Me-Made-May is more of a challenge this year than I expected, as quite a number of my handmade clothes have lost the battle with the bump and been packed away until more streamlined times.  So the start of May was a timely investigation into what can still go the distance – click on the photos for the original garment posts!  First up, some Sewaholic Pendrells:

Check out the amazing slimmingness of those princess seams… you wouldn’t guess from these photos that there’s a five-month-baby tucked up under there, would you?  And still fitting comfortably (albeit with less ease than they used to).

Even more super-roomy, a Simplicity 2406 goes a long way:

I can see these lasting well into the third trimester (and they’re just a size 10, imagine the potential as a maternity pattern if one went up a few sizes).  In fact, there is another 2406 brewing on the sewing table which will hopefully make a MMM’13 appearance!  Along with loads more stretchy knits:

Sewaholic patterns triumph again with a snug Renfrew on the left, while on the right, I think this restyle may look even better now I’m rounder than it did back in February.  Empire-line plus a peplum = perfect maternity shape.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a proper MMM round-up without a pyjama appearance.  These only just work with the top button left undone, so there are a couple of new sets cut out and ready to sew.

Seven items down, 23 to go to meet my target – and we’re already over a third of the way through the month!

First week done: target of 9 handmade items achieved (with one repeat…)

Tuesday: Roses skirt and spotty Pendrell top

Wednesday: Bicycle Pendrell top

Thursday: Snowflake skirt (am); Sodalite top (pm)

Friday: 2-become-1 dress

Sunday: Sew Grateful skirt with new Pendrell restyle

Monday: spotty Pendrell

This week I’ve learned:  I need a haircut.  I’m rather struck by the boring-ness of that repetitive daily pony-tail… 

It took me ages to add my pledge for MMM12, and I only requested to join the Flickr group today… maybe because I’m so ridiculously pumped about this challenge, I’m forgetting to publically acknowledge it?  Anyway: I, Amy of Diana & Me, sign up as a participant of MMM’12. I endeavour to wear 9 me-made items per week for the duration of May 2012.

This being my 3rd go at a me-made-month, I’m pretty sure I have enough handmade clothes to manage.  But I like to be quite flexible, so I’ve gone for a weekly, rather than daily, total… which also means on some days I’ll have to include more than one me-made item.

But I’m adding my own little challenge to the mix.  I admire how Zoe’s attitude to sewing and fashion reflects bigger ideas about sustainability and consumerism.  (Did you read the post on cashmere goats?  Fascinating!)  This is something I feel quite challenged about: does my lifestyle actually reflect my convictions about recycling, sustainability, and generally being a good ‘caretaker’ of the physical resources I’ve got access to? 

So, for the month of May, I’m radically cutting down my spending and consumerism.  This means no non-essential spending.  In other words:

• I can buy groceries from a supermarket – but won’t buy lunches at work, I’ll bring my own.  Ditto, toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste are allowed – but not non-essentials like nail polish or eyeshadow.
• No fabric buying!  Or notions buying!  Or even (sustainable as it is) buying second-hand from charity shops – I have enough potential restyles backed up to last me a lot longer than a month.
• Buying birthday presents is OK, but not ‘little treats’ for myself / the house / Mr B.  That includes books / magazines (I’ll use the library).

I am giving myself 3 get-out-of-jail-free cards – basically, if I totally forgot to bring my lunch, I won’t go hungry for the day.  But the plan is not to use those unless I really have to.

I know all of this is a tiny drop in the ocean, but I’m interested to see if it changes my mindset longer-term – not needing that instant gratification of see-it-buy-it, but thoughtfully considering how and what I spend money on.  Planning my meals for the week should cut down on food wastage, and save money on M&S sandwiches.  Not buying new material means I’ll have to use up my stash.  And so on.  Here’s to May – see you on the other side!

Over the last year, my sewing projects have meandered along as and when something catches my eye – someone blogs about an interesting pattern, or I spot an exciting fabric on eBay.  Nothing wrong with that, but I’m feeling the lack of order and co-ordination.  I still end up wearing all the same stuff on short rotation, while other items barely get worn.

So this year, I want to be more focused about creating a co-ordinated, wearable wardrobe, not just individual garments.  To help in the quest, I’m turning to the Colette Sewing Handbook (of course!) and Nothing to Wear? by Jesse Garza & Joe Lupo.

First step: figuring out my style.  The Handbook recommends picking out 5 items that you love to wear, and working out the common themes or qualities  (I’ve really enjoyed reading other bloggers’ posts on this topic!) Here’s mine:

Spotty Pendrell top; Peaches and Picnics dress; Maxi skirt;

Joules Carrick Boots; Laura Ashley Birds cardigan

Looking at these 5 pieces, my personal style seems to be:

• prints! Back in July I identified how much sewing has changed my attitude towards print and pattern, and now it makes up almost all of my fabric stash. Even the cardigan, which goes with almost everything because it’s navy, has those little embroidered birds to keep me interested.
• feeling comfortable: I love the fact I was able to play a whole game of rounders in my Peaches dress; and that my Carrick boots are waterproof and faux fur-lined (I’m virtually living in them right now).
• easy care: none of these items need handwashing or even ironing – stick em in the wash, hang em up to dry, and it’s sorted.
• feminine, but not too girly: I’ve got ruffles, floral fabrics, skirts, dresses, bows, but I like to mix it up with jeans, chunky boots and monochrome.

 I also did the questionnaire in Nothing to Wear? which put me as having a ‘whimsical’ style.  I wasn’t convinced when this was described as ‘sometimes ethereal and romantic’ but then I looked at the example pictures and style icons (such as Kirsten Dunst and Sophia Coppola), and the phrase ‘thoughtful combination of color and pattern’, and actually I think it fits.

Garza & Lupo describe a wardrobe in terms of ‘cake’ and ‘frosting’ .  ‘Cake’ is the basics – neutral colours in flattering styles.  The ’frosting’ is the statement pieces – patterned or embellished or ‘trendy’ fashion pieces.  “Without the cake to support the frosting, you will either find it too difficult to pull together a coherent oufit, or you will appear too busy, too over-the-top” (p.90). 

This is exactly the problem with my favourite items – I couldn’t combine any of them in one outfit, there’s too much frosting.  I need to make more cake!  So by the end of 2012, I hope to have created a wardrobe that I can mix and match for any occasion, co-ordinated and comfortable and in line with my lifestyle.  Watch this space…