Another repeat!

It seems these days I don’t want to dig into new patterns… Just keep cranking out the old ones! My first new garment since Me-Made May is another two-toned Sorbetto!

This si actually the original fabric that inspired the two-tone design. When I bought this faux-ikat fabric a month or two ago, I cheaped out and only bought a metre. Unfortunately, my hips are too wide to get a Sorbetto out of a straight metre. Thus, the two-toned shirt idea was born. 

I’ll be frank - It’s terribly made, and i don’t care! The black bias tape I used as facing was too wide and therefore pulls at the fabric and shows… I didn’t finish the seams inside… and the navy is super cheap broadcloth. Oh well - It was comfy and cheerful to wear, and I got compliments from my new coworkers! ;) 

My photog told me to spin, so spin I did! Sadly, this shot reveals the unfortunate truth about this design - my %$#@ bra straps show! I guess I took out too much width from the back shoulders in an effort to stop it gaping, and now my straps show with my shoulders roll forward. I had the same problem with my previous version, and I forgot to fix it. 

Tomorrow is Worldwide Knit In Public Day, and I’ll be joining my sister and some knitterly friends in Waterloo. Too bad there is no such thing as “Sew in Public Day”… Or is there?

Hello, hello! This past weekend I offered to send one of you lovely people 2m of fabric chosen by me to reflect your personal style! It’s time to find out who the winner is! :) 

I hope this video works ok for you - It’s my first time posting one! Just in case it doesn’t work well, I’ll post the winner in the comments section!

Me-Made May Reflection

What a month! I struggled the first week and lost a big of momentum somewhere in the middle, but overall I’ve loved my first Me-Made May! I’d watched from the sidelines before, but actually taking part was so much more fun! 

At the start of the month, I did a round-up of all the Me-Mades that I could wear, and proposed an extra challenge for myself: Japanese For Crafters! Each day I introduced a sew-related word or phrase in Japanese, and challenged the Flickr group to try using it in the comments.

The original goal was to have a prop to make me feel less foolish posing every day - and I was more than a little worried that people would be annoyed that I was bending the structure of the challenge. To my relief, people in the Flickr group got right into it! The word-of-the-day led to some neat conversations and always motivated me to take and post a daily pic!

Here’s what my month looked like: 

As a teacher, we talk a lot about engaging students in meaningful discussions. While everyone loves a good compliment, I love to see people digging a little deeper! Another hot buzzwords in teaching right now is “effective feedback” - giving immediate, concrete, and meaningful feedback right away. The flickr group provided just that! A daily boost of confidence, some helpful and kind advice, and a push to continue doing your best! It certainly helped me grow and challenged me to constantly raise the bar.

During the month, I finished 8 garments, including one for my Mom! As you can see, it was exclusively doubles: Two Sorbetto, 2 Licorice dresses, 2 Renfrews, a second Truffle skirt, and a first of two Cambies! It made sewing fun and easy to repeat the same pattern, and meant that I was able to expand my wardrobe quite a bit during the month! 

Another benefit of the month was that I grew much more comfortable in front of the camera. My husband was a huge help: He hopped out of bed early every morning to takes pics, and did silly things while shooting to make me relax! 

Here are a couple of my favourites: 

Sense a theme? Thanks, babe, for all your support! 

Strange as it might sound, the photo component also helped with my self-confidence. I’ve never felt very photogenic, and yes, I slouch, blink constantly, and pull a lot of odd faces during photos… but taking 20-50 pictures a day helped me come to terms with how I look from different angles. Sometimes Japan made me feel a bit sumo-sized, but looking through my pictures and clothes, I really quite like myself. Thanks, sewing! 

The final thrill of MMM was having so many people join in on my proposal to thank Zoe on the last day. I loved reading everyone’s reflections on the month (Told ya - I like instigating meaningful discussions!) I’m so glad it worked out!

(The final day, dressed in Nautical Zoe-tribute!) 

Arigato (thank you) to all the MMM participants, and the people who supported us! 

Matta rai-nen! (See you next year!) 

You are the cat's meow! (AKA. Giveaway time!)

Lovely readers, today all your comments made me feel like this: 

Actually, the whole Me-Made May made me feel like this! 

Forgive me for speaking in internet animal (Come on, it’s totally a language, right?), but it seems the best way! 

