Me Made May Days: 23 - 29

I can't believe Me Made May is almost over. Here are my outfits from the last week, sorry for all the phone pictures, busy week this week with not much time for photos!

Day 23: Wierd photo...

Me Made: Altered second hand top and unblogged floral trousers.

Also wearing: Clarks brogues that look awful but I was about to spend a day on a boat!

Day 24: I look awful and dressed about 30 years older than I am here... different tights and shoes might improve it...

Me Made: Bead spread circle skirt

Also wearing: Charity shop top and cardi and Clarks brogues that look awful. 

Day 25: Ridiculous grin today!

Me Made: Kirsten Kimono Top and trousers

Also wearing: Ancient Cardi and clogs.

Day 26: There were much better photos for today but this was the only one with crazy girl in it!!

Me Made: Kirsten Kimono Top , unblogged

Also wearing: Charity shop linen trousers, People Tree vest top, ancient cardi and vivobarefoot trainers.

Day 27: 

Me Made: Darling Ranges dress and Virginia leggings.

Also wearing: Charity shop cardi and clogs that were soon changed for boots when the hail stones started....

Day 28: Wishful thinking that the weather might warm up just a little...

Me Made: Robot Sorbetto

Also wearing: M&S Jeans and cardi not in photo.

Day 28: Dressed for comfort and warmth - it was school sports day this morning!

Me Made: Renfrew that will be blogged next week (and will be joined by 3 others...!)

Also wearing: M&S Jeans and my favourite cardi, it is alpaca and feels like wearing a blanket. One of the benefits of having a Dad who travels to Peru for business once a year! Also vivobarefoot trainers. 


Next update will be the last for Me Made May 2015, I can't wait to compare last year with this year!

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21/52 - A Day Trip on Paddle Steamer Waverly

We bought Mother In Law a Day Trip on the PS Waverly for her 60th birthday and yesterday was the day we went.

It was a lovely day to sail up the Clyde!

Trying to get a photo with this pair is impossible!

We went from the Glasgow Science Centre through the Kyles of Bute to Tighnabruaich

The narrows, that were very narrow in a big boat!

Moored in Tighnabruaich. Bute in the background.

Big E bought himself a telescope

little e looking a little windswept!

I now want to go on holiday somewhere on the west coast, if only the weather could be guaranteed to be like yesterday and the midges would disappear...!

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Me Made May Days: 16 - 22

Another week has past, here are my Me Made May outfits!

Day 16:

Me Made: Kirsten Kimono Top and trousers
Also wearing: Ancient Pink Cardi and vivobarefoot shoes

 Day 17:

Me Made: Lady Skater
Also wearing: 2yo worn out Clarks Brogues.

 Day 18:

Me Made: Renfrew top, still to be blogged
Also wearing: M&S jeans, and secondhand seasalt cardi. This was a housework day so scruffy slippers add to the outfit!

 Day 19:

Me Made: trousers
Also wearing: People Tree top and M&S Cardi. Vivobarefoot shoes

 Day 20:

Me Made: trousers and unblogged Sorbetto top
Also wearing: Old Cardi and vivobarefoot shoes

 Day 21:

Me Made: Skirt
Also wearing: Seasalt cardi, top and coat! Winter boots. Guess what the weather was like this day?!!

 Day 22: Looking like I have been awake all night.... Husband has been away all week!!

Me Made: Chelsea Trousers, unblogged.
Also wearing: Second hand top and ancient cardi. Vivobarefoot shoes. 

Only a week and a bit left, May has gone fast!

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20/52

little e: determined to change the duvet cover herself....

Big E: Sports day at school!

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Me Made May Days 9 - 15

Almost half way through already, craziness!

 Day 9:

Me Made: Renfrew top, still to be blogged
Also wearing: M&S trousers, ancient cardi and Vivobarefoot shoes.

Day 10:

Me Made: Cardigan, Kirsten Kimono Top and trousers
Also wearing: Clogs.

