underneath other items. The denim dress? Unsure, ask me later.

Me Made June, Days 1 -3

So first three days of Me Made June have passed already. It's half term here and it has been hard to find time for blogging. I hope to catch up next week. In doing the Me Made June challenge I want to try and test out my me made clothes this month and look critically at what does and doesn't work.

An over exposed pic but the only one that shows the length of this dress - see Day 2 for details.
Day One:
Simplicity 2599 top and Tate skirt, sewn from Sew Hip Magazine.

Look - an Action Shot

I made this top at the beginning of May from a brown floral print cotton that came out of my Devon binbags. I have not blogged about it yet, I will try and do that once half term is over. (I do like spending time with my kids honest) The skirt is one I wear a lot. It has big pockets which I love but when I look at it in photos it seems a bit too wide. Especially with this top. But, this was a great outfit for the purpose of a day mucking about with mud, walking the woods. The big pockets are great for car keys and holding the stone collection we always gather in the woods.

Verdict: Yay..goodie goodstein outfit.

Day Two

Hmmm..... where to begin? This dress was refashioned from two t shirts. I based it on the Home Stretch Sew U pattern. It was easy to make but after wearing it I have realised it needs a few tweaks:

• It is too long. That should be straightforward to fix.
  


• When I made it, I took the bodice sides in, copying the bodice shape from Sew U but it still kind of bags out around the bust making me look bigger-chested and much saggier than I really am. This is not a look I am keen on!



• The dress is very dark navy, I think it could be good for winter or season changes.
  
  My main problem with this dress was the fact that I was really aware of my rounded tummy while wearing it! Especially when out in a museum and I took my daughter to a special child and parent toilet with a child height mirror. A child height mirror which started at an adult's waist and went to about mid calf. Ugh, what a perspective. I am considering the possibility of magic knickers now. (And exercise, less cake, etc, etc) If you were to look back at my me made clothes in this blog you may notice that I tend to always sew and wear things that cover my stomach area. Wearing this dress really did challenge my own neuroses. No one else noticed or cared. (Or if they did they are English and therefore probably wouldn't say anything anyway).
  
  So Day Two was definitely a learning experience. On a positive note the dress was really comfortable to wear and felt lovely.

Verdict: Just don't know...seemed good in my head and on the hanger, not so sure in real life.

Day 3:

Refashioned skirt.

I am glad that Claudine in the flickr discussions suggested a spinning pose for today as it meant I wore this skirt solely for its spin potential. I remade it about 6 weeks ago and hadn't worn it. It is fuller than I usually wear a skirt but I really liked it. The photo below shows what it was like originally. It was too long and too narrow for me. (It also came out of my binbags of fabric) It is a beautiful cotton fabric which I loved. It reminds me of lying down and looking up through a tree on a sunny day.

I cut it where it got wider and made a new waistband and side fastening. I was able to keep the hem and side seams.

Verdict? I like it. I just need to find suitable tops for it. I think it could look sweet with a retro style cardigan and blouse...
Off to do some sit ups now...just joking..off to bed really.

I am back

This is a view I have been looking at A LOT for the past few weeks. Little I had a (second hand, of course) bike for her birthday and she rides it to preschool everyday. I am glad to report we have now got a basket strapped to the back so her doll no longer has to be tied on with a bit of string but can ride in more style.

I have been busy sewing while offline - pictured is a Simplicity 2599 top I made from a piece of fabric that I found in my Devon binbags. I only had a small piece and was just able to cut the top out.I ditched the facings for both neck and armholes and instead did a tiny hand rolled hem on each. This has become one of my go-to tops now and I wear it several times a week.

Other misadventures include a morning in A &E last week when Little I swallowed a 1p coin. Ah, the joy of parenting. She had an x-ray to check where it was, then we were left to let nature take its course. (Which it did, I will spare you the details)

I have more sewing to show you soon, and a giveaway to celebrate being back online again.

not too far away

I am sorry for the lack of posting recently. This is because our computer broke two weeks ago and we cannot get it to work. On the same day some one drove into the back of my car at a roundabout and it is a write off! (That was not a good day). The good news is none of us were seriously hurt, just shaken up.
So I have been occupied over the last two weeks with phone calls and insurance paperwork. I have also been busy with little I's fourth birthday last week. Sadly as I have no PC I cannot show you any photos. I am just writing this on a public access computer in my local library, I am not keen to load my photos onto a public access PC.
I am really missing my blog friends and all your lovely comments and reading blogs. I feel so left out!!

