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"

me made may,scabs and pestilence

Day 2 - MM tee shirt from Built By Wendy Home Stretch book, me made scarflet, me made Tate skirt

Over the past two weeks we have had a litany of minor childhood illnesses.  This has been a learning curve for.  And so in regard to Me Made May day 2, I peaked early this month!  I haven't had much time or energy for the flickr group or for blogging.  My favourite red white and blue combo was on Day 2.  The next day the nagging sore throat I had had only at night for a week developed into tonsilitis.  I felt too crummy for photos.  I felt so crummy I fell asleep on the baby playmat next to Rocket Girl.  Two days later T developed an ear infection that had him up crying at night so we celebrated the May Bank holiday with a trip to the out of hours doctor.  Then he also got impetigo - I didn't know what that was! I do now. 
 

Day 10 Simplicity 3835 top



Day  14 - Simplicity 3835 top, thrifted jeans and cardie



The ear infection didn't go away with the first lot of medicine, back to the doctor again.  The impetigo came back, up.his.nose...eeek.  Not nice.   Back to the doctor again.   Then just a couple of days ago Rocket Girl looked suspiciously spotty.  Back to the doctor again.  I thought maybe she had caught impetigo, but no, she has chicken pox. At 4 and half months.  Phew...now I am home with spotty, contagious baby waiting to see if Little I gets the chicken pox...T has already had it.  So my may pictures are a bit sporadic. Though I have had only two days not wearing me mades!   The eagle eyed among you may notice I managed to get my hair chopped off in the middle of this mayhem...it was the fastest haircut ever I think.  I went to a little salon five minutes walk from my house while a friend sat with T and Rocket Girl.  It is a salon frequented by old ladies and now me!  Head massage??  Don't make me laugh.  They don't do anything as fancy as wash your hair unless you specifically reqest it.  They just quickly chop chop chop.  I has about 4 inches cut off and plenty of layers put in.  It had got so long, but I don't look cute with long hair -I just look like a witch!  My new hair when just washed looks a lot like a Beatles moptop but I can live with that. 



Day 15 - Simplicity Portfolio top,thrifted jeans and cardie, and chaos all around

On day 15 I initially put on my denim Portfolio dress - an old favourite.  Then bending to pick up RG I heard that sound, dreaded by any sewer, Krrrr---ippppp...ppppp....it ripped!  The underarm seam had given up,probably because I strained it by wearing the dress until 7 months pregnant.  Hmmm..  It is waiting to be fixed.

Anyway, in the midst of all this scabby, drippy, yucky illness infestation I had my birthday. Not such a great one but I was given a pair of pinking shears and have been gleefully pinking seams on old me mades ever since.  It is quite a satisfying job.  I also got a tin of Illy and new mug from my lovely friend E.  So here I sit, spotty (but mercifully happy) baby at my feet, drinking coffee and going pink, pink, pink with those shears.  Small pleasures, small pleasures.



Day 16 3835 top - this one is a bit too tight across the bust.  Please note special freaky blurred head effect











 

Self stitched September catching up

Thursday 8th September - Simplicty 3835 made with charity shop curtains.











Friday 9th September - Simplicity 3835 made with Amy Butler fabric

So, another catch up with September pictures. I have tried to wear skirts and bare legs the last couple of days while I still can. The Amy Butler top I made last week. I had the fabric in my stash and the colours fit with my autumn FESA planning. Simplicity 3835 is so quick and simple to sew up. It is my no-brainer, pattern block to sew when I want to have a wearable top quickly. The top hangs slightly stiffly as it is quilting cotton
and so the sleeves puff up a bit too much at time. But the colours and pattern compensate for the awkward fabric.

Saturday 10th September - Me made stripey tee (Sew U Home Stretch), me made denim skirt (Sew Hip Magazine Summer 2009), me made jersey scarf

I am excited about the response to our Birmingham meet up...excited and a bit of trepidation. Sunday 11th September - Me Made top from Simplicity 2295 with vintage lace trim from stash. Self drafted skirt. Both fabrics were from my bin bag stash.

Self stitched September Round Up

Day 4 - Simplicity 3835 top made from a piece of fabric a friend gave me.

I missed photographing the first few days of September, if I promise I was wearing me made clothes will that let me off the hook?

Day 5 - Anna tunic pattern by Amy Butler

I was too busy rushing around to take pics but I cannot remember what I was doing...oh, yes, I was mainly being a taxi service taking the children on last minute meet ups with their friends.

Day 6 - refashioned polka dot top

Day 7 - Simplicity 2245 Portfolio denim dress.

This dress is so comfortable I could wear it almost everyday. Right that's it for now...Little I has returned to nursery today so I am going to do some sewing.

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.

15th March

March 15th - Me made Nora T shirt under Simplicity 3835 top.

This top was originally longer. Last summer I saw some pics of me wearing it that a friend took and decided it was too maternity-tent-like at that length so I shortened it. It is quilting weight cotton so it doesn't drape as well as a lighter weight. The top is made from Amy Butler fabric and the grey flowers in it have faded a lot. I don't know if this is my washing powder and wonder if anyone else has experienced this with Amy Butler fabric? My washing powder was just supermarket non bio.

I woke up this morning with one gummed up infected eye. Yuck. During March so far I have tended to do my hair and put on make up more often. Now no more eye makeup for me due to the red itchy eye. I feel like I am 14 again back in school with conjunctivitis from when we would borrow each others' eye liner and draw inside the eye lids.