I started this blog back in November as a way to reach out past my little town, to express and motivate myself. I didn’t start sewing clothes until January (It’s true! Check back in the blog history!) When I participated in OWOP at the End of March, I only had made multiples of one pattern… and now here I am, at the end of May, with a closet full of colourful me-made clothes and new connections to sewists around the world!

Now, one of the nice things about having a teeny tiny blog is that it’s easy to recognize and get to know the people who follow. I really appreciate that anyone would take the time to comment - After all, we’ve never met, and probably never will! Nonetheless, I’ve “met” the loveliest people through the online sewing community, and it’s time I said thanks!

Which brings me to a spur-of-the-moment, celebratory “you make me happy!” giveaway: Leave a comment below telling me about your own experience in the blogosphere sewing community. I’ll draw one person at random, and go shopping for 2m of fabric that just screams their name! In a week or two, the fabric will be winging it’s way towards them. (Consider it a test of how carefully I follow your blogs in return! I can’t promise anything amazing, because my Ontario shopping options are limited, but I’ll try for something fun that reflects the winner’s style! :) 

Don’t be shy - Comment away! 

I feel pretty, oh so pretty! (Aka. The Floral Cambie)

O hai! I made a Cambie. 

And it makes me do things like this: 

Uh, yeah. This is the most ulta-feminine dress I’ve ever made, and I’m not sure how to feel about it! Its made from a thrifted bedsheet, which should make it totally casual… but somehow even the black border can’t balance out the polkadot/floral/sweetheart girliness. 

To make matters even more fem, I changed it into a princess bodice: 

When I made a muslin, it was clear that the darts were never going to be enough to shape it over the bust. Pinning in some extra darts from the top down helped, but I figured that with only 2cm between the top and bottom darts, i could do it more elegantly with a princess line! I’ve never converted a pattern before, so I’m glad it worked. My sister is *cough* rather more endowed than I, so fingers crossed the princess seams help with the FBA! 

Here’s the back: 

I think it’s a brilliant design: sundress from the front, full coverage in the back! It was a bit scary to sewing in the lining without know if it all fit yet, but it all worked out! As a confirmed “pear”, Sewaholic’s patterns always work well for me! :) 

I cheated a bit with the skirt because I wanted to use the border print. I just hacked off the length of the skirt, gathered it with the serger, and sewed it on! (I’ve actually never done a gathered skirt before… I started out doing Gertie’s “zigzag over string”method, but hated spacing out the gathers. Serging was much less accurate, but fast!

However, even with bust adjustments and re-sewing the straps shorter, the bust still gapes! (Go ahead, take a look up above! I won’t tell! :P) I actually made the straps so short that I had to lower the armpit after the whole thing was finished. Why does it gape? Gaping is NOT ladylike! 

Here’s the problem: Where the heck am I going to wear this dress? It makes me thing of the pretty dresses with giant lace collars I used to wear to birthday paries when I was 8. I love the pattern, but I don’t know how to make it less frou-frou. The black belt was the best I could think of, but I’d welcome accessory suggestions!

By the same token, I have fabric to make another version in a light, drapey faded grey-blue with white polka dots. Is that going to equally girly? Should I ditch the fun gathered skirt and make the more boring a-line? HELP!

MMM/Japanese for Crafters, Day 27-29

Two more days of MMM to go, and I’ve got a new dress to wear! Not sure what I’ll wear on the last day though - Seems like a day for something special. But what?

MMM27: 

Tsukurimashitaka? = Did you make that? 

I was hoping to wear my new Cambie dress for a backyard BBQ this day, but of course, it was cool and rainy! Instead, I’m wearing one of the Renfrew t-shirts that I made earlier this month. MMM has been a great motivation to make some comfy clothes! 

MMM28: 

Kantan = Easy / Muzukashi = Difficult

(Oh look! It’s almost the same photo as yesterday! Greaaaaaat.)

I’m wearing two of the most kantan projects ever: an appliqued t-shirt and a me-made pendant! I love easy projects which are all fun and adrenaline. Anything muzukashi usually ends up in the UFO pile (aka. strewn all over the floor) as soon as I get frustrated. I really, really love finishing projects, and I’m not a perfectionist, so my sewing is usually slightly half-assed! I quite frequently challenge myself to make things as fast as possible without making them completely awful. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t! 

