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ME MADE MAY 2020

MMMayblog

For the month of May, I participated in "Me Made May" a DIY clothing challenge hosted by Zoe. (You can read more about this challenge and FAQs here.) This was my third time through the challenge. (You can read about my experience doing this in 2018 right here and in 2019 here.) Just like last year, my goal was to wear only things I had knitted or sewn myself. Because of shelter-in-place, I didn't pretend to put on shoes each day (though I did get out for walks or shopping trips so I did wear shoes a few times).

For a few reasons, this was my favorite experience with the challenge yet.

First, it was fun to get dressed. These days at home are long and all feel the same. I was glad to have a reason to pull on some favorite garments.

Second, I had a tighter wardrobe to pull from this time around. At the beginning of 2020 (remember the beginning? Remember how exciting this new year felt?!) I tried on every garment I owned and made some cuts to my wardrobe. Store bought items that didn't make me feel great were either donated or resold. Homemade items that didn't make me feel great were either pulled aside to be reworked (I turned a knit cardigan into a pullover and a jumpsuit into a pair of pants!) or boxed up. I love that I made so many garments! I don't regret a dollar spent on materials or a minute spent on making but just because they were a labor of love doesn't mean I love to wear them. I felt NO GUILT putting my homemade garments into a box.

And so third, because of the tighter wardrobe and the haircut I got last August, I really just felt like I have found my style. This is who I am and what I like to wear. It works for my causal lifestyle, quarantine or no. It works around the house. It would work on vacation. It's me! That's so satisfying.

What did I learn this year?

It's interesting, I learned conflicting things in 2020 versus 2019.

Last year I wrote: "I don't need any more dresses. I never wake up and want to wear a dress. I can forever stop making dresses and/or change my personality and I think it's easier to stop with the dresses." AND THIS YEAR? This year, I LOVED wearing dresses. Turns out, I didn't need to change my personality...I needed to change my hair! With my shorter haircut, I feel more put together and that makes dresses work for me. I am happy about this unexpected shift.

Last year I wrote: "If I can figure out a way to make a decent pair of jeans I think I could be done with RTW forever." I did believe this at the time! But last summer I tried to make a pair of jeans and I just hated them! And I really LOVE my store-bought jeans. I think my most comfortable, feels-most-like-me style is a mix of homemade and ready-to-wear.

And finally, I learned that I love, love, love my tight color palette. It's my favorite thing to shop for my house and my closet with limited colors.

Homemadegarments

Let's talk stats:

Not pictured I wore four pairs of shoes (rainbow sandals in the backyard, a pair of tennis shoes to walk to the grocery store and two pairs of sandals on the few times I went "out").

I also wore 31 homemade garments. Eight bottoms (four shorts, one skirt, three pants). 14 tops (five tanks, two sweaters, seven shirts). Nine one pieces (one overalls, one jumpsuit, seven dresses)

These items came from 21 patterns and two pieces were self-drafted (no pattern).

In total, my May 2020 wardrobe had 35 pieces + workout clothes, PJs and undergarments. (This is the same number as last year.) There were five homemade garments I thought I would wear but I didn't (mostly due to weather, they are all long sleeves).

When I compare 2020 photos to 2019 photos I wore 13 of the same garments.

BOTTOM LINE:

Now that we are into June, it's nice to pull on RTW garments (like my jeans! and a few tops) but mostly, I am inspired to keep making. I love sewing so much. I love pulling on clothing that I MADE AND LOVE and I am excited to find new-to-me pattern designers and attempt more garments. (I am currently cutting out the Jessica Dress pattern from Mimi G Style.)

PATTERN LINKS:

Here are links to all the patterns I am wearing above.

EDIT -- MAY 2023: I am retiring my garment sewing eCourse, Sewing Isn't Scary, this month! Use code "goodbye" to save 50%.

June 22, 2020 at 07:30 AM in ejbc, me made, sewing projects, what i wore |

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My name is Elise Blaha Cripe. I live in Northern California with my husband and our two daughters.

I make stuff like it's my job.

In October 2019, my book about getting stuff done, Big Dreams, Daily Joys hit bookstores everywhere. For almost ten years, this blog was where I shared (daily!) general life musings, insight into being a small business owner and the occasional craft project. I have closed comments, but feel free to email me at elise[@]elisejoy.com if you have any questions about a post you see here.

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