'just take the bloody photo' face

Day 11:

Me Made: Kirsten Kimono Top and trousers
Also wearing: M&S cardi and vivobarefoot shoes.

Day 12:

Me Made: Trousers
Also wearing: 2nd hand top and cardi.

Day 13:

Me Made:  Kirsten Kimono Top and  Hummingbird Skirt
Also wearing: 10 year old cardi and sainsbury's leggings. Vivobarefoot shoes.

Day 14:

Me Made: Trousers
Also wearing: 2nd hand top and cardi. Vivobarefoot shoes.

Day 15:

Me Made: Banksia top 
Also wearing: M&S Jeans and cardi. Vivobarefoot trainers.


This week has definitely been the week of the trouser! I think my obsession has paid off since I have only worn jeans once and they are normally my 'Mummy uniform' . I also realise that the more exercise I do the more huge my shoulders and bust appear in comparison to my hips and legs... oh well, I will just have to make more dresses now :)

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Many Pairs of Trousers

Those who follow on instagram will know that over the last few weeks I have become  mildly obsessed with making trousers. Not all bad since my trouser collection a few weeks ago consisted of one pair of red M&S trousers that stretch out of shape in about 30mins.

It all started with this attempt at cropped trousers.

I have worn them a few times but they annoy me and are just not right so I bought the Jocole skinny pant pattern as it has a thinner leg:

via

This pattern has a secret though - a jersey waistband! I thought this would be perfect, comfy but smart.

The pattern says to choose a size by hip measurement so I cut a 12 and made up a muslin. I couldn't get them over my calves... I ripped them apart and sewed them with a smaller seam allowance and they were marginally better but the legs were still tight in funny places and there was masses of extra fabric under the bum.

This got me on google and, after a few false starts, came across this post by Cation Designs. Every possible trouser alteration is here!

Then the pattern hacking began. I decided I needed a full bottom adjustment, knock knees adjustment, large calf adjustment and a reduction in the curve of the front crotch. Phew.

I measured the pattern and compared to my actual measurements then altered it accordingly, it's a wee bit messy now...

I then took the shape of the leg and drafted a proper waist with darts and a side zip so I  now have my very own trouser block. Stupidly excited by this...

When I made the first muslin with the alterations I actually danced around the house - it worked and they fitted really well.

Jersey waist

Normal waist before being taken in just a wee bit more in the inner thigh.

So far I have made one pair with a jersey waist and one with a normal waist in stretchy fabric and one with a normal waist in non stretchy.

Jersey waist with hip rumpfle that has now been taken in

normal waist, stretchy fabric

Normal waist non stretchy fabric.

The spotty fabric is stretchy so I have had to take it in considerably and now have another pattern block for stretchy fabric.

I bought a denim and floral fabric to make another two stretchy pairs, I might attempt to put pockets on the denim pair to make them more like jeans. In fact I might get carried away and make a jeans block with front fly but that might be going too far...

Anyway, I have always wanted to be able to wear trousers that are comfy and fit properly but, as I now realise, my trousers have to be a very odd shape to fit when on....

 I didn't realise I was such an odd shape until I started this mission... I just hope mu knock knees aren't this pronounced in real life :)

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A Cardigan - M6844

Normally I get my cardigans from charity shops but I am finding it harder and harder to find the kind I like - long and loose. When I saw this pattern on sale before Christmas I bought it because view B is my perfect cardigan.

I had fabric waiting for the pattern - a grey ribbed cotton/linen blend jersey that I got from organiccotton.biz (the one on the right) , so thought cardigan perfection was within reach. I was wrong, it was a disaster, loose rib was horrible to sew and the cardi ended up enormous by the time I finished. It got sent to the charity shop in disgust and the pattern got put away for now.

About a month ago I ended up with 2m of this fabric (instead of a refund for some fabric that's colour ran when I washed it) and had another bash at the cardigan pattern.

This time it worked, just, this fabric is awful as well!

 I cut a M and it fits fine, the next time I will lengthen the arms though. They are not as short as they look here in real life.

Now to try and write up my epic trouser making sessions that have been happening.

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