My Me-Made-May challenge was to wear an item I’ve made at least five days a week. I figured it would be a fun, easy, little challenge to take on. A challenge to show off wicked sewing skills and design sense. Like many things, it turned out a little differently than I expected.
First, I failed my challenge. I wore items four days a week for some part of the day, but not five days and not full days. My limited number of hand made garments was not the reason for failing as there was one skirt I didn’t wear at all.
Second, Me-Made-May gave me a better sense of me. I learned:
- I really don’t wear skirts now that I work from home. Is it the constant dog walking breaks I take or that our house always feels damp and slightly chilly?
- When I feel overwhelmed,(it was a challenging month for me), I just want to grab comfort clothes; jeans and a t-shirt in solid, if not neutral, colors.
- In the fabric store (or online) I am attracted to print fabric almost exclusively.
- My me-made clothes, (the recent pieces) fit better than my store bought clothes.
- Even though stores are stocked with solid, basics at prices cheaper than I can sew them for if I sewed up solid, basic pieces they will fit me better than store bought clothes. Just like a scratch cake taste so much better than store bought cake.
- Challenges (of any kind) are more motivating if you do them with a group or a friend. I did not check in with any other blog documenting their Me-Made-May. I need to be more social. No woman is an island no matter how many clothes she may have sewn.
The saddest day of the challenge was wearing a black dress I had made to my neighbor’s memorial service; a super person and mother a little younger than myself. I had forgotten I made that dress until that week. I’m glad I had but the occasion was not one to enjoy what I was wearing.
I think I will participate again next May. I was surprise by the things I learned and that was worth wearing that parasol print top over and over. I’ll try to be more prepared with some me-made garments in boring solids (like eating veggies, it’s just good to do).
