Happy Friday, everyone! Before I jump into another Me Made May weekly round-up, I have a couple announcements that may be relevant to your interests 🙂
** This summer, I’m excited to announce that I’m teaming up with Andi Satterlund to combine a sew along with a knit along. The idea is to knit a garment and sew a garment to make a coordinated handmade outfit. It’s a great opportunity to stretch your crafting skills, and we’ll have two official patterns that we’ll help you with along the way. Our sewing pattern will be Simplicity 1803, and our knitting pattern will be Andi’s new Myrna cardigan pattern. Andi will be writing all about the knitting on her blog, and I’ll tackle the sewing posts right here. This is a perfect time to try knitting your first sweater or sewing your first dress. If you don’t like either or both of the patterns – no worries! You can sew and knit whatever you like 🙂 The idea is to have garments that you will actually love and wear, so obviously don’t feel obligated to make something that’s not your style.
You can get all the details over at Untangling Knots, but in a nutshell:
– We will be kicking off 6/1/14, which gives you enough time to find your perfect fabric and yarn
– If you make both a sweater and a dress (and it doesn’t have to be the patterns we are pimping; these are just the ones that will get the specific step-by-step blog instructions), you are eligible to win prizes! Woohoo!
– Myrna is a seamless, top-down cardigan knit in worsted weight yarn, perfect for beginners (and dresses!). It’s also 20% off thru 6/1 with the code OAL2014.
– Simplicity 1803 is a fun, beginner-friendly pattern featuring princess seams, a gathered skirt (although I’m gonna show you how to do soft pleats as well because, well, I hate gathers haha), and pockets, as well as neckline and sleeve variations. I’ve made this dress twice before, which you cans see here in black lace and here in super awesome rad rayon. It’s a great pattern, and I’m excited to make moreeee!
– Andi has set up a Ravelry Group for all OAL discussions and photos (you have to register to participate, but Ravelry is free and it’s awesome). We also have an official hashtag – #OAL2014 ! Grab a button and let’s go!!
** To my UK sewists: My girl Jennifer is currently in London RIGHT THIS SECOND and offering a pocket workshop at the Village Haberdashery on Wednesday 5/21. If you have not have the pleasure of meeting Jennifer, I seriously urge you to go take this class – she is SO MUCH FUN (and a great instructor to boot!). This class will teach you how to add pockets to any pattern – from drafting to professional ways to insert them. You can see all the details and sign up here. I WISH I could take this shit, so someone should go for me haha 🙂
** Have you see the new Papercut Patterns collection, TRI?? Katie has released a couple of patterns for activewear, swimsuits (!!!), and also re-vamped some older patterns to be activewear appropriate (such as shortening the Ooh La Leggings so they can be yoga capris). She has also added another size (up to XL now!) AND these can be bought as downloadable PDFs woohoo! I’ve already made the swimsuit pattern, twice (I was a pattern tester, I’m not THAT fast haha), and I can’t wait to show them to y’all!
Ok, now let’s get into this round-up part!
5/10, Saturday
Top: Colette Sorbetto
Skirt: Cake Hummingbird
Necklace: Chatterblossom
Belt: Thrifted
Shoes: Keds
This photo is actually a little deceiving – my Sorbetto top looks much better here than it does in real life 🙂 It’s actually a bit too big, and the neckline is stretched out, and the bias tape application is pretty dodgy. But I looove it (that fabric!) and I can’t bear to get rid of it. So there’s that.
5/11, Sunday
Dress: Deer & Doe Bleuet
Shoes: xoxo
Another EH for me. I love this dress, but I do not love my fabric choice – it doesn’t hang right and the stretchiness makes it feel like it’s almost too big. Definitely need to remake this at some point this year, because the pattern itself is actually really cute! Also, lol that I’m making the exact same face as in the picture before 😛
5/12, Monday
Top: Closet Case Files Nettie (tshirt version)
Skirt: Colette Ginger
Necklace: Flea market
Belt: Thrifted
Shoes: Nine West
I agonized over this outfit way more than I should have in the AM. I’d already worn my Nettie during the first week of MMM, and for whatever reason I was a bit hesitant to pull it out again. I ultimately decided that MMM is about creating outfits that I love to wear and feel good in (and, duh, made myself! :D) and not about wearing an omgtotallydifferent thing every day. So, say hi to Nettie again. I’m sure she’ll make another appearance at some point this month 🙂 Also, say hi to the cat butt in the corner, ha.
