The last week of Me Made May came to a close on Saturday.  What fun this was! I wore all but 9 items that I made.  Some because they need repair or fixing of mistakes, some because they are cooler weather items, others just because I chose not to wear them. I learned so much about what I make vs. what I wear and even chose to photograph some of the RTW outfits so I could start to see what I love to live in. Fascinating, Captain!

Week 5 is a week of color. I love, LOVE (eyes bug out, head back, the world gets bigger), color.  The richer, brighter, more cheerful the better. 

Dress: Colette Patterns Parfait. 
Pants: Khakis in Denim
Shoes: Taos

I fell in love with the Parfait dress after I made it mainly because of my dress form. It allowed me to learn how to truly fit something to my curvy body which actually gets smaller at the high bust than most patterns are designed. You can see I still need an armhole dart (armhole to bust) even after the sides and back have darted shaped seams. 

I threw the capri jeans in by guess and I am thrilled by how awesome they look.  What you don't see is that when I'm chilled, I top this with a JAG cropped Jean Jacket. So cute!  I've even worn this dress with boot leg jeans.

As you can see after several weeks of outfits, I choose to wear the same shoes repeatedly. This is a conscious choice to invest in a high quality, comfortable pair of shoes that will last me as many seasons as possible and have the potential for repair.  I learned this by reading The Millionaire Mind.

Top: Bryn Walker
Dress: Bryn Walker
Skirt: Birch Street Spiral Skirt, short version in batik quilting cotton
Shoes: Taos

I love this green parrot skirt I made. Love it. But, sometimes it feels a little too short. So, to counteract that, I wear a dress over it. When I was playing around with outfits one day I threw these 3 together because I needed a power pack of color to lift me up.  I fell in love. The top is a soft french terry. So comfy. The dress has spaghetti straps and fits me funny at the top of it, so covering with the top makes it all better. And the skirt beneath it all is such a surprise to those who see me that it makes them smile. WINNER!  I definitely want to make more of these spiral skirts. I used a serger to finish the curved seams on this version (my 2nd one) which went way fast. Whereas I hand turned and pressed each spiral on the long rayon version I first made (it's my go-to bellydance skirt because it adds lots of side fluff for flipping about with hip drops and pops). My next one will likely come to mid-calf.

Shirt: Vogue V8699, custom fit top in Ponti from Fabric Depot
Pants: Khaki Denim Capris
Shoes: Chacos

This top is one I love to wear. It's at the end of it's season, because being made in ponti means it keeps you warmer than cotton. It's perfect for 50 degree summer mornings that burn off into 70's. In the winter I wear a tank top under it and put another jacket over it. It always looks great, the seams hold up, and it really doesn't wrinkle much.  And I LOVE the cheerful coral color.

The cowl is different than the pattern because I ran out of fabric. Instead of cutting the pattern on the fold (since I couldn't) and I didn't have enought for 2 pieces to stitch together, the I cut the pattern piece as is, then folded it in half. It resulted in 1/2 the pattern cowl. I'm actually glad because I have a short neck and don't like a lot of fabric bulking up. The way it is, I can fold it over too and have a pretty cool stand up collar that kinda looks like one of those boat neck nautical tops with a stand up collar. 

As you can see, my arms are shorter than the vogue block, so I choose to fold up cuffs rather than shorten the sleeves. I'm most comfortable with sleeves ending at the base of my thumb or 3/4 length when it comes to long sleeved shirts. But I usually prefer to fold cuffs so when I am cold, I have fabric to warm my hands with.

Hat: Goorin Bros Cloche (so 1920's Miss Fisher!)
Shirt: A Nordstrom Rack Find
Skirt: Simplicity 1358 Apron Pattern Vintage 1940's
Bike Shorts: Shortie Leggings by Jan Bones (my underpinnings)
Shoes: Taos

Saturday I met my Dad for lunch and wanted to dress in my last unworn skirt. I donned my red shirt, cloche, newly finished shortie leggings, and raced off for a yummy sandwich in the sunshine.  After that I decided to walk the beach since it was low tide. What fun things I found. Crab claws, clay, driftwood, muscles, seaweed, wild and dangerous currents, and the Narrows Bridge. 

Having on the shortie leggings were perfect for tramping around on the beach. I climbed up, over, rolled on, and saddled a few logs in order to hurdle them and keep on my path. When all was said and done, I still looked amazing and put-together, not like I'd been climbing like a 3 year old. So I wandered into town. 

Walking down the street, I had people shout from cars, "Hey! Nice Skirt!" and passers by say, "so adorable" while looking at me to denote they meant my outfit. I even had someone stop me in the store and exclaim how much she loved the color of my outfit and how I looked like I was ready to be at the beach without me telling her a thing! How awesome is that?!  I'd say this skirt is a definite keeper. 

I cut and sewed up the shortie legging over a few days. Man they were fast. 

I chose to sew them in the largest size.  I'm learning about stretch fabrics by doing and wearing. What I learned is that I would normally take out 1-2" all around on these.  While they are comfortable, the fabric does swish about and move on my body as I do, rather than staying put.  Safely, I will go down to 2 sizes, maybe 3. Sometimes  I like my stretch wear to be a little looser as it lends to a more comfortable day overall.  However, in this case, I was at times more aware of my undergarments than I prefer.

I don't usually like elastic at my thigh; it's irritating. This worked out all right. I didn't make it too tight. But, I am thinking about a fabric cuff in the same fabric as the rest of the shorties. That would be comfy!

