Category: DIY Clothes

Me Made May 2015 – Week 2

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Week two, and I’m on a me made roll! It’s taken me a week to get the pictures from my phone to the computer, because apparently Apple aren’t into that happening automatically nowadays (this is what happens when you stop naming your OS after cats).

MAY-5Wearing: Pink t-shirt refashion, Jewel Thief necklace, Levis jeans, M&S vest, Nike trainers

Doing: working from home

The Good: This is the second time I’ve worn this t-shirt so far this month, so it’s obviously doing something right. I got to recycle the previous photo, so no selfies today!

The bad: This is literally the only really casual thing in my wardrobe which isn’t pyjamas (me made jammies are being worn all month by the way).

MAY-7Wearing: Gold Ladyskater Dress (currently unblogged), Uniqlo cardie

Doing: working, voting, showering Alfie with affection

The Good: Nobody realises that this dress is handmade, which is cool. It is also like wearing a nightie – so comfy!

The bad: The fabric is pilling a little already, but I will wear this till it falls apart

MAY-7Wearing: Refashioned Shirt, Uniqlo jeans, ancient Topshop vest

Doing: working from home

The Good: Transforming this from a tunic into a shirt was the best thing I’ve ever done. I wear this all the time. ALLTHETIME!!!

The bad: I’m a bit sad that I’m not wearing this as much as usual in order to give my other outfits a fighting chance

MAY-8Wearing: Simplicity 2215 skirt, H&M(?) denim shirt, Gap denim biker jacket, Clarks boots

Doing: pootling around town

The Good: I hadn’t tried this outfit before, but I was really pleased with it.

The bad: The skirt rides up a bit with tights, which is annoying, but I know I will wear it all the time in the summer

MAY-9Wearing: Refashioned Shirt, Uniqlo jeans, ancient Topshop vest

Doing: having a chilled out Sunday

The Good: See – ALLTHETIME!!!

The bad: I’m not very good at coming up with exciting outfit combos when I could just be wearing a shirt and jeans

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This skirt really strikes a cord with me…

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Simplicity 1321 FrontI love red and I love corduroy, so it was no surprise that this bright red needlecord, 10 euros for three metres from Les Coupons de Saint Pierre in Paris, came home with me. I knew that I needed more separates in my wardrobe, so this was always destined to become a skirt of some kind.

These pictures do not do this skirt justice – it was difficult to get the colour to come through nicely in the photos, and the ones where you can see the detail also show up all the wrinkles. The seams are also a lot less bubbly in real life. This is what happens when you decide iPhone pictures will do because you can’t be bothered to find your camera.

I came home and browsed the pattern stash before finding Simplicity 1321, purchased in a sale about a year ago. I really liked the look of view A as it looked like a slightly more professional version of a short tweed kilt with combat pockets that I used to own. I obviously didn’t go down the originally planned route with my bright red skirt, but it’s important to know that there is always some sort of warped logic behind the sewing patterns I buy.

Simplicity 1321 BackAs I had three metres of the fabric, I decided to just try and pin fit it as I went, but after the initial pinning, it seemed to fit almost perfectly, so I didn’t bother making any adjustments. I was actually surprised that it fit so nicely without modifications as you use the same pieces for the front and back. I think I could stand to take about 1cm out of the seams across the back above my bum, but I think this is the level of detail that only I could care about or notice.

I’d imagined that it would sit a bit higher on my waist, and find myself tugging it up quite a bit, but I don’t think mine actually sits any lower than the models (I have an incredibly long body), and the shaping around the hips is nice as it sits now, so I just need to get used to it. Maybe I would take future versions in a bit.

Simplicity 1321 PatternYou may have noticed that view A of the pattern has some interesting tabs on each side. I made these, and then realised that I’d sewn them both for one side. I wasn’t really feeling the unpicking, or the thought of cutting another one out, so I’ve left them off this version. If I make the pattern again, I would include them, as they are utilitarian looking enough for me to not hate them, as I hate almost every decorative feature known to (hu)man.

Talking of making it again, I don’t think I would ever make any of the other variations of this pattern, because they are just far to fussy for my tastes (decorative features – *shudder*). However, I think this version is versatile enough that it could be made again with a few variations each time.

Me Made May 2015 – Week 1

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Woohoooooo!! It’s Me Made May!!

Last year, I didn’t have that many pieces of hand made clothing, so I used the month to work out where I was with my wardrobe, and what was missing. It was useful, and I think I’ve been a little bit more mindful about what I make since then. This is the month of truth and this time around I am going to be aiming to wear something me-made for four days a week.

I’ll do a roundup post of what I wore at the end of each week, starting with this short week of three days, which featured handmade items every day because I’m an over achiever.

