Me made may days 28-31

And we've made it to the end!

Day 28 - I finished my choppy seas socks and put them straight on my feet. I want to make more of these. I also wore a handmade blouse.

Day 29 - the wiksten tova got another wear. I definitely want to make another one of these.

Day 30 - more socks and another blouse

Day 31 - My newest t shirt. Definitely stretched the neckline on this. Still learning how to sew with knit fabrics.

So, the end of my second me made may. This was far easier than last year as I've got far more handmade clothes. Hand knit socks are normal wear for me now. I do still regularly wear most of my handmade clothes and definitely have got better at sewing. The problem this year is that having lost a total of 2 stones 5 lbs my handmade wardrobe is rather on the large side.

I have spent time looking at clothes in the shop and not buying them, because I can make them myself. I've been looking more carefully at details that make them look less homemade - mostly on the inside so I've been trying to use French seams where possible. I want to learn to add other things,  like twill tape and more bias binding to make it look good on the inside too.

I feel like I have a good core set of patterns now to produce a variety of tops and skirts. My next plans include a dress for a wedding from the Great British Sewing Bee sew your own wardrobe book, and a pair of full length trousers. So far I've done shorts and crop trousers.

I am becoming more decided about the fabrics I like - linen, cotton and now denim having made a pair of shorts. I'm not going to attempt jeans yet as I've not seen a pattern I really like and I still love the fit of Debenhams Mantaray jeans.

I've got a shirt under construction and a vest top cut out, and plenty of fabric to make more items over the next few weeks. I'm also debating taking some items apart and remaking with French seams to make them smaller and neater!

Me Made May Days 23-27

Day 23 - navy linen colette sorbetto top - love this one!

Day 24 - hand knit socks

Day 25 - white broderie anglaise sleeveless top. Too big but cool for the hot weather. 

I also managed to squeeze two different tops out of one piece of jersey!  I started sewing one up - and ran out of thread!

Day 26 - forgot the photo today but it was another colette sorbetto top, this time in cream linen from Quarry Bank Mill.

Day 27 - and yet another Sobertto! This was a charity shop blouse I altered last year and have taken in my 2 inches on each side this year. This has an inverted pleat.

I've also finished the top I started earlier in the week. It's the first time I've made this pattern in Jersey and I think I've stretched the neck and hem a bit. I'd have liked it a bit longer but that didn't happen as I was squeezing 2 tops out of the one piece.

Me Made May Days 17-22

Day 17 - daisy skirt for work - this always gets lot of compliments.

Day 18 - Regia pairfect wool knitted into Winwick mum sockalong socks.

Day 19 - more sockalong socks!

Day 20 - hitchhiker scarf. And I made my first wiksten tova shirt and learnt how to make a placket. Wore the tova when I went out in the evening.

Day 21 - much better (I'd put some laundry away by this point and had more choice! )
Holey hitchhiker, Winwick mum cable socks and a simplicity 1203 vest top.
Today also included a trip to Abakhan to buy lots of lovely fabric. Then I made a pair of simplicity 1203 shorts using denim and the remaining fabric from the wiksten tova. I learnt to make an adjustable elastic waist.

Day 22 - wore the shorts!

Me Made May Days 15-16

Yesterday was socks - it was freezing!!

Today was a new Colette Sorbetto top I made on Sunday. I had cut out an 18 but now I'm a 14 so I had plenty of spare fabric to play around with French seams, and I'd obviously ordered plenty of bias binding so I had enough to use around the bottom instead of a hem. Really pleased with this one's construction. The only fault is I used the size 14 bust darts and I think the 18 would have placed them in a better position. Lesson learnt!

Me Made May Days 9-14

Oops. No idea where last week went!

Day 9...
My favourite blue linen colette sorbetto top.

Day 10...
Simplicity shorts and hand knit socks for cubs. Colour really off on this photo.

Day 11...
A cheap Primark skirt turned into a tunic to wear for work.

Day 12...
A sea print box pleat skirt (Great British Sewing Bee) that I've already removed the waistband off once and made smaller. Might need to do so again. Also a photo of me from Me Made May 2016 so I could see the difference over 2 stones makes!

Day 13...
A favourite simplicity top that's had loads of wear since I made it. And cable socks. I really want to make another pair of these.

Me Made May Day 8

Today was a simplicity pink linen blouse that I love - and it was way too big.

Today was also about planning ahead and choosing a dress pattern for a summer wedding.

It was also about admiring Wiksten tova shirts on pinterest. Must look into buying that pattern as I loved it last year too.

Me Made May Day 7

The same patched jeans (you'll be pleased to know they have gone into the laundry basket now!) with my first attempt at cabled socks from Winwick Mum and a simplicity blouse from broiderie anglaise - which is now too big! I need to make another but this time I think I'd use bias binding on the sleeves rather than the facings.

Really pleased I've got through this week without any repeats. I'm also pleased I've finally done a reds wash so I have lots of clean handknit socks to wear!

Me Made May Day 6

No photon of the hand knit socks today, just the simplicity blouse made from fabric from Hobbycraft that was £3/m - and it's one of my favourites! Oh, hand embroidered jeans too.

Me Made May Day 5

Lots of me made today!

Jeans are hand patched,  darned and embroidered.

Vest top from a simplicity pattern. First try with jersey.

White holey hitchhiker scarf.

Hand knit socks - first ever pair I made.

Me Made May Days 3 and 4

Been away on a residential this week so hand made socks it was again - oh, and a scarf. Forgot to Instagram that yesterday! (Photo of the shawl therefore taken on a different occasion! )

After a much needed bath I was pretty warm so put on shorts I made last year. Still very comfy and I love the semi hidden flowery pockets.

I also got out my sewing clothes box. I need to have a look at what is already cut out and what fabric is there.

Me Made May Day 2

Today was handmade socks that I bought the wool for purely because it was called classical music!

There was also a charity shop M&S blouse that I bought because I liked the shape but it was very plain. So I embroidered dandelion clocks on it as part of #1yearofstitches.

Me Made May Day 1

Late entry to the party, totally unplanned but was wearing hand made socks anyway!

I also spent today knitting a new cardigan.  Rib is done and am starting the body.

I've also read back through my me made may blog posts from last year and enjoyed looking at the day 1 posts on Instagram.

Me Made May 2017

Oops... poor neglected blog!

I wasn't going to participate in Me Made May this year. I've got to the point where I wear my handmade clothes without thinking about it now.

However.... suddenly it was May 1st and I remembered Me Made May!

So what has changed since last year?
- I've lost 2 stones in weight
- I've knitted more socks
- I've knitted several shawls
- I've bought more fabric
- I've tidied the house (huge job!)

But the one thing I've not really done is sew any more clothes.

This month I am going to wear all my hand made clothes and see what still fits, what is too big, what I don't actually wear any more.

I'm also going to get out my sewing machine and fabric box and see what needs sewing up and what else I can make.

I'm also going to attempt my first dress.