Next time, I will probably choose a wicking knit, and go down 2 sizes. It will depend on how much stretch the next fabric has compared to this one.  

Last, but definitely not least, I wore my clown pants!  Yay Birtha. That's my clown name, and in case you didn't know I went to "clown school". Seriously, the hardest thing I've done. I cried SO much. 

I'll be honest, these have hung in my closet since I finished them 2 years ago. They seemed so loud, scary, and clowny. Funny that I'd be afraid of looking like a clown after I was one. But the felt more like a costume and less like regular wear. That is, until I pulled the hem up to mid thigh and started evaluating these as shorts with a ruffle instead.  They do have elastic in the kaffe flower fabric band which helps them stay in place as you walk. 

I'm not fond of them as capris or bloomers (they're based off an old pair of bloomers I have).  They make me feel big and funny. Which is great for a clown, but I don't usually want to look like that when out of clown character. I have a feeling that these will be revamped into cute as can be shorts. Which is funny, because I haven't worn shorts in years. My legs rub together funny and I haven't felt good about the way they look. But, now I am realizing that I am beautiful exactly as I am, that self deprecating view is fading away.  I'm even daring to make Deer & Doe's Chataigne Shorts! 

Week 4 is all about activity for me. Hiking, carpentry, working, Acroyoga, SUP, and more!  I love being outside!

For my hike, I did not have any clean "me made" clothes to wear, so I went with my Lululemon capris and I actually picked up this blue wicking Under Armor T-shirt at a local store as I was buying food for my 10 Essentials to bring on the hike at Mima Mounds.  The shirt is super comfy, the fabric just dense enough - just lightweight enough, and the color is rich & brilliant. I now know why Kathy of Kathy Sews is so eager to find fabrics that are Under Armor even if they aren't labeled as such. 

I am happiest hiking and doing all kinds of activities in full range clothing like yoga pants and capris.  Most other pants either stretch and hang on my hips (so you spend the whole time pulling it up) or their are constricting. I have a feeling that I'll be able to use some different fabrics to create my own, full range motion version of hiking pants.  I was comfy all day. Had my fleece & gortex & a scarf all in my pack and ready for wearing. All were used.  Our weather in Washington State can vary that quickly.

The hike below was all about finding & identifying wildflowers.  What an amazing and inspiring adventure.  The folks at Wolf College are so knowledgeable. Please consider taking a class from them or even coming to Washington to track and observe (not hunt) the wild wolf packs. All their classes are worth every penny!

As you can see from my photos, we also learned what plants were edible and I ATE some. Nommy! I like clover. Just call me Bunny. ;)

Tank: Kwik Sew K3740
Jeans: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Brooks

This Kwik Sew tank has been a staple in my workout wardrobe for ages. It's a mid-weight, fairly firm knit. I could have made a structured jacket with it. The edges ripple a little because of how I sewed it and/or the interfacing. But I will definitely make it again after I watch my new Craftsy class, Sewing Knits that Fit so I can modify the bust and also take out the fold of fabric at the back waist.

Cardigan: Kwik Sew K3693
Cardigan Fabric: Cotton/Poly ITY Knit
Shirt: RTW
Jeans: Levis that were taken in at the hips by my alterationist. 

This aqua cardigan is another version of the navy blue conference version I wore last week. I like wearing it, but I don't love it. When I put it away after wearing it this last day, I could have actually put it in the donation pile. It feels ... awkward.  The fit is fine, but after wearing the same cardi in a Ponti Knit, I realized this has no give. It doesn't really drape, it just holds itself in place - all damn day. For a drapey cardigan, I do not prefer this. But, again, I have learned!  And I could always cut this up and turn it into something better. 

Tank Top: RTW
Capri Pants: a mash-up of K3988 and K3770 

Lookit me! I'm a flying Locust!  No... wait, I'm a spotter.  Wait, wait! I'm a supported yogi!  This week I found a local AcroYoga class at Grit City Ballroom. Wow! I mean wow!  First, no experience or partner is necessary. Second, (or should it be first?), the teachers are spot on and totally get how to provide quick, direct, useful feedback you can understand and apply right away. Brilliant. I did not think. Well, prior to reading their description, I thought I'd have to be way more in shape. But I didn't. I'm so glad I didn't wait. I trusted others to "base me" and others trusted me to "base them." It was amazing. I felt so at home. And my capris were comfy and perfect. Yay!

I went on my first SUP or Stand-Up Paddle adventure this week. Wow! A bit more of a balance challenge to stand than I anticipated, even on a board dedicated to being wide for SUP yoga. I did fall once, Charlie Brown style, but remained on the board. I was trying to stretch my ankles. Whoopsie!

As you can see, baseball hat, shades, and wetsuit were the attire. What you don't see is that I'm wearing my 1 piece swimsuit under it all. All RTW, but good to observe what I chose & what worked. In the pacific NW, the Puget Sound or Ocean water rarely gets above 45-50° F. Brrr. So we make sure to protect and be warm. Hence the wetsuit. Cause if you fall in and get cold, you won't wanna continue to paddle.

The wetsuit worked out well. It was a shorty that stopped at my knee. I was a bit warm though. I'll have to look at gear more and decide on make or buy for wetsuit and other pieces. I'm already planning out my board shorts, which I'll make.

All in all a super week!