I’m a pretty avid user of social media when it comes to sewing. I’ve been on Pattern Review since 2002, blogged since 2007 and joined Instagram in 2012. I love interacting with the sewing community and talking about anything related to sewing. But, I don’t really *do* Me Made May, a sewing social media phenomena, and I NEED to talk about why.
I don’t have that large a wardrobe
I take a great deal of personal pride in making the vast majority of my clothes. But, between the time it takes to make garments and my shifting waistline I actually don’t have a lot of clothes in my wardrobe. Once, I definitely did the home maker’s version of ‘fast fashion’. I’d make something new each week with the fastest of techniques so I’d have something new to wear and blog. But, my sewing has changed and I take more time and repeat patterns. This means I have have a smaller wardrobe and fewer clothes than the average American. Because my wardrobe is smaller I repeat clothes within a week.
I’ve made a dozen of the above Cashmerette Concord tee shirts.
I felt like that didn’t make for the most scintillating MMM posts and certainly bores me a little to photograph and talk about. I tend to sew the same pattern a few times in a row to maximize on the time spent getting it to fit well. I haven’t sewn many bottoms so it’s the same tops in different colors with a rotation between the same two pairs of me made jeans. For the most part I think it’s kind of boring to see how I dress daily. Which can be a lot of tee shirts and work out leggings.
I must have eight pairs of the above Jalie Isabelle leggings
I tend to show what I’m wearing normally on my Instagram stories.
I feel a lot less pressure of my own making for a “good” photo by sharing in IG stories. I use IG stories this way because I don’t mind my dirty mirror, with laundry in the background or office bathroom mirror as I talk a bit about what I’ve got on.
I’m old
Ok, I don’t actually think of myself as old. Ido think of myself as a Sewing Blogger 1.0. I started on Pattern Review back in 2002. I’d been blogging since around 2007. But, the first years of Me Made May passed me by without making it onto my radar. By the time I’d joined Instagram in 2013 Me Made May was already a thing and I was playing catch up.
Vintage Blogging Circa 2007
The first wave of people I followed on IG were actually a bit like me. They weren’t doing MMM either which led me to hashtag a lot of my posts, “MeMadeEveryDay”. I originally felt like MMM was for a younger generation of sewist who needed encouragement to not be shy about wearing their handmade garments. I felt like I wore my handmade 99% of the time and didn’t need the same encouragement so I kind of ignored it.
Still Posting on PatternReview.com
Which brings me to the time I did do Me Made May.
Why did I? Well, I got my beloved selfie stick and it made taking pictures much much easier! I lost any self consciousness about a photo not being ‘instagram worthy’.
I also started to see the value Me Made May had for me. For me, MMM is a time to reiterate that there is value in your workhorse patterns and you don’t have to make the latest and greatest sewing pattern that just came out. I also appreciate that MMM is a time to show that you don’t need to wear something new or different every single day to feel like an accomplished sewist. Having a curated closet that works for me and my lifestyle has helped me feel good in the skin I’m in. I take MMM as a time to get on my bully pulpit and challenge yourself to find what works for you and not make what everyone else is sewing.
I REALLY appreciated that this is a time for people to post their ‘boring’ garments. I could see others were re-wearing thier clothes, made multiples of one item and developing a wardrobe that works for them. I also adore seeing older garments from my sewing friends. It reminds me what can be made and an opportunity to see something they are proud of again.
So, now I’m sporadic participant. And, it’s FINE. It really is all good. Me Make Everyday. Me Make in May. Just Make.
Renee Samuels still blogs from Baltimore, Maryland, USA at MissCeliesPants.com because she is old and posts more regularly on Instagram as @MissCeliesPants
I like your candor!
If you’re old, I’m dirt. LOL
I still haven’t done a MMM for many of the reasons you outlined. But the main one is because L.A.Z.Y. I enjoy seeing everyone else and I admit a bit of envy that I just don’t have it in me to commit to it, but I yam who I yam.
Great post!
Debbie Cook! You’re not old. You’re Queen Mother of sewing blogger 1.0 😘 I also really enjoy seeing what everyone else made. It’s a good way to remind myself of patterns I wanted to sew and didn’t get around to.
Love this post. I did it this year for the first time knowing I would re-wear things and took it as a challenge to find new combinations… And I have. And I will be repeating in the next 8 days I am 100% sure. I have 1 pair of pants and 1 pair of shorts, 2 solid skirts and by black skirt zip broke about 3 weeks ago and have not gotten it fixed yet so that has further limited me so lots of different tops with the same bottoms. But I’v had fun playing along.
🙌🏿🙌🏿 yes to the small wardrobe!
That workout gear is definitely not boring! Love it.
Thank you! Definitely breaks up the sea of black and hot pink in my gym 😄
Looking back at your posts and fell in love with Vogue 8776 cape. Can’t find it avail anywhere. Would you consider selling your pattern or a copy of the pattern. Know it’s a long shot but keep hoping to sew it. Thanks, Cathy
Thank you! I’m sorry. But, I’m not ready to part with it. Hoping to make a few more myself.
Yes! Yes to all of this. I am a serial pattern maker who is not a big fan of selfies.
*stands & applauds* I too am a me-made everyday kind of person. I’m also just accepting that when left to my own devices, I will wear pajamas all day everyday. I am currently wearing pajamas & it’s 4pm. I might put on real clothes if we decide to go out for dinner tonight. I have gone so far as to pick my daughter up from the babysitter in (me-made!) pajamas. & while dedicating a month to chronicling the contents of my overstuffed pajama drawer on Instagram strikes me as hilarious in its own way (maybe next year!), I don’t really feel called to do it, haha.
I’m really pleased to hear someone else coming out to say that they have done the DIY version of the fast fashion, that is really refreshing – and that fewer clothes is your new norm. Also the whole picture taking thing which can be just too much especially if you want to have a pretty curated feed, IG stories is a good idea. Lovely post, thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to read! Yes. I definitely did the mke a new grment every week. But, am far happier now with a better curate closet.
I think your point about Me Made May being a more useful, or perhaps more natural, outlet for younger sewers is very well taken–and youth is something I remember fondly, but increasingly vaguely! Also, although I sew a lot and have been doing more of it lately, my main love is knitting–but May isn’t a great month to show toasty sweaters.
I Love posts about “boring” everyday clothes, because that’s what I wear, and that’s what I sew.
I get inspiration from sewing blogs, that give me ideas on how to give these basics just a little lift now and then. I appreciate when bloggers recommend certain specific fabrics, techniques, etc. that worked well for them.
🙂