Why I'm not doing Me Made May '14

Because I don't wanna, that's why?

Okay, so that's not true. I would love to do MMM. But when I thought about my wardrobe I realized, meh, there's not a whole lot in there I want to wear every day. I have quite a few things I like to wear to church but generally, I wear it already. Sot it's not really a challenge to continue on business as usual.

Instead, I've decided to give myself a companion challenge. Instead of making an "I shall endeavor to wear" challenge, I will make myself a "prepare for Self Stitched September" challenge.

I, Hot Mess, shall endeavor to make an unspecified amount of casual wear between now and the end of summer in hopes of having enough handmade creations to spend a month wearing at least three handmade garments a week for all of September.

How does that sound?

Btw, please ignore my rather prominent behind and focus on that gorgeously albeit wrinkly blouse. Yes, yes, I made that. Turns out I blogged about how I was going to make it but not that I actually succeeded. So now is as good a time as any.

Pattern Description: Simplicity 2147 is a tunic/dress pattern with sleeves and yoke in one.

Pattern Sizing: Size 12 US/34 Bust

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? As far as I remember

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked that the sleeves and yoke were all in one pattern piece. Not only does it make it a quick sew, but it's a rather convenient feature if you want to add some heirloom sewing techniques.

Fabric Used: A touch of Swiss dot from Hancock's and a  pima cotton batiste that I'm sure I bought at my local quilt shop but may have bought from Farmhouse. You can find a similar one here. The laces are a mix, some from Farmhouse, some from Martha Pullen Company.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I opted to go with lace insertion to somewhat mimic the style of Pinky's Easter dress last year. This involves piecing strips of lace together until you have a length that fits the pattern piece you'd like to use. You cut your pattern piece out and then you carry on.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Oh yes. I lost the pattern pieces to an entirely too inquisitive dog so I bought a new one. I think my next one shall be worked into my personal challenge. It did come out short though. I really wish I could remember if that was my fault. I'll be sure to let you guys know when I make it again. I planned to wear it as a dress that Easter morning but I ended up tucking it into a pair of pants as seen above. Speaking of tucks, it's too long for a tunic as well so I plan to put a few tucks into the hem so I can wear it with jeans.

Conclusion: A ridiculously easy pattern with simple shapes, very few pieces and a ton of opportunities for customization. Maybe one day I'll make an embroidered version with bright flowers across the yoke. For now, a plaid version beckons. Are you scared?

So any Me Made Mayers out there? Are you tsking your head in shame?

Everyone Else is Doing It

But I don't wanna!!

Do what you ask? The end of the year round up/New Year's resolution post of course. But I just don't want to. If you've been following this blog for a while, you may have caught onto my little procrastination problem. It's disheartening to me at least to set up all these expectations for myself, knowing full well I'm going to blow them. On the other hand, one has to start somewhere, do they not?

So where to begin?

I was thinking I'd redo some previous goals, like the Sew Historical Fortnightly which is starting anew for 2014. The first challenge is Make Do and Mend and I think I'm going to find a vintage sheet to turn into a proper, historical One Hour Dress. I just checked and the Davenport House is doing tea in March and May again this year so I better get a move on with those Regency dresses. I only got as far as the bodice on pinky's dress but the child shot up a bunch of inches and gained a more ladylike figure so I'll be starting from scratch with her. If anyone sees a pretty textured yellow lawn, let me know.

Speaking of the girlchild and all of her growing, as mentioned previously, she's growing. I officially have a tween in my house, a tween who fits nothing, including a swath of patterns I've been acquiring throughout the years. My goal regarding this sad fact is two-fold. The first one is the easy one, sell the old patterns I don't use, won't be using. I do, after all, have an etsy shop and many of these patterns are vintage. Time for them to go. The second part is going to take more creativity, something that challenges me. It is with great reluctance that I must resign myself to the fact that my daughter is too old for traditional heirloom sewing. So I'll be using the old noggin to figure out how to incorporate heirloom touches into something that pleases a more grown up style. I've started a Pinterest board if you'd like to follow along with my meandering thoughts. 

But first up, the child needs more school uniforms and I had the crazy idea to sew them. Two skirts and three dresses, both Oliver and S patterns. I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of time with Oliver and S as pinky transitions from a tween figure to a more adult one. 

Yes, a more adult one. 

Kill me now.

I'm not going to make ridiculous promises about blogging x times a week or sewing up x items a month. As seen previously, it's not my strong point. I am going to make an effort to at least blog more regularly, regularly being left wide open to whatever life might throw my way. To that end, I plan to be more active in the sewing community, perhaps even participating over at Pattern Review. They are a valuable resource to me as I sew and I think giving back is only fair. There are also more than a few challenges running about the internet. I'd like to get involved with Flip This Pattern and try again with Kids Clothes Week even though I failed so miserably the last time.

Wow, those are more goals that I intended, huh? Even so, I think the plan this year is just to take it easy and see what comes along. Give a go or not and try not to put so much pressure on myself. At minimum, I'm going to do more doing and less announcing.