BUT with the extra time I now have in the day I made quite a lot of things...of course I can't show you photos today but trust me I am telling you the truth...I have made two Simplicity 2599 tops, missing out the ruffles and facings. I made Little I a Kiki doll from Clothkits for her birthday, and I just have the hem left to do on an Amy Butler Anna mini dress. I've also started making a dress for Little I. All these clothes are made with fabric from my bin bags hauled back from Devon in February. Hurray for free fabric!

I hope to have things up and running and back to normal blogging service soon - I hope you can bear with me. I just have to find a replacement car superfast...this is not the kind of shopping I enjoy! Once that is all sorted I will be able to relax and sort out my computer situation.
I have an old drafted post that I forgot to publish last month to share with you soon.

Memade March

Round up of Me made March:

I enjoyed most of March though it was blighted by having a cold, and an eye infection. I missed about three days of photos but did manage to wear something Me Made each day. Taking a daily photo made me more aware of my moods and energy levels

• I put pockets into my sack dress


• fixed the wonky hem on the red button skirt pictured top.


• I took apart and resewed my duvet top giving it bigger sleeves.


• I am really glad that I had the impetus to do these little adjustments which made the clothes much more wearable.


• I am coming to not mind (not quite at liking yet) my own image in photos although I did crop off my head some days as I just couldn't share the bad hair, no make up, under eye bags.


• There were a few of my clothes I didn't bring out for March as they are too summery


• I tried a bit harder with different tights and boots which was fun


• I couldn't keep up with Flickr this time


• I could really do with a pair of shoes to wear with skirts, hmmmm, thinking about this one

• I do have a good collection of Me Made clothes but am lacking trousers

31st March - Me Made Simplicity 2245 top, Me Made Tate Denim skirt

21 March and a catch up

This is a hydraulic climbing system. You have to work out a sequence of pressing buttons to make the "things" climb. This exhibit clearly demonstrates how differently my brain works from my son's. He can figure it out, I am clueless, in a kind of foggy, cotton wool head way.

On Sunday morning we went once again to this place. (Can you tell I have an annual pass?) This exhibit which T is working on shows how materials can be sorted for recycling. It is very clever, but to my mind it also demonstrates the repetitive futility of processes - as soon as you think you have completed all stages you have to start over again, and again, and again. What is it that children like so much about repetition and adults don't? Anyway I don't want to get too metaphysical and make you have to THINK, so quick let's get back to clothing.

17th March - Me made Amy Butler tunic, ebay jeans and ancient Zara cardigan. Apologies for over exposure. And somehow thursday got missed off last week.

19th March - Me made t shirt, Me Made Tate skirt, H&M cardigan

20th Me made Simplicity 3835 top but no photosorry I was too busy putting balls into machines in the museum (again and again and again).

21st March - Me made Simplicity 2559 top, charity shop trousers.

16th March

Me made Simplicity 2599 top, Me made trousers from Built By Wendy Sew U. Refashioned cardigan.

It took so long....Simplicity 2599

This top has taken me almost two months to sew - not because it is esepcially tricky but because it was so hard to find the time. I made it as a birthday gift for my friend and so worked to a higher standard of finish than I probably would have done if it was for me!
I bought the Amy Butler fabric at the Quilts UK expo at the NEC in August. All I can say now is."Phew..."

Next challenge is to post it before the postal strike. This is more of a challenge as my daughter currently refuses her pram and insists on walking to the local post office. She also refuses hand holding. Problem is we have a major building site at the end of our road and a burgeoning tesco store with heavy traffic. I have to bribe her into the pram with food. She can (and does) climb out once strapped in - when the food runs out!

The surrounding dragonflies were made by the kids at Apple Day(http://greenwoodcentre.org.uk/). More on that later.