5/13, Tuesday
Top: Closet Case Nettie tshirt (unblogged)
Skirt: Sewaholic Hollyburn (unblogged… for now)
Belt: Thrifted
Necklace: Fire Finch
Shoes: Fergalicious (lol yeah… I know…)
LOVE this outfit! I think I might even like it better than Monday’s – which I also loved 🙂 This is Hollyburn #2, as well as Nettie #2. They’re both unblogged, but I’ll try to get a post up in the next week or so. Also: those shoes! I’m so happy that it’s finally warm enough to wear them 🙂
5/14, Wednesday
Dress: Vintage Vogue 1610
Shoes: Born
Necklace: Chatterblossom
My first faux DVF 🙂 It’s fun to wear, but I fear it may have a short lifespan – the fabric I used is a bit too lightweight for this pattern, so the skirt sags over the course of the day. Oh well!
5/15, Thursday
Top: Papercut Coppélia wrap
Pants: McCall 6440
Shoes: Sam Edelman
Sooo it randomly got cold yesterday. WTF? May, you cray.
5/16, Friday (that’s today!)
Jacket: Sewaholic Robson (unblogged – post coming soon!)
Pants: Sewaholic Thurlow
Tshirt (not shown): Sewaholic Renfrew
Shoes: Keds
Today is Bike to Work Day, so here I am with my bike (and crazy hair, wow haha)! I actually work about 20 miles from home (which for me is tooo far to bike!), but I was able to finagle working remotely today, so I could participate in the festivities 🙂 It’s still a little chilly and drizzly today, so I’ve got my red pants and new Robson. Speaking of which – I’m so happy to finish that damn jacket in time to at least wear it before it gets too hot! It’ll be on the Mood Sewing Network next week, but I wanted to show a little sneaky peek first because I just love it so much 🙂
I guess that’s it! How’s your MMM coming along this week? Have you had a wrench thrown in your outfit plans due to crazy May weather?
LLADYBIRD 
OMGOMGOMG…is there a limit to how many times you can OMG before it gets annoying??? I am SO IN on the OAL!!!! I am in love with that cardi – stuff like this is pretty much the focal point of my summer wardrobe. Plus, I’ve been looking for a new inspiration (and excuse to go to Jimmy Beans and buy up some deliciousness). YAY!!!!
It neverrrrr gets annoying!! Yayay I’m so excited! 😀
I just added the Myrna cardigan to my Ravelry Favorites! I’ve sworn-off SALs for the year, but only because I want things I will wear…. so I may be able to bend my own rule. Anyway, great idea!
Well, you know, you can always sew a different pattern that you’re more likely to wear 🙂 We aren’t picky! I just wanted to set a pattern for this one so people would have something to follow along with if they needed it. But yay for Myrna! I can’t wait to knit it up – just have to find the perfect yarn 😀
First off, an outfit a long! That’s super cool! May be I’ll start finishing my miette before I join this. I need to start knitting again because I have a huge yarn stash in addition to my fabric stash.
Second, I love, love your Robson trench! Swoon! It’s super adorable and so versatile since you shortened it. I can’t wait for you to post about it. May be it will kick my ass to start on my trench! Ha!
Yes! I’m working on Hetty right now; hopefully I can finish before this OAL because I hate UFOs (I’m like halfway done with the second sleeve, so maybe!).
And I cannot WAIT to show y’all my Robson in all it’s glory! We even took fancy photos (well, fancier than me+tripod solo in the backyard haha).
Great plan – I’ve made a few of Andi’s designs and love them. Looking forward to the outfit along!
