It's another pair of jeans!

Here's one thing ticked off my Me Made May To Sew list already! I identified jeans as being a gap in my wardrobe! Yes, they are another pair of Named Jamie jeans, how I love that pattern now I've got the alterations to my liking. I also think I'm turning into quite a Named patterns fan-girl. Their patterns are real slow-burners for me. I see the pattern release and think they're ok and a few weeks or months later I suddenly love it and buy the pattern. And of course, they design for tall women (5'8") and I'm 5'9" so adding length isn't such a radical operation as it can be and this could go some way to explaining their attraction.

The fabric is a stretch denim from Mandors in Glasgow, bought during a weekend there in April. I liked the fabric so much I bought 5 metres of it as it's really difficult finding just the right weight of stretch denim in a nice colour. My hands do take on a blue tinge with the dye when working with this fabric even though I pre-washed it. I didn't do contrast top stitching, just used a dark navy thread. I got my hammer out and added a jeans button but no rivets as I wanted these to be 'low key' jeans. 

Good back pocket placement

I didn't add belt loops as I can't stand belts tied around my middle. I'm realising that I have a mega-short waist. My usual alterations are adding 1" to the rise and 4" to the length of the legs. I also take a huge chunk out of the centre back seam, tapering it in till the yoke. I love the curved waistband on this pattern. I'm usually absolutely useless at straight waistbands but curved ones are the way forward for me. It uses up more fabric but the fit is so much better. 

Secret Paisley pattern pockets

I love my new jeans! Just need another pair now as these are in the wash...

Me Made May 2016 - week 3

Getting into the swing of this now!

Sunday 15th May
Named Jamie jeans
Tropical floral jersey top
Pyjamas
Fleece

Monday 16th May
Animal print hi-lo hem shirt - obviously time for its weekly outing!
Pyjamas
Fleece

Tuesday 17th May

Floral jersey top
Black Ultimate trousers
Swimsuit
Pyjamas
Fleece

Wednesday 18th May
Coral and cobalt blue shirt
Black denim jeans - these are definitely my favourite jeans and being black I can wear them to work. Result!
Pyjamas
Fleece

Thursday 19th May
Neon flowery shirt
Night-shirt - last year's Vintage Pattern Pledge
Black bamboo pyjama trousers
Fleece

Friday 20th May
Cream bamboo self-drafted top
Nightshirt
Black bamboo pyjama trousers

I love slobbing around in my bamboo trousers and nightshirt! I would love to make another 'set'. Still need another swimsuit in an interesting fabric too. I also think I could do with some more pairs of me-made jeans. Working on that!

Me Made May 2016 - week 2

So, on we go through week 2 of Me Made May 2016. What did I wear and what did I learn this week?

Sunday 8th May
Floral jersey top - this is now getting quite old!
Navy fleece
Pyjamas

Monday 9th May
Coral and cobalt blue shirt
Black Ultimate trousers - still unblogged! (and *still hanging my head in shame*)
Navy fleece
Pyjamas

Tuesday 10th May
Animal print hi-lo hem shirt - a favourite of mine and I note that I also wore it last week!
Jamie black denim jeans - I publicly shamed myself into blogging these
Swimsuit - at my swimming lesson
Navy fleece
Pyjamas

Wednesday 11th May
Floral shirt
Navy fleece
Pyjamas

Thursday 12th May
Floral jersey top
Navy fleece
Pyjamas

Friday 13th May
Teal jersey top - I haven't worn this top this year so a good Me Made May prompt to get it out of the drawer.
Pyjamas
Black fleece

Saturday 14th May
Named Jamie jeans - the first pair of jeans I made...the first of many, hurray!
Pyjamas
Black fleece

Me Made May is making me reach for my less frequently worn garments each morning and I'm liking that! I'm still astounded by how long ago I made my clothes. I have it in my head that 'Oh I made those Jamie jeans about two months ago' but actually looking at the blog post it was in the middle of December. How did that happen! As I'm scrolling though the 'Wardrobe' page I'm also noticing some pieces that I haven't work yet...and we all know Me Made May is good for getting you thinking and doing something about that! What have you learnt so far in Me Made May?

Me Made May - Week 1

I wasn't sure how to document what I wear each day during Me Made May 2016. Taking photos last year became such a chore and I don't think it was useful for me. This year, my pledge is to wear at least one me-made every day. I'm interested to see how much of my sewn clothes I actually wear each day and to find out if there are gaps in my wardrobe. So, I'm going to post a weekly catch-up and include links to everything me-made that I wore. Here goes!

Sunday May 1st
Flowery jersey top - I haven't worn this much, probably because it's a 100% polyester jersey and I made it at the middle of winter
Black Fleece - I need to sew replacements for my two zip fleeces
Pyjamas

Monday 2nd May
Flowery jersey top - not the same as yesterdays!
Black trousers - unblogged *hangs head in shame*
Pyjamas
Black fleece

Tuesday 3rd May -
I decided to throw in the odd photo along the way too just to relieve the monotony of too much text and also to prove I'm wearing it today. And because I enjoy changing my rules as I go along!

Hi-lo hem shirt
Swimsuit
Pyjamas
Black fleece

Wednesday 4th May
Floral shirt - love this shirt just for the neon acid yellow in the flower print
Black denim jeans - unblogged *hangs head in shame* (again!)
Pyjamas
Black Fleece

Thursday 5th May
Coral and cobalt blue shirt - reminds me of our trip to London last November, I love a fabric souvenir!
Green wool jacket
Pyjamas
Black fleece

Friday 6th May
Flowery spring shirt
Burgundy cocoon cardigan love this cardigan for its lovely fabric and the colour of it!
Green wool jacket - really need to sew another button and button hole to support the right side overlap
Pyjamas
Navy fleece

Saturday 7th May
Flowery jersey top
Pyjamas
Navy fleece

So what have I learnt in the first week? That I love flowery fabrics would be one thing! The other thing that I need to take on board is that some of these garments are now getting quite old. That's a surprise! It was only going back to add the links that made me realise this, which is interesting. There are also 'work-horse' garments that I wear every day, things like the fleece tops and pyjamas. They're getting quite a lot of wear. And I need to get a grip and blog the unblogged things I'm wearing even if the photos are rubbish because the weather is dull when I'm at home and sunny when I'm at work! What have you learnt? Anything that's a surprise?

Me Made May 2016

Well, you've probably guessed by the hulking great Me Made May image above, but hey, I've signed up for Made May 2016 and here's what I've said I'll do:

'I, Joyce of http://thestorysewfar.blogspot.co.uk/, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '16. I endeavour to wear at least one of my me-made items every day for the duration of May 2016'

I'm raising the bar on last years challenge. Bring on May!

I feel I've got enough me-made clothes to be able to promise to wear one garment every day throughout May. It's certainly helped by making a few pairs of Named Jamie jeans! Now I can wear me-mades 7 days a week. Last year I promised to wear 3 items of me-mades each week, which I'm happy to say I did. That was my first year of participating in Me Made May. I'm looking forward to doing this challenge again so if you're even remotely thinking about it, head over to Zoe's blog and make some kind of rash promise that you may or may not keep! Life happens after all and this should be a fun challenge, not something to worry about. 

I don't know how I'm going to document what I wear each day, maybe a list of links with the occasional photo? Just don't know yet but there's plenty of time to decide.

Have you signed up already? Are you swithering? Go, on, there's over 100 people signed up already! You'll be among mostly sewing friends plus a sprinkling of knitting folks too...and they're all lovely!