If a tree falls in a forest... (Self-Stitched September)

Or: If an excited Self-Stitched-September (SSS) participant fails to document her personal challenge, is she really part of this global challenge?



Goodness, it's Sept. 20 and I haven't posted a single day of me-made wares. But I promise: I've been good! I've just returned from visiting my hometown in the Pacific (sans internet connection) and am now swamped with work, so I'll be catching up to y'all slowly.

It came to my attention, at the culmination of our previous challenge, Me-Made-May, that some folks found that the challenge transformed useful sewing blogs into superficial style blogs for the month. On one hand, I can see their point: it's a lot of "me, me, me" for a month, but I believe, for the majority of us, this is a personal (hence, the "me") challenge that transforms both our sewing and style.

In fact, I see these challenges as integral to my sewing efforts. Think of it as a month-long wearability report (watch out seams!). It's also a month-long exploration in personal style: the limitations of our current wardrobes, or, for the glass-half-full folks: the creativity lurking in your closet.

So here's some photos of the first days of the month; I've lost track of the days, but tried to snap a photo with each new outfit. Instead of doing a SSS-lessons-learned round-up at the end of the month, I thought I'd intersperse my posts with lessons learned.

Shorts: BurdaStyle Ruby

SSS Lesson #1: When you're "forced" to wear your self-made clothes, you learn to forgive both yourself and your clothes.

This is an oft-repeated lesson leftover from Me-Made-May, but I think this is the number one value of the challenge. As home sewers, we have control over every step of the process, from fabric selection to seam-finishing. I don't know about you, but imperfection lurks in all my garments. But after wearing them often, I fail to notice the difference from my ready-to-wear clothes.

Bonus: I get compliments. Goodbye shame, hello pride. So when someone asks, "Did you make that?" I no longer have to respond, "Why? Does it show?" In fact, my sisters now ask me, if they like something I'm wearing, "You made that, didn't you?" And then: "I really need to learn to sew." The me-made movement is accepting converts!

Accessory: BurdaStyle MadMen Headbands
Shorts: (de ja vu, anyone?) BurdaStyle Ruby
T-shirt: Sew U Homestretch

Dress: The Shelley Dress, finagled together using Sew U Homestretch variation and S2443, a Cynthia Rowley pattern
(My niece walked out just as the timer went off)

SSS Lesson #2: You really don't need that much.

I'm so inspired by all the talk about living with a pared down, high-quality wardrobe. My frequent fantasy: A spare closet, but everything in it makes me look and feel like a million bucks. Good quality fabrics, details that speak of my personality, and colors that flatter my natural skin tone. Mix-and-match, baby.

I'm not there yet, but by working with the limitations of a me-made wardrobe forces you to think in terms of value, as in, how much mileage will I get out of X? Or: What garments do I need? By being limited by airline luggage requirements, I arrived in my hometown with one carry-on suitcase, largely packed with my favorite me-made garments. And though I sometimes wished for more variety, I had more than enough.

Suit: BurdaStyle Alison

Mini-lesson: Sew in the bra-cups into your swimsuit, otherwise they'll clam up when the surf pounds you on the shore.

Capris: Simplicity 3850 (BBW pattern)

SSS Lesson #3: Recovery matters.

Building on my last lesson, I'd decided I really needed a pair of capris for SSS. After all, I'd never had a pair I loved—they're all a little too long or too tight—and I still go ga-ga every time I see vintage-esque tight capris that fall just below the knees. (These would also be my first garment for the Hepburn Hepburn Project.)

In sweatshop-style sewing before departure, I whipped these up using a thrifted stretch navy twill. I oohed-and-ahhed. Capris, at last! I heard music somewhere in the distance heralding my efforts.

And then I wore them. Cuteness gave way to loose and baggy and my behind aged about fifty years. Argh! This stretch fabric has no recovery. By the end of the day, I felt like I was ready for safari.

So frustrating, but lesson learned.

Top: New Look 6965 (out of an old Ikea pillowcase!)

Happy September to you all!