May in Review and Me Made May 2025

Sewing, Alterations and Mending

There hasn't been much sewing this month.  I wake up with sewing time planned into my day and then life happens and sewing does not.  I did manage to finish off one previously cut and started project that I stumbled across this month.  

That's it.  Other than cutting out the next sewing project and setting up the sewing machines.  

Mending and alterations seem to take up most of my designated sewing time.  There always seems to be the odd mending job that presents itself while I'm tackling the ironing.  

Stash busting

There was 0.5 metres of cotton knit and 2 metres of elastic used in the only project that I managed to finish this month.  Nothing was added to the stash.  

Me Made May 2025

The final week of Me Made May finally arrived.  

To recap the month:  

What am I missing from my wardrobe?  Technically, nothing.  Although, one rainy day when I had to do some work outside, I wish I had a rain jacket to keep me dry.  

Most worn me-made item(s)?  Pajama sets (OOP Vogue 9217 and Butterick 6296), cotton knit underwear (OOP Simplicity 8229) and French terry undershirts made to wear under the scoliosis back brace (OOP Vogue 9057 and OOP Kwik Sew 2899). 

Favourite me-mades?  Those pieces made in natural fibre fabrics (cotton, linens and silk) and pieces that are easily pulled on or pullover.  

Least favourite pieces worn this month?  Those grass stained yardwork pieces.  And pieces that don't have pockets. 

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

 

Me Made May 2025: The Third Week

 Days 17--24

Other than going to church on Sunday and a few errands, my wardrobe and week was very low key.  It was a week of yard and housework.  

The only observation that I have to share is that I have clothes in my closet that don't fit my current low key lifestyle.  I have next to nil occasions to dress up.  Case in point, the teal coloured dress was the second time I wore this dress since I made it almost two years ago.  

Well that's all for this third week of Me Made May.  Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

 

A Forgotten Project: OOP Simplicity 8229

 

This project, OOP Simplicity 8229, was started last year when my serger went into the shop and stayed there for over a month waiting for a new needle plate.  It was half done when the serger needed repair.  And then I forgot about it until I recently stumbled across this half finished project and resumed work.  

It's finally done!  

I did not use the Cover stitch machine on this pair.  I went old school and used the zigzag stitch for securing the elastic.  I prefer this technique.  The fabric is a pre-washed cotton knit.  The elastic is 3/8" picot.  

Sewing IS Political

This is another Canadian 🍁 made and tariff free project.  All of the supplies were found in the stash and purchased before the convicted felon declared a global trade war against the world.  Let's count the ways that this project did not contribute to the convicted felon's economy.  

1. The pattern, OOP Simplicity 8229 (circa 2016), is an American made product.  It has been in the stash and used before the convicted felon declared an economic war on my country with the goal of annexation.  Never going to happen, that is why there is a boycott of American products.  
2. The fabric was purchased before the convicted felon broke the trade agreement he himself signed.  It was purchased at Fabricland, a Canadian fabric outlet.  
3. The scissors used for cutting out this project are from Merchant and Mills, a United Kingdom company.  They were purchased from The Workroom, a Canadian company.  
4. The elastic was purchased from Marshall Fabrics, a western Canadian fabric outlet.  
5. The sewing machines are Janome, a Japanese company.  
6. The threads were found in the stash, purchased before the convicted felon's started his rein of terror.  The threads used in this project are all Coats and Clark which contributed to the convicted felon's election campaign.  Once the Coats and Clark threads are depleted from the stash, they will not be replenished.  

Project details

Seams:  Knit (lightening bolt) stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  0.5 metres

Elastic:  2.4 metres

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, pins, wrist pin cushion, tailor's chalk, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, ballpoint needle (size 12), Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads (cotton for the sewing machine, polyester for the serger), thread clippers, Jean-a-ma-jig™.

