Sew Smarter – Lessons Learned From Me-Made-May

It’s June and Me-Made-May is done.

MMM, as it’s frequently referred to, is a popular “challenge” among those who make (sewn, knit, crocheted) wearable items. The basic premise is to wear your self-made garments in the month of May but how often and how much is decided by each participant making this not only a welcoming challenging but one that many makers can join in.

This was the fourth year I participated in Me-Made-May and the first year it wasn’t a struggle or a sacrifice to what I wanted to wear.

This May was easier but also more insightful. 

Easier due to the weather. Most of my me mades are made for warmer weather and this May was warmer. 

And easier because I had sewn, since last May, some practical pieces which fit well. I hadn’t sew much but what I did sew was thought about and thought through.

My challenge was simply to wear and take notice:

• How did the garment feel on me and how did I feel in the garment?
• Why did I choose to wear a particular garment? Or why didn’t I choose to wear it?
• What would I change about the garment?
• What did I like about the garment? Dislike?

Discovering what about my sewn garments was working and what would work for future me-mades, was very motivating. I could see that this information would help my sewing and I hope that some of these lessons might help your sewing too.

The Big Takeaway From Me-Made-May 2018

My approach to sewing had evolved without me really noticing it. Three small changes were making a huge impact when I practiced them.

• Think before starting: What do I want to wear and can I sew it? Do I even want to sew it? Or should I buy it ready-made?
• Slow down to get a better fit. Take the time to adjust the pattern in those areas you know you always have problems with. (I found bringing the shoulder seams slightly forward and adding length to the bodice above the bust apex makes all the difference in fit for me. It’s now an alteration I do to the pattern even before a muslin is made)
• Pick a fabric that works with the pattern. How many times have I used fabric that didn’t suit the style? Too many. Always with disappointing results. Super disappointing. (But patterns that suggest “cotton” or “linen” are not helping. These terms are too broad, too vague. Get specific and list more options.)

And the Little Lessons

There were lots of little lessons learned too and like many little things in life, they add up to make a significant impact.

• I learned that I preferred my cotton & rayon jersey tops over the 100% cotton jersey tops. Good to know when future fabric shopping for knits.
• I learned what I hear all the time but always rejected because I thought it was boring: That sticking with a few colors for most of my garments really helps when getting dressed (remember Garanimals?)
• I learned I really like to wear pants these days so I should sew a pair or two
• I learned I don’t need a lot of clothes. I was able to wear 13 me-mades (plus some basic pants) over and over without feeling like I was sacrificing what I wanted to wear. It was like living out of a suitcase, but one that was well planned out. So planning what to make means you can get by with less which works for us slow sewing types.
• And if I do want a lot of clothes I certainly don’t need a lot of patterns. Many of my self-sewn garment patterns have never been sewn again. Why is that when they’re so easy to wear? (and if they’re not perfect I know what I would change the next time I sew it)
• I learned that even though I may love the fabric of a me-made, if it doesn’t “work” for me it doesn’t work. The fabric is not going to change that. Just say good-bye and recycle the pattern. And hopefully, learn from this.
• I learned that you get more bang for your buck with certain garments. And I hate to be boring but practical pieces (aprons, pj pants and simple knit tops) were worn over and over and over. So make some more.

And Lessons Learned When Not Wearing Me-Mades.

A few days I wore favorite ready to wear pieces and left the me-mades in the closet. When this happened I didn’t feel guilty. Instead, I stopped and thought about why I wanted to wear what I did – the color and/or the style.

So now, I know what to put on my “to sew” list, what to put on my pattern wish list (patterns similar to those styles) and what colors to look for when fabric shopping.

Your Turn

Why not try a similar challenge, yourself? Be it May, or August, or any month really, or even just for a week. Try it and see what you notice. 

It’s certainly eye-opening but, warning, it’s also eye-opening in that truth-can-hurt sort of way.

What I mean is, you may notice things about your makes, like I did, that you’re not proud of, or even okay with. These observations can be ego bruising.

Noticing a bad fit because I didn’t take the time to make a muslin, admitting that a top made me look like a fullback because I made a bad style choice, or realizing a skirt would have draped much better in a different type of fabric all brought up dark thoughts; I’m a terrible sewist. I don’t know anything about sewing. 

When actually these are just observations and chances to learn. Step back, take a deep breath, realize it’s only fabric and look for the real truth.

My truth is, I’m actually a pretty skilled sewist but when I rush through a project I am more likely to make bad decisions. (And I tend to rush)

The Surprise Pay-Off

I’m glad I participated in Me-Made-May in a more thoughtful way than in years past.

My challenge was to think about my me-mades as I wore them. I didn’t think there was going to be much to the challenge after May but I was left with more motivation, more confidence, and a better sense of what to sew. I know I need to plan that sewing, fit that pattern and be more disciplined about fabric choice.

All’s good.

About the Pictures

These pictures show only some of my me-mades and some ways I wore them.

I didn’t take many daily pictures of my outfits during May – before I chopped off my curls – but captured a few of the outfits for this post.

Read here to make your own cross back apron

Read my full Me-Made-May 2018 challenge and reasons for joining plus links to the woman behind the challenge here