MMM29: 

Yatta! = I did it! or We did it! or Finished! or Yahoo!

Back before MMM started, I brainstormed what Japanese words I’d use. I remember filling in the last couple of days with congratulatory celebration words - but I can’t believe I’m here using them already! I really am proud of everyone who participated. It might be a silly internet challenge to some, but it really takes effort and dedication to stick with it! I definitely lost motivation a couple of times, but I’m happy to have completed my first me-made month. Yatta!

(Oh yeah - I’m wearing a Pendrell and  Truffle skirt! And my brother-in-law’s hat, for no reason but to make me laugh!)

***************

I would definitely participate in another me-made month. How about you? If you didn’t participate this round, would you give it a try someday? If you did participate, how would you change your challenge next time? 

MMM/Japanese for Crafters, Day 23-26

I cant believe it, but I’m actually still finding new garments to wear for MMM! I thought by now I’d be repeating HARD… But here goes: 

MMM23: 

Tanoshi = Fun! 

Do you ever look back to your pre-sewing life and wonder, “What did I do with my free time?” I mean, until I started sewing garment… I did sew, and I did other crafty things… I certainly went to a lot of fabric stores, but I tended to buy fat quarters and just add the to my stash! What did I actually sew? I can’t remember. 

Nowadays, sewing is definitely my tanoshi activity of choice. I put on loud music, and get so into it that I’m dizzy and slightly shakey when I emerge a few hours later! Is the weird? Do you get like that too? Of course, it helps that i don’t have kids, so I have lots of free time! 

I don’t wear this Meringue skirt much, but I do like it. I think if I took the waist in a bit so that it sits higher, I would like it more! (Of course, then it might get a bit short for work!) It’s a soft, thick quilting cotton from Japan. I’m glad I went with giant rik-rak instead of the full Meringue scallops, because this way I never have to iron it! 

MMM24: 

Ganbatte = Good Luck / Do your best!

Ya’ll, Today was interview day. Now, I tend to really enjoy interviews (perverted, I know!), but I hate the lead up, when you wonder if you’ve prepared enough! I wore my new Licorice dress, which looks like this: 

… but as luck would have it, this is the day I’d promised my Grade 3 class that we would dress as pioneers and roleplay life in a one-room school house! So up until 10 minutes before I walked into the interview, I looked like this: 

Can you see my Licorice dress peaking through at the collar? The bell rang, I striped down to my dress underneath, and bolted out the door! The good news is that the kids LOVED it - When my voice and manner changed, so did theirs! They sat up straight, stood to give answers, marched in and out of the classroom to a beat… They all had to write a standardized test for most of the day, but they came wearing their “pioneer” clothes anyway: a vest here, a skirt or poncho there, girls with hair in braids. They were really thrilled, and I was happy that I’d put the extra effort in! Plus, the anecdote in the interview couldn’t have hurt, because I got the job! :) Yay!

MMM25: 

Shinsetsu = Kind (as in “kindness”) 

After all the good wished and “ganbatte!” messages that people left on my pre-interview pic from the day before, I wanted to thank the MMM community for being so shinsetsu. That goes double for you reading my blog… I really appreciate your comments and encouragement! It has been a real treat to get to know some of you a little better and start to join more actively in the amazing sewing community online! 

(And oh yeah - I’m wearing my Truffle/Ginger denim skirt!) 

MMM26:

Daisukina = Favourite

Can you tell how nice the weather has become here? It is so amazing to suddenly be wearing summer clothes! This is a dress I made from a tank top and a metre of fabric a few years ago… The handy thing is that the tank top is high in the back, and low in the front, and I can wear it either way! I wore it on the low-cut side today, but if I wear it to work I just turn it around. 

MMM has really made me think about my wardrobe and my personal style. Sewing has really helped me create a wardrobe that I’m excited to put on… and I almost never think longingly now about what would be fashionable or stylish, because I’m just too excited to wear what I have! It really cuts down on shopping cravings, and helps me feel more confident. (On the other hand, I do lust over fabric and patterns, so maybe it’s not a huge change!)

What’s your relationship like with your Me-Made wardrobe? Love, boredom, or torn in between?