Saturday 1 June 2013

MMM'13: Days 28, 29, 30 & 31: THE END!!!

So here we go, the final instalment of MMM'13 challenge documentation plus my thoughts on this year's challenge. Normal service will be resumed shortly, you may be saddened or relieved to hear!


Day 28:
Me-mades:
Also worn: second-hand cardi

Probs the last day I'll wear the Mariner T-shirt until after my pregnancy. I'm at risk of stretching it out and I love it too much to let that happen. 


Day 29:
Me-mades:
Captain jacket (not in this pic)
Also worn: second-hand cardi


Day 30:
Me-mades:
Captain jacket (not in this pic)
Also worn: second-hand hoodie


Day 31:
Me-mades:
New smock top! (Will blog about tho next week)

Later on I'll probably wear my Captain jacket and a second-hand cardi

Wowzers! It's the final day. It feels pretty momentous. It's nice to have something new to wear for the final day of the challenge, plus I'm going through some mental pregnancy-related hot flush today so I'm actually not covering it up with a million extra layers like usual! 

Ah what can I say?! Another me-made month of challenge is over. As I mentioned in my pledging post, my life circumstances made this a special one without me needing to try and think up ways to amp my personal pledge myself. This was a really interesting month, clothing-wise. I started prepping for the month by removing all the garments that I could no longer wear to make getting dressed each quicker than it would have been if I had to sift through all my clothing. I also added a couple of extra pieces hot off the sewing machine as the month evolved, but far more pieces had to get removed by 31st May. Even my beloved treggings are getting close to the end of their useful life (until after the birth at least, when hopefully I can do the opposite of what I'm doing now: gradually tightening up the elastic rather than gradually letting it out!).

I've found it interesting, if a little alarming, to look back on my documentation pictures from this month and see all the garments and outfits I wore a matter of weeks ago that I can't wear now I'm at the end of it! I'd imagine if I were to do a Me-Made-June or July this year (which I'm not, although I will be wearing A LOT of me-made clothes in those months and beyond), my outfits would have to consist of almost entirely different items than those I wore in May.

But aside from the strange and magical expanding trick my body is pulling, I've been really pleased with this month. Personally, I think I've created a pleasing amount of variety within my outfits despite having less me-made items to work with than previous challenges. I'm also happy to report that, thanks to the advent of my me-made black and blue treggings, I only resorted to wearing mass-produced (though second-hand) jeggings once throughout the whole month, despite my pledge 'permitting' me to wear them up to three times a week. Guess I am more clothing-self-sufficient than I had anticipated!

And on a wider, community level, I couldn't be more excited about how many people got involved and challenged themselves this year! A truly stellar flickr group of about 6000 images of me-made awesomeness has been created from this year's challenge, and of course not everyone challenging themselves is part of that, so even more days-worth of me-made outfits occurred this month than you can see over there. Hopefully most of the participants have got something from this challenge, be that feeling more confident in their making skills or appearance, or maybe having learnt about what they prefer to wear so they can tailor (nice pun!) their future makes to filling the gaps that came to the surface this month. Hopefully next year's will see many of this year's participants coming back to amp things up, and fingers crossed we'll be joined by more new-comers up for seeing what it can do for them!

Til next time....

24 comments:

seeds seams and upcycling said...

I have loved reading your posts, the variety of me made outfits during this month of your pregnancy is fantastic. Far better than mine was when I was pregnant a long long while ago. You now also have something to mark your pregnancy for you. You look great by the way

Flossie Jamieson said...

I just wanted to say how pleased I am to have taken part in this year's Me Made May challenge, and how inspired I hav been by you and loads of other bloggers. I am now happily on the road to making more of my own clothes, and garments for my children too. Plus, I managed to well and truly beat my own pledge, and get on board the refashioning wagon with gusto! You are a real inspiration Zoe - I only wish I had discover you and MMM last time I was on maternity leave, as I would have a much bigger, better and more ethical wardrobe by now.

Jacq C said...

Thanks for all the inspiration Zoe, I've learnt such a lot from taking part for the first time. I've just about hit my pledge (I struggled because of the weather - need to learn to make cardis!) but it's really helped me focus on what direction I'm going in with my sewing - I've even plucked up the courage and started my first refashion! And the Flickr group has been amazing, such encouragement and fab me-mades to drool over :)

Anonymous said...

