To sleeve or not to sleeve

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That is the question. Whether to wear ones sleeves too tight, or let the arms hang free. 

So I got overexcited and made a Banksia top without making a muslin. Of course, this would cause problems with the end result. For some reason the sleeves were just SO tight, they dug right into my armpits. There's nothing I find more uncomfortable than tight sleeves. How about you? 

So I decided if I actually wanted this top to get some wear I had to take drastic action. Operation Sleeve removal. I did this the really untechnical way, I'm sure there is a technical way out there but for all of you lazy people who have tight sleeves and want a quick fix here's what I did.

Step one: Try on top.

Step two: Mark with a pen where about you'd like the sleeves, or sleeveless-ness to sit.

Step three: measure one side to make sure both sides are even. For me, I needed about 1 inch just from the bottom of the sleeve, the top part was perfectly fine. So I just marked 1 inch out from the bottom side seam on each sleeve and then cut the sleeve out with scissors, being careful not to cut away too much seam allowance at the bottom.

Step four: Make some bias tape! Making bias tape is pretty easy and makes your top look all neat and professional. I had lent my bias tape maker to Megan just earlier that week so just ironed the tape in half and then ironed the other pieces into the centre. Volia bias tape! If you're not sure, here's an easy tutorial from Colette Patterns.

Step five: Sew bias tape onto top.

Step six: Bask in the glory of your new, comfortable, armpit relaxing top. 

The final countdown

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It's the last day of Me Made May! And what a month it's been.

This final week has gone much better than last week, even fitting in a new addition to the wardrobe. Here's a quick round-up of the last few days.

28 May
Forgot to make picture but wore the Megan Nielsen Banksia with some Zara black pants. I'm enjoying the Banksia top a lot more since I sliced off the sleeves, it will definitely get a lot more wear.

Look who found a new picture spot?

I've really enjoyed taking part in Me Made May (Thank you Zo!) It's made me realise what parts of my wardrobe I do wear and which ones I tend to steer clear of. Dresses get a lot of wear in my wardrobe but I prefer simple designs and shapes. Also of course am discovering my love of stretch fabric; some days you just want something simple and comfortable and stretch fabrics really cover that for me. 

Some of my earlier pieces I really just don't wear anymore I think partly because as I've been sewing I've discovered what styles suit my shape instead of just choosing a fabric I like and a design I like and squishing the two together. 

So there you go! Hopefully next year I can do even better, with more and more handmade items. 

Confessions

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I have a confession to make. Last week (21-25th May) didn't go so well for my Me Made May challenge.


It started off with a load of washing from Bangkok and ended with that feeling of wanting something really, ridiculously comfortable.

I managed to take NO photos either! Here's a quick wrap-up of what I did wear:

21 May
Grecian rib-knit scarf. 

22 May
Can't remember for the life of me. But I think it was the scarf again?

23 May
Burdastyle wrap-top

24 May
Sick at home. Spent the day in trackies and a t-shirt on the couch.

25 May
Nada. :( Wore a new dress from Bangkok, but it was handmade if that counts? Just not by me......

So that's my terrible MMMay week. This week feels like it will be a better one - I've washed all my clothes, almost finished a new dress and am rip-roaring to go!

One night in Bangkok

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Technically it was one week. But the song doesn't sound quite the same when I hum that in my head.
I was lucky enough a to go to Bangkok for a work conference not last week but the week before. I arrived back last Sunday night and last week seems like a bit of a blur!

I was super excited, partly because I'd never been to Bangkok, partly because I would get to meet all my work colleague from the region and partly because it was warm weather so could break out all my Me Made May gear for hot weather. Hurrah!

The first outfit (15 May) was actually a blue and cream striped t-shirt dress (similar to StitchyBritts here) which I wore on the plane with leggings. I hadn't taken any pictures yet and then managed to leave it in the hotel. Funny story actually, they had one of those fire smoke alarms that had a green light that flashed constantly and kept me awake. So I hung that dress over it to block out the light. Then left it there. Poor cleaners must be wondering what I got up to!

The first day of the conference (16 May) I wore my new black dress with slightly Polish feeling trim, the Colette Pastille (yet to be blogged). I finished this the day before I left *phew*. I'll take some close up photos soon to post about but the top part of this is so nice and neat (!) as I had enough black material to line it. I added some flowery looking trim I had in my stash to make it slightly different to a plain black dress.

The second day (17 May) I had to do a presentation and decided to go with the Megan Nielsen Banksia top (not yet blogged). I originally made this with sleeves but they were so ridiculously tight and uncomfortable I had only worn it once. I ripped off the sleeves and put bias binding around the edges. The collar maybe stands out a bit more now, but at least it's comfortable and will get some wear.

Last up (18 May) I decided to go with the Colette Ginger I made last year. Paired with a black top from Kmart, I quite like how it looks like a dress if you don't look close enough.

I sort of failed to complete MMMay on the 19th May. I started the day wearing the Banksia top but I was transferring hotel (these last two days were personal holiday time) and I tell you what , boy oh boy was it hot outside! So by the time I reached the hotel I was sweating something chronic and changed into something a bit flow-ier - but not me-made.

Have you ever been to Bangkok before? It's an exciting place and he days I wasn't working I spent eating, drinking coconuts and having foot massages. I'm one of those people who travel by eating. I just move from breakfast to lunch to dinner to desert and back to breakfast again.

A delicious restaurant that's founded by an NGO that works in HIV prevention and education. It has really delicious food, cute fairy lights and funds go to the NGO's work.

Oh, they also had decorations made of condoms.

Mmmmm coconuts.

Relaxing by the pool.

Me-Made-May check-in

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Whoops how time does fly! I can't believe we're almost half way into Me-Made May already. This month has turned into a really busy one at work so I haven't had much of a chance to do the sewing projects I had planned.

It's also about time for a quick wrap-up of Me Made May outfits so far.  I've managed to snap a picture each day as I was running out the door but my camera skillz aren't quite as advanced as my sewing skillz so there's a few headless shots!

 

 

 Next week I'm heading to Bangkok for a conference where it's apparently 40 degrees at the moment. This feel like the ultimate challenge, wear something handmade, conference-suitable and that I won't sweat to death in!  

I'm hoping to finish off another dress this weekend to take with me. I'll let you know how I go!

Me Made May Day 1

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Learning how to take photos by myself. look, no head!

Me Made May is here! I woke up this morning and had a small panic that I really needed to wash my clothes in order to have something to wear. But I pulled out old faithful, my Colette Pastille. I LOVE this dress and cannot wear it enough. Everytime I wear it I think about how I must make another version of this, I can see it becoming a real wardrobe staple. You'll most likely be seeing this one a few times in May.

On the walk to work.

Joining the me-Made-May challenge

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I've decided to take the plunge! It's been about a year and a half now since I learned how to sew garments and am slowly building up a small wardrobe of wearable clothing.  For the month of May I'll be taking part in Zo's Me-Made-May '12

'I, Bohdana of Poppet Hill, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '12. I endeavour to wear one self-stitched/refashioned/knitted garment each day (Mon-Fri) for the duration of May 2012'

Phew! I think this will give me a chance to review what I have, what I wear and what I could do with more of. You'll notice I've only said Monday -Friday in there; I mostly wear my handmade clothes to work, my weekend gear consist of jeans and a t-shirt. I'm hoping this year to make more around-the-house clothes though but doubt I'll have anything ready for the month of May.

Sarai at Colettte patterns has this great blog post the other day about making practical clothes and I totally agree. More cake less icing needed!