Sew Long May!
A Me-Made Roundup: What I Made, What I Learned, and an Inspiring Interview with Helen from Little Lions NZ.
MAY: Me Made!
Hello makers,
It’s the end of May and that means the end of Me-Made May 🙁 Only officially though. For some of us, Me-Made May isn’t just during May, we make our own clothes because we want to wear them all year round! But it's been lovely seeing everyone celebrate what they have made this month. For me, I feel quite proud when I know I have made something myself.
I know I said I would try and take selfies of what I was wearing, but the reality is I hate taking selfies so that didn’t happen sorry. Of course I love it when other people do it though, so thank you guys!
Here’s what I made this month - The Harvest Top by Peppermint Magazine
Despite this being a very simple and easy pattern to sew, I still managed to make mistakes with it. The first being I sewed the main front and back pieces on upside down, ugh. They looked almost like rectangles and so it wasn’t until I got to sewing the sleeve cuffs on that I realised my notches were way too low. Luckily, I managed to just move the notches higher up and it still looked ok. The pattern called for fiv buttons but do you know how expensive buttons are?!? I couldn’t find the time to scour the secondhand stores this month so I just brought a 4-pack of nice wooden buttons and spaced them out. Given I made the smallest size top, I think its fine.
Anyway, heres a little visual library of making my Harvest Top:
Looking Ahead.
Now that I have spent a month looking at garments and sewing patterns and making a funky new top, it feels like a good time to look ahead and ask myself a few questions. Feel free to share in the comments your responses to these too!
What does sewing mean to me?
Sewing has given me the most amazing creative outlet I never knew existed. I somewhat naively always thought an artist was someone who painted, sketched or sculpted. But creating beauty with fabric and thread is art as well, who knew! For me, sewing is meditative and frustrating, exciting and confusing. It results in all the emotions, but without it, I’m miserable.
What would my me-made wardrobe look like in 5 years?
I’m a capsule wardrobe sort of person (not intentionally, I just don’t have many clothes), so I like the idea of having a few favourite sewing patterns made in different colours and different versions in my wardrobe.
How do I want my sewing practice to evolve?
Well for a start it would be amazing not to make so many mistakes when I sew! But every time I watch The Great British Sewing Bee and I see the contestants make similar mistakes I feel better. One thing I want to remember going forward, is that not all my sewing needs to be monetized. Most of the things I make I feel like I need to sell, at least to recoup my costs. But sewing for myself, whether it’s clothing or art for our home, is hugely rewarding and a good use of my time. I think we get so caught up trying to be productive and work all the time, that creative hobbies are not valued these days.
What’s one skill I’d love to grow in or one project I dream of making?
One thing I do want to have a go at is sewing some trousers though. Being a smaller person I always find it quite hard to get nice pants that fit well. In my interview with Helen below, I might have a go at the pants pattern she recommends. I’m also going to attempt to make that Papercut Patterns jumpsuit one day, eek what colour? What fabric?! Oh and I love this Nea flow top. What was the question again, one project I dream of making?? Haha, yeah right!
Q & A with Helen from Little Lions NZ.
I know this might seem a little random to chat to a cat lover and maker of cat toys and accessories, but Helen, who is also co-organiser of Encraftment market here in Ōtautahi Christchurch, is passionate about all things handmade and sewn. Over a coffee, we chatted about her sewing journey and a few of her favourite things.
Enjoy.
Me: How long have you been sewing for?
Helen: I learnt to sew at intermediate school. I was ok at it, but what we got to make was just hideous. I remember this gathered nightie we had to make, made us all look 6 months pregnant (at 13!). For a long time I didn't sew clothes. I think I always thought homemade was inferior to buying clothes. After my youngest daughter was born I started making her clothes which I really enjoyed, partly because fit wasn't a problem she could just grow into it.
Me: How many me-made clothes do you have and wear?
Helen: I've only got back into making for me in the last couple of years and my success was very hit and miss on the me-made clothes to begin with. So the number of me-made items in my wardrobe rotation is lower than I'd like.
To begin with I made lots of woven cotton tops that I still wear (but only at home) as I have silly mistakes in them. Now I make a practice toile for each new pattern before cutting into my 'good' fabric, to test the fit, practise new skills and see if the style works on me. This has been a game changer for me, along with approaching each project with intention, care and plenty of time to enjoy the journey as well as the resulting make.
I would have to say my favourite Me-made item is the Florence Top (Merchant and Mills), I made last summer in a Liberty Cotton Lawn. Even the toile gets a great deal of wear, which is a bonus, and I'm now dreaming of a pattern hack reversing the front and back details for a dress next summer.
Another favourite is the Sidewinder Pants (The Sewing Revival) as they always seem to fit well with their flat front panels and elastic waist at the back.
Sometimes my favourite me-made is planning the next pattern I'm going to be make.
Me: What got you into sewing your own clothes?
Helen: I was sewing for my job but it wasn't fun anymore as I had to make the same thing over and over again. I've always loved fabric and there are so many options available these days and I started to go down the me-made rabbit hole on insta and youtube and realised there are all these Indie pattern designers now.
Me: How do you choose which patterns you want to make?
Helen: I follow a few sewing accounts on social media -podcasts, insta and youtube channels.
But mostly it all leads me back to The Foldline, a british online pattern store which has a huge aray of Indie patterns available (mostly in PDF) and a wishlist that I can save to and dream over before purchasing. Each week they put out a couple of video blogs showcasing the new pattern releases, new season trends, top selling patterns for something like blouses or barrel pants etc. Plus a break down on each of the Great British Sewing Bee Episodes talking about which patterns are closest to those used for all the challenges. it's my go-to starting point for any project.
Me: What is your favourite sewing tool? Mine is my seam ripper!
Helen: Hmm, I'm definitely very good friends with my unpicker. I would have to say my small snippers. At a pinch, they can be upickers, but they just are so handy and easy to use. I'm sure I've bought several dozen of them, cause the family keep borrowing them.
Me: What is your favourite fabric to sew with?
Helen: Liberty's Cotton Lawn, light weight, easy to work with and breathable and softens over time.
Me: Do you have any good sewing podcasts you listen to?
Helen:
Me: Has your approach to sewing changed over recent years?
Helen: Yes I've realised that the journey is just as important to me as the finished result. I'm more focused on slowing down and enjoying the making process. It helps me unwind and be in the moment to sew. I am trying to choose the pattern and then the fabric these days, avoiding adding to my fabric stash. When I start a new challenge now I start with only the intention of learning a new skill.
I've also just purchased a projector so I don't have to print my patterns at home or pay to get A0 files printed! I haven't had time to install it on the ceiling yet but fingers crossed it's going to greatly reduce all that wasted paper.
Thanks so much Helen, I now have new patterns to look up and lots of great podcasts to download! So good!
That’s a Wrap!
That’s it for Me-Made May. I hope you have enjoyed slowing down and, like Helen, thinking more intentionally about your clothes and your me-made’s this month, I know I have!
I've also been thinking a lot about this newsletter and what I want to do moving forward. So watch this space for the next iteration of Seek To Make.
Until then, happy making everyone.
xx
Oh Esta, your harvest top is SO CUTE! The fabric you chose is gorgeous. Love this post, per usual! 🩷
Esta, you have a very impressive 'me-made-wardrobe', much better than mine! I love that you are bringing some colour into your wardrobe. That latest top looks so stylish. I am sure this month's theme will inspire many people to make their own clothes.