May Makes

May was a very productive month for me. I think I was feeling very inspired by having some unexpected time off and seeing all of the lovely Me Made May posts. I ended up making 7 new items (not counting the headband and the Lander shorts alteration)! Here's a run-down of my makes:

1. I knit an all-white Jailbird Blouse pattern by PoisonGrrls knit in CoBaSi DK yarn. I knit up the size Medium but probably could have gotten away with the Small.
2. A Friday Patterns Wilder Top in a light blue linen fabric. I sewed a size Large with no alterations.
3. The Sew My Style pattern pick for May was the True Bias Rio Ringer Tee. I decided to make two versions. For both the long and short-sleeved tees, I stitched up a size 14 at the bust and graded to a size 16 at the hips. I used a stripey cotton jersey knit fabric from Sewing Studio for the short-sleeved version, some deep-stash stripey knit fabric for the long-sleeved version, and ribbing from Blackbird Fabrics on both.
4. So many people have made the Mandy Boat Tee from Tessuti Patterns, and this month I gave it a go. I used some deep stash fuschia striped fabric (probably from Girl Charlie) and sewed up a size 2 and shortened it by 1 inch. If I make it again, I'd either try the size 3 or find a way to widen the armcye a bit. 
5. I was inspired by designer brand, Lena Hoschek, to knit the PoisonGrrls Boardwalk Blouse. I knit up the size Small in CoBaSi fingering weight.
   
   
   
6. I'd been wanting to make a funnel neck Tilly and the Buttons Coco for ages and when I saw this gray polka dot sweater knit from Sewing Studio, I decided to make it happen, even though it's not really seasonally appropriate. I even made a matching headband to go with it.

  

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Me Made May 2020 Review

Me Made May: Quarantine Edition has concluded. This year's Me Made May was meant to be a gentler version of the challenge and participants were encouraged to go easy on themselves. I am an "essential worker", so my routine didn't change all that much during quarantine so I chose to make the same pledge I made last year and wear at least 1 me-made item everyday. I seemed to be mostly successful at my challenge since I only missed 1 day (sometimes we need an all-day pajama day!). Let's take a look at my outfits:

1. Tilly & the Buttons Agnes Top in fabric from Joann's
2. Tilly & the Buttons Marigold Pants 
3. Abbey Knits Party Sweater top in yarn from House of al la mode
4. Style Arc Estelle Cardigan
5. Sunset Highway Sweater by Caitlin Hunter
6. Helen's Closet Blackwood Cardigan 

My favorite outfits this week were the Agnes top and the Sunset Highway Sweater and these were the same outfits that got the most response. 

• 7.   Soldotna Crop by Caitlin Hunter in yarn from Primrose 
• 8.   Friday Pattern Co Wilder Top
• 9.   Closet Case Patterns Ginger Jeans
• 10. Closet Case Patterns Kalle Shirt
• 11.  Tecumseh Sweater by Caitlin Hunter in yarn from House of al la Mode

I'd wanted to add a bit more color to my outfits this week. I felt the most ho-hum about these outfits overall, but these outfits generated the most response overall. People really enjoy my Tecumseh sweater!

• 12. Boardwalk Blouse by Poison Grrls 
• 13. Charcoal dot headband in fabric from PDX Sewing Studio
• 14. Closet Case Patterns Kalle Shirt
• 15. Blank Slate Patterns Forsythe Trousers
• 16. Spector Sweater by Joji Locatelli in yarn from Wichita Wools
• 17. Tilly and the Buttons Coco Top
• 18. Caitlin Hunter Whitehorse Sweater in yarn from Three Fates
• 19. Sew DIY Lou Box Top

This week I pulled out more of my favorite pieces like my floral Kalle and my Whitehorse sweater. I got the least amount of feedback on these outfits, but people really responded well to my new Coco Shirt.

• 20. Megan Nielson Patterns Tania Culottes
• 21. Tilly and the Buttons Frankie Tee
• 22. Made by Rae Luna Pants
• 23. Untangling Knots Waters Tee
• 24. Helen's Closet Suki Robe and True Bias Lander Shorts
• 25. Butterick 6563 sleeveless shirt.

I really enjoyed swanning around in my Tania Culottes and need to make some more! I also tailored my Lander shorts which got the most feedback this week.

• 26. Chalk & Notch Fringe Dress (worn as a top).
• 27. Vest/ Waistcoat sewn up more than 10 years ago with my mother-in-law. The pattern is possibly Simplicity 3921
• 28. Poison Grrls Boardwalk Blouse knit in Skacel CoBaSi yarn
• 29. Kimono/ Haori style jacket sewn up ages ago with instructions from a Pinterest tutorial
• 30. True Bias Rio Tee
• 31. True Bias Ogden Cami

This week I experimented with some of my lesser worn makes like wearing my dress as a top. I got a lot of nice feedback on these looks overall and people really seemed to enjoy the waistcoat/vest, the kimono jacket, and my Ogden cami the most.

Reflections:

• I feel like parts of my me-made wardrobe weren't as colorful as I would have liked it to be. 
• I need to add more "work appropriate" business casual items into my me-made wardrobe. Especially pants.
• I really enjoyed wearing my Tania Culottes to work & I got several compliments. I'd like to add more drapey pants to my closet.
• I wished I had a few more cardigans in my closet to dress up some of my more casual/ warm weather items.

What do you think about my makes overall? Do you have a favorite? Have you made any of the patterns that I've made? Did you participate in Me Made May this year? Let me know in the comments below!

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