She’s a fabulous designer 🙂 I can’t wait to see everyone’s makes!
Ah yes it’s so freaking cold here! I got a weather alert for cold funnels wtf!! I failed miserably at MMM this week. It was too cold for the skirts I wanted to wear and I was NOT about to drag out panty hose and tights again. boo!
Cold funnels?! What the hell is that ahahahaha
I don’t blame you; once it got cold here I went straight back to pants because, fuck wearing tights.
Hello, Amelia 🙂 Tell your mom it isn’t nice to refer to you as a “cat butt.” (But then tell her how smart she is, and how lovely her outfits are, and how she looks ALMOST as pretty as you do in your outfit that you did not even have to sew ;), and how looking ALMOST as pretty as a tortoiseshell cat is high praise indeed (in the opinion of the tortoiseshell cats).)
Hahahaha!! 😛 Amelia will always outshine me in my own photos 🙂
I love the combo of knitting and sewing a whole outfit! Very cool idea and the Myrna sweater looks like a great cardigan to pair with dresses!
Yeah, I think it’s gonna be a fun OAL 🙂 I can’t wait to make up my Myrna; I think it’s the perfect summer cardigan to wear over dresses!
Someone (ahem, yours truly) decided she just HAD to learn to knit so she could make sweaters to go with her cute dresses. *Because I don’t have enough to do right?!* Haven’t made one yet because I’m scared! I’m so on this OAL, I’m excited about the sweaterrrrr for my arctic office air, I may not do the dress because princess seams give me hives (so many adjustments for my monster rack, eep!). Sweater pattern bought!
And your outfits for this week of MMM are all adorbs by the way. I died a little over that polka dot Robson and your short Hollyburn. I gotta get that pattern out again and make the short one, so cute!
Oh no, it’s totally appropriate to knit sweaters because you can take that shit with you where a sewing machine can’t go! Ha! Portable clothes-making FTW!! Yay for making your first! 😀
I love those two outfits with the 2 netties, I have actually been googling similar striped fabric and of course can’t find any. Love love love those outfits, and of course those shoes. You have the best wardrobe ! I can’t imagine who you pick what to wear in the morning. Oh, and compliment your cat on her butt too for me.
They have it at Mood Fabrics NYC if you are ok with buying sight unseen (or maybe they can send you a swatch?). It’s $18 a yard, a relatively thickish knit (almost a ponte), and comes in navy with white stripes, white with navy stripes, black with white stripes, and white with black stripes. And it is AMAZING. Call them! I might regret telling you this if I come back to NYC and it’s all gone tho lol.
And thank you! Slowly getting my wardrobe to be 100% awesome haha 🙂
Isn’t it funny how we nitpick our own creations? I think all of this looks fab and gurl, if you ever need anyone to take that DVF off your hands I’ll find a way to squeeze into it.
It’s true, we are definitely our biggest critics 🙂 If I ever get sick of this DVF, I’ll totally holler at ya 🙂
So basically you’re doing a S/KAL of my life. LOL! I’m so tempted to join in because it sounds so awesome but I have no business starting a new sweater with 4 WIP ones. But I want tooo! We shall see. Even if I can’t, it’ll be really fun to watch!!
You should join anyway! You always make the cutest sweater/dress combos and I’m dying to see what you’d cook up with this one. But I totally understand not wanting a bunch of UFOs – I personally gotta finish Hetty before I can start, eep !
Love this idea! Andi’s cardigan designs are so cute and pretty much the entire reason I want to take up knitting (plus, I love your makes!). I just can’t seem to get started though. Maybe that means I should attempt this sew-along. 🙂
Andi is the reason I started knitting!! Haha!! She’s just too good. You should totally join along with us – come onnnn, let me peer pressure you into it haha 🙂
I need peer pressure! I’m always shying away from knitting, but these are just way too cute to pass up. Especially with all the dresses I wear!
Love all of your outfits especially, Monday and Tuesday. We had a cold snap in Alabama yesterday but, I was low key excited because I had an excuse to wear a pullover 😉
I’m looking forward to the Outfit Along. Are you going to add lining to your dress?