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Me Made May 2025: The Second Week

Days 8 to 16:  

Top row L to R:  purple bamboo and cotton pullover top (OOP Vogue 1247), 100% cotton denim skirt (OOP Vogue 1247), black and white front buttoned top/jacket (OOP Vogue 8709), cotton knit skirt (OOP Butterick 5790) and 100% cotton pullover dress (Butterick 6784). 
Middle row L to R:  pear print pullover dress (Eva dress by Tessuti patterns), 100% cotton pullover dress (Trapeze dress by Merchant and Mills), reversible apron (OOP Butterick 5263). 
Bottom row L to R:  Butterfly print cotton knit t-shirt (OOP Vogue 9057), cotton knit skirt (OOP Butterick 5790), cotton and linen pullover top (OOP Vogue 9317), wool suiting pull-on pants (OOP Vogue 1642) and cotton pullover dress (Eva dress by Tessuti patterns).  

Can you believe that we're half way through Me Made May?  This week threw me from my typical May wardrobe choices.  At the start of the week we had some uncharacteristically warm hot weather.  It reached plus thirty-seven degrees Celsius (98.6℉) on Tuesday.  Sleeveless options, unless I'm wearing it with a t-shirt or turtleneck, are typically unheard of in May.  But here we were digging through summer time clothes.  Things have since cooled significantly and we're having some much needed rain.  

Here are some observations during the second week of Me Made May, 

1. Adding a rain jacket or coat would be nice.  Maybe something upcycled from a vinyl tablecloth?  I've watched some videos where that was done and they've turned out well.  Maybe I can turn a shower curtain into a rain coat?  I could do without as well, it's more of a fun project than something I need.  
2. I've started seriously thinking about that sports bra project after I stumbled across a pattern on sale.  The Pika 2679 by Jalie patterns is currently sitting at the work table.  I need to trace it out and adjust the pattern.  It will be nice to have a comfortable custom-made option to wear under t-shirts.  
3. I'm making more cotton undergarments with OOP Simplicity 8229.  The last set of panties had the elastic sewn on with the cover stitch machine but it didn't hold up as well as the earlier versions sewn with the zigzag stitch on my sewing machine.  I going old school with this new batch.  
4. I've noticed that I'm reaching for older pieces during Me Made May.  And I'm spending more time repairing and mending these than spending time creating something new.  Most of my sewing has been behind the scenes and often involves hand-stitched repairs.  Poor sewing machines are collecting dust.  

Well that's the latest Me Made May update.  Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Me Made May 2025: The First Week

 Days 1 to 7:  

The first week of Me Made May arrived and there are a few observations that I can make.  

1. I feel like I am working with a new wardrobe as there were a couple of pieces that I haven't been able to wear the last couple of years.  The red floral Eva dress (Tessuti pattern) and a plaid skirt (OOP Vogue 1378) were packed away after I gained weight.  And now these were reintroduced to the wardrobe after some weight loss earlier this year.  
2. What I chose to wear is mostly dictated by how I feel rather than what I want to wear.  Clothing choices are sometimes limited by the need to wear the scoliosis back brace.  Pullover or pull-on garments rule over zippers and buttons.  
3. If I could get away with it, I would live in pajamas.  I might want to sew one more pair.  
4. I would really like to try my hand at sewing a sports bra.  Something that I can modify to accommodate the physical changes happening to my back caused by scoliosis.  Something that doesn't hurt when I wear it.  And something that I can pull over or that has front closures.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Me Made May 2025

Today marks the start of Me Made May, an annual personalized wardrobe challenge.  I think of it as spring cleaning for my wardrobe as I put away the winter wardrobe and start bringing out the spring / summer selection.  This month long challenge is meant to promote a relationship with our handmade wardrobe and to challenge us to observe what works in real life.  As well as observing what doesn't work and why that might be.  

I have, in some form or another, been following and participating in MMM challenges over the years. I have come to realize that I prefer natural fibre over man-made fabrics.  They last longer, keep me warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer months and that is important.  I live in an area that has four seasons and extremes in temperatures.  I also find that my natural fibre fabric makes wear better and last longer than many man-made fabrics that have pilled beyond saving.  

So, I'm not going to write a personalized challenge, I'm just going continue wearing and observing and see where this journey takes me throughout the month.  I'll do some weekly check-ins along the way.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.