MAY-2 Wearing: Paisley A-line dress, Uniqlo cardie and belt, thrifted necklace, Clarks brogues (not pictured, but they go perfectly with the belt)

Doing: Working in London, spending a lot of time on freezing train platforms (someone got assaulted on the worlds most middle class train, so they had to cancel it while we all stood around feeling confused)

The good: I can wear whatever I like to work, but some days its nice to make the effort and put a dress on (it’s a shame I didn’t get as far as wearing make-up because I look tired as hell – this was at the end of the day). I felt very put together and professional in this outfit, and received a compliment from a colleague who was unaware of my sewing hobby

The bad: something about the friction caused by my unlined mac on the outer layer of this dress causes the lining to ride up to somewhere around waist height. I spent a lot of time trying to pull it down without flashing on the aforementioned train platforms)

MAY-3 Wearing: Pink t-shirt refashion, Jewel Thief necklace, Levis jeans, M&S vest, Nike trainers

Doing: Shopping, sewing (two new skirts completed – w00t!), thinking important thoughts about life

The good: This was the first stretchy item I ever made, and I’m still pleased with it. I haven’t worn it for ages, but I do get a lot of use from it in the summer

The bad: The lack of stretch in the material leads to drag lines and it’s a bit short. However, I don’t care much about the first point, and I’ve negated the second through my clever use of a vest. I almost always wear this with jeans, so I am looking forward to finding a more interesting combination, since it’s the only proper weekend item (except pyjamas) that I’ve made to date

Me Made May 15 Day 3Wearing: Red needlecord skirt (Simplicity 1321 – currently unblogged), GAP T-shirt, Clarks boots

Doing: Chores, sewing, chilling with my parents

The good: I made this yesterday, felt a little uncertain about it, and therefore decided to get it into circulation as quickly as possible so I could see its good points, which include pockets, and the fact that it doesn’t ride up too much when worn with tights

The bad: It sits slightly lower on my waist than I find ideal, but I think wearing it with something a bit thicker tucked in will help. At the moment, I’m constantly pulling it up a bit. Looking at the pattern, I think it sits where it should, so it’s just me being weird

Previously Unblogged…

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I’ve made a few things recently that I just haven’t really felt like modelling for blog pictures, all for different reasons, so I’ve saved them up and taken some rubbish pictures of them hanging on a wall. This exercise has led me to the conclusion that I should always make the effort to have photos taken of the clothes when I am inside them, because they look a bit sad on their own.

I haven’t blogged about this before because… I don’t think I like it

IMG_2843This is the Delphine skirt from Love at First Stitch, and I just don’t love it. It’s turned out a bit too big (I don’t know how – I made a toile), I’m a bit meh about the colour, and while I really like the exaggerated A line shape on other people, I’m not a fan of it on me.

Good things I will take from this are that I quite like the exposed zip, and the waistband will always be covered with a belt, so it won’t look quite so wrinkly. I will try and fit this into my wardrobe once the weather warms up (it rides up horrifically when I wear tights), so all is not lost.

IMG_2845Lessons learnt: I need to stop getting overexcited about finding fabric in unexpected places, and only buy the fabric if it’s a colour which I will wear.

I haven’t blogged about this before because… it’s the worlds most simple refashion

IMG_2848A few years ago I picked up a tunic in Uniqlo, but the length didn’t really do me any favours. I had a sudden spark of inspiration and shortened it to fit like a normal shirt. I considered taking it in a bit at the sides, but decided I liked it baggy. It is now the most worn thing in my wardrobe.

Lessons learnt: It’s amazing how a simple change can make such a difference with a refashion.

I haven’t blogged about this before because… makeup and pyjamas do not mix

IMG_2846I still had a fair bit of wax print fabric left after making my awesome tunic, and after much deliberation, I decided that croissantish print pyjama bottoms were the obvious and best choice. I used the pattern from Love at First Stitch, but this time I created an exposed turn-up on the hem because I was in that kind of mood. Let me tell you now – there is nothing better than coming home after a tough day at work and putting on breakfast themed loungewear.

These were made in January for my ‘make something every month’ challenge.

Lessons learnt: people who love lounging need loungewear. Lots of loungewear.

Do you blog everything you make? 

Much 70s, So Dress

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_DSF7633I’ve set myself the realistic but still challenging goal of finishing one project each month in 2015. In January I made some pyjamas, which I have yet to blog about because blog photos mean makeup, but wearing pyjamas means no makeup, and I just don’t know what to do.

_DSF7585February’s project was much more makeup friendly! I found this wool twill in a local vintage shop and knew it would have to come home with me. Despite loving it, I couldn’t really work out what I wanted it to become. Eventually I realised I was overcomplicating things, and that I should just make a bloody A-line dress because that is exactly what I like to wear.

_DSF7618Out came the pattern from Dressing Chic Revisite les 70s which I have used previously for my birthday dress. I’m not sure if I’ve cut it out slightly inaccurately, or if I’ve traced the pattern inaccurately, but none of the seams at the waistband line up exactly with each other. Fortunately it’s incredibly hard to tell on this fabric, but I’ll probably retrace the pattern if I use it again.

_DSF7609While I’m happy with how this has turned out, I do think I could do a bit more work on the fitting of the bodice in future versions. The neck gapes when I stand in some positions (most of my awkward photography poses). I think this is partly the shape of it, but might I need a slight full bust adjustment? I also have a problem with the bust darts. Despite careful pressing, they do seem a little pointy. This is an issue I have with the orange dress, too, so I wonder if I need to reposition them slightly. Does anyone have any suggestions?

_DSF7586Because I’d made the dress before, I felt confident enough to push my skills slightly. It has a lining, which is a first for me, and the invisible zip is actually invisible! I’m feeling quite proud of myself. I didn’t bother pattern matching, because I didn’t think there was a very obvious repeat when it was laid out on the floor. It looks a lot more obvious on the dress, but I’m not concerned.

I’d been noticing the lack of handmade winter clothes for a while, so it was great to add this number to my wardrobe. I can see it getting a lot of wear in the next month or so.

Do you manage to make clothes for every season, or only for the ones you like?