Monday and Tuesday are my favorites too 🙂 I know what you mean about low key excited – I felt the same way since I got to at least wear my new trench 🙂 It’s the little things, yeah? 🙂
I will not be adding a lining to my dress, since I don’t like to wear lined garments in the summer! Facings and bias bound edges for me haha. If you want to line yours and need help, though, shoot me an email and we can figure it out together 🙂
ooooh, I like Monday’s. I’m still in the ’00s teen thing of never-ever-tuck-things-in-so-you-can-show-your-lower-back-to-the-world, so I have all these skirts I never wear because my tops don’t go with them. I own several bodysuits, but they’re as a base layer when it gets cold.
But I think I need to revise that silly habit because it looks so TIDY and put together and still so casual. LOVE.
Hahahaha oh man, I remember that fad. All about the low-rise jeans and short shirts so the world could see my hipbones! lol. You’re right, a bodysuit would be the perfect solution for those skirts. And no tucking in! My versions are tshirts (aka no crotch holder, basically) since I feel like a bodysuit would be toooo hot for summer here, but I’m gonna be all over that shit come winter.
Oh so excited, count me in! Was looking for an excuse to knit another Miette but the Myrna looks so cute, really enjoy knitting Andi’s pattern’s, think I may have a slight addiction as I knitted three back to back! Just need to find the perfect yarn for Myrna….
I don’t know if I want to knit anyone else’s patterns, almost! Hers are totally the best. I was actually thinking of doing another Miette too (mine is now too big, so I gave it to my mom! She loves it, yay!), but then Myrna happened and now she’s at the top of the list 🙂
I’m joining in on this challenge, it’s awesome! Thanks for hosting it, guys.
Yay!!! Can’t wait to see what magic you create 😀
I’m in for the sewalong please, love the dress and the jumper, and the idea of having a compleeete outfit at the end is brilliant!
Isn’t it? Props to Andi for thinking it up (I’m just here for the ride hahahahaha). A totally me-made outfit is such a fabulous end result 😀
Love all your MMM outfits, but I am TOTALLY distracted by the sew along!!! lol. Count me in! 😀 Especially because I’m pretty much living in sundresses like that right now, and have been itching for a quick knit pattern. And worsted always goes so quickly (even if I just did *ahem* come back from Maryland Sheep and Wool with nothing but fingering weight yarn…)!
Oh yay! I hear ya, I live in sundresses all summer too so I’m real excited to make moreee 😀 And don’t you even talk to me about Maryland Sheep and Wool… I saw your instagrams, and my jealousy knows no limits right now haha
Wow! Love your outfits and your hair! 🙂
Wow great outfits! I’m from Oz down under and our May has been crazy weather wise, I never know what to wear! Great idea to do the knitting and sewing patterns together – swishy dresses and cute cardies are my wardrobe staples 😀 but I am a uselessly slow knitter, I’ve only made 2 garments and neither fit! One was too big and the next too small! So how hard is the knitting pattern to follow and fit and how long will it take to knit up for someone who knits at a glacial pace? Thanks!
I haven’t knit the pattern yet, personally, so this might be a better question for Andi – but based on her other patterns, I think it’ll be pretty easy 🙂 We are aiming this ‘along for beginners (both sewing and knitting), so I think you’ll be good! And the sweater itself seems to be a pretty quick knit – my size uses a full 200 yards less than other standard worsted weight patterns that I tend to knit.
Ooh love the outfits this week! I bought the sewaholic skirt pattern after sewing the adorable navy one you posted on Instagram (-: and I am excited to read about your polka dot trench, yeah! Also, I finally started my sewing blog, here it is http://www.carrieinstitches.com/blog
I hope your classes go well at Nancy’s store, I seriously need to take a zipper class, I have a phobia!
Oh yay! I’m so happy I was able to peer pressure you into blogging 😀 haha!!