Sewingwise I am working on the Uniform Project dress and have been making stupid errors such as sewing the shoulders on the wrong side. I am getting very well acquainted with my stitch unpicker. I am longing to do some quick projects but am trying to concentrate on getting this dress done with much muttering and talking to myself.

10th March

Me Made 3835 top made from a duvet cover and dyed grey, originally blogged here., Me Made Nora tee from Ottobre magazine worn underneath as a vest. My friend Emma's old jeans (thank you Emma xx).

Thursday mornings are "Tots tennis" with Little I so I need to wear something I can run around the sports hall in and comfortably sit down without showing my knickers. This is a community tennis programme where we only pay £1 each week. Isn't that a bargain? I hope it won't be cut in the current climate of funding cuts. Little I is quite a sporty girl and likes going to tennis. Sometimes she even manages to hit the ball. Cue great excitement and high fives.

I am very tired at the moment. Reasons why? After christmas flu, I have had three colds. Most recently one caught from Mr Minnado.

• Little I is finally sleeping better. (She has always woken at least four times a night since being a baby, even now she is almost four years old). But recently I stopped going to her at night simply because I was so exhausted. I just had to do something to improve her sleep patterns and this seems to be improving things. She goes back to sleep by herself much quicker. Sometimes I can't get back to sleep. She still gets up at about 5.30 - 6am - this is good as she used to want to get up at 4.00am - 5.00am. If she sleeps in till 6.00 or 6.30 you can guarantee her brother will get up at 5.00, but at least he can go and read in bed.


• I was awake for no reason between 12 and 1 am this morning. Little I had woken me with shouting in her sleep "No, Michah, stop it" (one of her preschool compadres). She didn't wake but I did.
  
  

So does anyone have any tips for getting some energy? I have started trying to eat more healthily (I am vegetarian). I have read some articles recently about raw food diets and how after a few days of feeling crap you suddenly feel great, have loads of energy and lose inches round the waist! I don't really have time to do completely different diets for me and the rest of the family. I have been trying to eat more raw food, more seeds and nuts. But I have to confess that all fell by the way side in half term when we went to visit my mum.

Anyway, I need some help: Should I be eating raw food, no dairy, more dairy, less bread, more bread, taking supplements. Should I do less or should I exercise more?? Should I give up coffee (NOOOOOOO...) I did make to the gym one day last week and I did feel better for 24 hours afterwards. I have to confess I find the actual gym a bit boring though. This is a commuity run gym for women only and is only on a friday afternoon and a monday morning. It is a bit of a squeeze timewise to get to, I have to leave Little I at preschool, go to gym for 45 minutes then leave with just enough time to change and get to pick T up from school. I am not certain if this is a good thing to keep doing as I hate all the rushing to get around everything. Bonus of this gym is that it is affordable. But I am tempted to just use my spare hour on fridays to do some sewing!

To finish off this post, I keep failing to get my shoes in photos so here they are, tah-dah, knackered converses.

9th March, excuse the mess

Yes, I must tidy up the craft cupboard, things are tumbling out of it.

Me made top Simplicity 3835. Me Made trousers from Sew U book.

Little I has a friend coming to play this morning so time for a quick tidy. The friend has a baby brother so I have been dragging out some baby toys and hiding the playmobil, small lego etc. The blue knitted thing in my hand is actually a knitted whale made by a friend for Little I when she was a baby. I made this top last year using Simplicity 3835 and some fabric from the charity shop. I think it was sheets or possibly curtains. I am not sure if I like the top or not, though it is very comfortable to wear. It is just a bit too patterned for me. But that is one of the things I like about doing these MeMade months - it makes me get out the things I don't often wear and try them out again.

I want to tidy the craft cupboard in the top picture and do a post about it. Both cupboards there came out of a skip at a school. They are really good quality wooden cupboards. I just don't understand why they were being thown out. One day I will round to tidying them up. The little school chairs in the photo were given to us on freecycle when a local infant school replaced all its chairs. Bonkers thinking on behalf of school budgets, but benefit to me (that's BTOBSBBBM if you want a Sigrid-style acronym for the day).

3rd March

Me-made top from Simplicity 3835, originally blogged here.

A strange top in a way as it has such strong horizontal lines in the pattern and these can make me look quite wide.

I struggled to get dressed today and the first me-made shirt I put on had a huge grease stain right in the centre front.

I had a fringe cut before Christmas and think I need to go and get it re cut with more fringe. The hairdresser made it a bit too wispy and half hearted and I keep adding to it with nail scissors...probably not a good idea. It is currently kind of half a fringe. I need more fringe to hide the wrinkles.

Everyone's a winner

This was such a quick pattern to sew up. It is Simplicity 3835 a Built by Wendy pattern. I didn't realise till last week that this pattern has its own flickr group.

I planned to make the dress from the 3835 pattern using my Amy Butler fabric that has been stashed away but first made the top from this Charity shop fabric. I was not sure when sewing it if I would like the end product but I really do now. Unfortunately it is too cold to wear it today, but I plan to wear it as soon as the weather warms up. It seems winter is having one last (I hope) try here today.

There is an identical piece of this fabric up for grabs this week on Zoe's fabric swap. I was lucky enough to be the chosen swapee (is there such a word?) for this week.

You see there were two pieces in the charity shop and I have used one and offered the other on the fabric swap , they were hemmed and I am not sure if they were supposed to be curtains or sheets, but I like the new lease of life this piece has as a top.