Wardrobe Inventory

So I know that many clever Me-Made-Mayers have already taken the step to make an inventory of their Me-Mades in anticipation of the challenge. Wise indeed to undertake such a task, as it also gives you the ability to judge easier where your sewing efforts should be applied on the run-up to May 1st (and beyond). I guess I felt an inventory for Me-Made-May wasn't necessary as I survived Me-Made-March with only handmade clothes. You may recall from my bitchin’ and moanin’ during March, that my collection of handmade items is not exactly flooded with warm garments, subsequently I was confident I had enough clothes for May, and could focus on making more pizzazz rather than just sewing to bulk up the numbers. So it didn't really cross my mind to make an inventory. Then I saw ­­­Quixotic Pixels' photo, the first in the Me-Made-May Flickr Group’s photostream to be exact, and I changed my mind. Look at it! It’s such a beautiful, vibrant and colourful selection of lovely clothes. I couldn’t resist seeing what my Me-Mades would look like altogether.

I’ve been stitching away pretty solidly for the last year since I got my sewing machine and overlocker sent over from the UK, creating various different garments here and there and then cramming them onto my clothing rail where I can find the space. But I’ve never taken a look at these items together, away from my thrifted and shop-bought (in the pre-WR days, of course) garments. You know what my handmade clothing looks like all together? (This may not come as a surprise to you but it did to me:) A Wardrobe! Can you believe it?! I’ve made a whole wardrobe! An entirely impractical wardrobe for a year containing cool/cold seasons, but a wardrobe nevertheless.

Add to this lot about another two-thirds of non-me-made, and you’d be correct in thinking that’s a lot of clothes! Can you believe I arrived in Spain less than two years ago with one small suitcase and a carry-on bag?! I don’t want to think about getting it all back to UK in August. (Fingers in ears, la la laaaaaaaaa.)

So I got out most of the clothes I've made, excluding the things I don't think I'll wear in May, and hung them on the spare rail in our hall (don't ask why there's a spare rail in our hall, I can't tell you). So, it goes a little something like this:

• 1 Coat
• 2 Jackets
• 3 A-line skirts
• 5 Pencil/straight skirts
• 2 Pairs of trousers
• 1 Pair of shorts
• 5 Tunics/loose tops
• 4 Blouses/fitted tops
• 5 Stretch tops/T-shirts
• 1 Jumper dress
• 1 Cardigan
• 2 Day dresses
• 5 Going-out dresses

Is it wrong to still feel some days like I have nothing to wear? I certainly often feel that nothing goes right with each other. Plus some of these things I wear very often, and some are lonely orphans. My aim, much like many other Me-Made-Mayers but all accounts, it to create workable outfits from my separates, and to find ways to bring the orphans into the fold. But I have to be honest, I always seem to think that the next creation I make will somehow magically bring everything together and make it a whole and complete wardrobe. I know it's ridiculous, but I can't let go of that assumption somehow! I'm about to make a pair of wide-leg high-waisted trousers and a pair of capri pants (see the fabric in my previous post) and I know that they are going to do just that!