For a sneak peek at the things I have loosely planned this year, check out my 2014 Pinterest boards, one for knitting and one for sewing. 

Well, that's it. Pressure but no pressure. 

Here's to a fabulous 2014! Try not to hurt yourself.

Everyone else is doing it

I really don't want to recap 2012. Suffice to say the year was full of highs and lows. Both my sister in law and I gave birth to gorgeous babies (if I do say so myself.) But we suffered two unexpected losses, that of my uncle, followed a few months later by the loss of my husband's father. Everything in between seems rather sedate by comparison I think.

The sewing/crafting front saw its own share of highs and lows. I blew threw a bunch of projects around Mayish or so but succumbed to a frightening loss of mojo and turned out nothing of great importance for the rest of the year. The living room is littered with false starts and so so completes. So we're just going to call that a wash and move on.

On the domestic front, I actually feel I did pretty good. I've still not managed any semblance of organization, nor have I made great strides in the housekeeping sector. But I did institute some traditions that are officially part of our routine. Friday Movie Night has continued merrily along, Sunday dinner is nothing short of a success, and Saturday breakfast, peteybird's brain child, has been a fantastic way to compensate for Mr Man's 60 hour work week.

But enough about 2012. Let's talk the new year. I'm thinking five challenges and ten goals. I could probably come up with some fancy reasoning but let's just make it simple. I want to do better. That's really all there is to it. I made some strides last year. I won't bore you with the details. But there's always room for more. Just don't expect some kind of weight loss/exercise plan. I'm not even. We'll save that for 20dead.

So, let's start with the challenges and tomorrow, I'll share the goals. How's that?

Challenge #1: Daily Blogging

This is one is rather easy as I already mentioned it before. I will be blogging daily. I have promised Bear Allen and Bear Allen will shove me down a flight of stairs and lock me in a dog crate if I don't comply. At least this is what her husband says is the consequence of disappointing captain reading pants. I'm really not sure but I'm not in the mood to test her. Okay, really, I'm just not in the mood to throw down on pregnant ladies and I'm entirely too forgetful to remember to save my beatdowns for post partum.

Challenge #2: Knit/Crochet for an hour a day

Can I just share with you how much I adore sitting down at the end of the day, tucking my legs and my dog underneath a blanket on the couch and just chilling out with something soft on my needles? Oh yes, I do. It's very calming, reflective, and just a great way to clear your mind and settle for sleep. This will also help me carve out some time for all the knit projects that often fall by the wayside when I get a glimpse of a yummy fabric or lustworthy pattern.

Yeah, yeah, you wanna know about that advent scarf, don't you? Well here's a song for you.

Challenge #3: The Dreamstress's Historical Sew Fortnightly 

Did you notice my new bloggie button on the right hand side of the page? Well, there you go. Here's a link where you can read more about the challenge in general but I think you'll agree an announcement like that requires its own post. You should also be aware that I received my winnings the day after Christmas and will be blogging about that soon too.

Challenge #4: Sew simple each week

Look, I'm swimming in stash, okay? It really and truly is out of hand. I started and stopped an awful lot last year and have very few things to show for it. I also need more versatile, more grown up, more coordinated clothes in my wardrobe so yes, I'm going to work on it. We're not talking complicated outfits. Just something simple and easy either for myself or for the spawnlets. I think a cute knit tee in a blue, white, and silver stripe will be just the thing to get me started. But I won't lie. I think this one will be my most challenging one to stick with. I'm sure Bear Allen will be happy to add this to her list of things to pester a hot mess about.

Challenge #5: Budget, budget, budget

This one is also a humdinger. I won't be blogging much about it, however as I'm just not feeling the idea of sharing my entire financial picture with the whole wide internet. Suffice to say, we make enough to live on and live decently I might add *if* we pay attention to how we spend it. I'd like to get on the front end of our finances instead of feeling like I'm always falling behind or missing something.

But there are benefits to thee ol' humble blog. For one, I'll be resurrecting the weekly menu segment I was doing earlier this year. The budget is pretty much the same, $125/week for groceries. The menu will usually consist of Sunday dinner, Saturday breakfast, two crockpot meals for those extra curricular days, and Friday's junk food make over.

So there it is and it feels so very brave and yet completely possible, even, dare I say it? Likely.

But if you know me . . . . well, wish me luck anyway, okay?

Pinky Promise

Stashaholism is real, guys.



Despite all the sewing supplies I'm sitting on and have purchased in the last month alone, I'm thisclose to some serious pattern and fabric binging.

In order to save my bank account, my marriage, and the backlog of crap I've still yet to sew, I'm taking to the internet to make a solemn promise.

I shall not purchase another fabric or craft related item be it books, patterns, or supplies until I have completed ten, that's right TEN sewing projects. And I said complete, not cut out, not kind of sort of, not half ass changed my mind but ten complete sewing projects.

First up, this New Look pattern.

I'll be wearing a gray knit version of this to church tomorrow morning.

Wish me well.