Love the new smock top! That's a pretty awesome border print. I really enjoyed your MMM posts. Regarding the secondhand leggings- I think that once you've gone completely, or almost completely self-sufficient for some time, it's hard to undo that mindset (not that you would want to!). You're probably more likely to make do with what you've got- even it's only a few pairs of treggings!

adriprints said...

Thanks for hosting Me-Made-May again and I was really happy to be a participant this year. I've learned a lot about my wardrobe and am currently tweaking and eliminating lots of excess pieces I no longer wear, and I did complete a pair of ankle length jeans during the event, and got my sewing mojo back!

velosews said...

You've done a stellar job Zo.

Masustak eguzkitan said...

Zoe, this month was awesome! I have enjoyed it very much :-) And your pregnancy outfits were sooo inspiring!! The weather was cold and wet, but this made possible that I could wear me-made winter garments, so my possibilities to pass the challenge had multiplied! I think that next year I will be able to wear a me-made garment each day.
Thank you Zoe!

Cucicucicoo: Eco Crafting & Sewing said...

I've really enjoyed participating this month, which has been the first time for me. I do normally wear my own creations, but not every day, and by documenting myself I found that I spent more time putting together my outfits (usually...) and that when I wear my own creations instead of just throwing on the fastest thing, I have a much more me-style and I feel so good!

I've also really enojyed your month and seeing how you've done maternity wear in your own personal style. kudos to you and to all the other amazing me-maders whose work I've seen on flickr and elsewhere! :) Lisa

thequirkypeach said...

That new sock top is SO great - very flattering :) Thanks so much, again, for hosting MMM - it was so much fun!

thequirkypeach said...

Lol -ooops *SMOCK top not sock top

What would a sock top look like anyways? Hmmm ;)

Jenna said...

Thank you for organising such an awesome event. I have been so happy to take part for the first time this year, I have learnt so much and it has been great seeing so many wonderful sewers wearing their clothes. So many talented and inspiring people! Fab new top btw!

emily said...

Ooh Zoe I'm loving that new smock top! I imagine the lightning zig zags are a reflaction of all the wriggly kick-y activity going on underneath it!
Thanks for another excellent MMMay. My objective for the challenge this year was to get back into the habit of making stuff and POW, in the last few weeks I've really got my making mojo back.
Cheers Zoe, and congratulations to all the other MMMay-ers!

Unknown said...

It was my first MMM and I enjoyed so much.
Perfect job Zoe, congratulations!

sew rachel! said...

Yay! This was my first MMM and I surpassed my pledge! Next year, I'm going to do handmade EVERYDAY! Congrats to everyone for a job well done!

Janine said...

Zo, although I did not participate formally in MMM , I kept up with the flickr pictures . Congratulations on organizing this whole event because I truly feel that this is an important part of the current revival of sewing . I think it is great to see so many people discovering the joys of making their own garments . I certainly hope this will not be the last MMM and that next year you will be showing off yours and your little persons creations as well .

Philippa said...

Well done on getting through MMM maternity style! That's a challenge in itself! I have thoroughly enjoyed MMM and it has caused me to completely re-evaluate what I wear and where I get it from. Thank you Zoe!

Kathryn said...

Thanks so much Zoe for organising this amazing event! It was great to be part of such a supportive and inspiring community. I've learned so much and feel much more confident of wearing my makes, and inspired to make more! I love your new smock top too!

Kat said...

You are looking lovely! Pregnancy definitely suits you. Thanks for organising MMM again. I had a lot of fun taking part this year and have learn a lot about my sewing and what I need to make to fill my me made wardrobe gaps.

Becca said...

Thank you for hosting Me Made May again this year. It's been so fun to see everyone's wardrobe. Can't wait to see more photos of your new smock top. So CUTE!

pegsewer said...

Have enjoyed your Me-made months. You've inspired me to set a goal to have all knitted/crocheted items for the next one! You can read about my "31 sweater challenge" on my blog at http://deconstructaltercreate.blogspot.com/

Happy upcoming baby to you!

Far said...

Zoe, you look fantastic in your me mades! I am definitely going to try make my own treggings, lol! Thanks for hosting MMM again this year, and definitely looking forward to next year's. I hope to do so much better! :)

Kristin at SunnySewing.com said...

I'm DYING to know about the blue smock!!!! Please post about it! :D

melissa q. at a happy stitch said...

I loved reading about this challenge. I discovered it too late to join this year so I will have to be more on top of it for next year. By chance I wore many 'me made' outfits in May anyway! Gotta love that.

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