And yes, come take you a zipper class! Let me put to rest all zipper phobias once and for all 🙂
OMG I am so in, I’ve got Yowza in my stash as well as the dress pattern. I just bought Myrna and I’m going to dig through my fabric stash for the right fabric. It’s a sign from the knitting and sewing goddesses!
Oh and your trench coat and red pants are sick (in only the best way)!
Gosh that coat is pretty! I linked up your knit/sew along here, too:http://swoodsonsays.com/sew-a-long-calendar/
Awesome, thank you! 😀
Oooh, your MMM is going so well. I’m totally jealous of your wardrobe! 🙂
And the sew/knitalong? I think I’m going to get in on that. I’m almost done on my first ever knit cardigan and I’m looking for another to make. I think this is it! 🙂
YESSSSSSSSS!! This is so exciting! I seriously just learnt to knit and I’m using a pattern of Andi’s and I’ve long been a stalker of yours. And I just bought the perfect pattern. I can’t wait to get started and I just hope that I finish knitting in time.
PS All your outfits are amazing and you look beautiful 🙂
I’m in. I’ve had the Simplicity pattern (and the fabric) for a while now so this will give me the motivation to get going on it. My daughter has made it and it looks fab – as your versions do. I’ve made Andi’s Miette cardigan which was fun to knit but I much prefer v-necks so I’ve bought the pattern and I’m ready – well, as soon as I’ve bought the yarn. (Might have to miss out the keyhole on the back though – just saying)
Oh, I am so, so in for this one! Love that new cardi pattern. 🙂 (Will have to use a different dress pattern coz there’s no way I’ll be able to get into that one by end of July, but hey, cardigans can always be worn unbuttoned haha!)
This is the BEST idea I’ve ever heard. I’m so in
girl, wedges were MADE FOR YOU! gah, you are seriously stunning (and so talented, ugh— i love it!) have i told you lately that i miss you?? i’m just glad i get to see your face on instagram everyday 😉
Ughhh I miss you too ❤ I'm happy you're busy because it means obviously really good things for you and your business, but butthurt because it means I can't steal you away for an ice cream date! Wah! Soon enough!
This is a great idea – I am totally in! I don’t need any more dress patterns so will use one out of my stash, but will get on that cardi, just as soon as I finish the one I am doing!! I love that new cardi of Andi’s, she has such great pattern, I finished the Hetty earlier in the year and love it, I also have a Miette, but it will be nice to have a v-neck. Think I will omit the keyhole though
The OAL is an AWESOME idea. And I LOVE that cardi, but now I’m committed to Hetty so … ARGH. Tempted to switch patterns because I love v-necks.
Yes!!!!!! This Knit Along sounds perfect for me. I’ve been wanting to try one of Andi’s patterns, and this one is beautiful. Count me in!
I’d been thinking about this OAL and woke up last night having a lightbulb moment. I’m in!
Oh, I love when that happens!! The best ideas ever happen when you wake up in the middle of the night 🙂
This is my dream AOL, I am so in! I have ripped out my Miette twice, so some hand holding on the cardigan would be great. I have the dress pattern and also have the same black eyelet fabric from your first make. You know I immediately went to the Mood website and scooped some up! That is flattering, not creepy right? Haha!
Not creepy at all! Someone needs to replicate that dress; mine doesn’t fit anymore and it makes me sad. DO IT!!
YUSS to the OAL! My Miette (first sweater, totally inspired by you to make, of course) was thrown in the washing machine by a well-meaning Da Boy, so I need a replacement, and fuck yes to a summer-appropriate V-neck cardi!! And I absolutely loved your black version of that dress, and can’t wait to learn about turning gathers into pleats! I love fuller skirts, but not so much the gathered poofy waist I end up with.
Can I also say how glad I am that you mentioned your hesitation to repeat an item? After the first 2 weeks of MMM, I’m definitely feeling frustrated trying to pick out me-mades that I haven’t worn, yet (though it’s definitely making me realize what I need to add to my wardrobe, ha). If the big-leaguers like you can repeat items, then I don’t have to beat myself up so much about it, haha. So thanks for that!!
I love all your Me Made outfits, you have great style!
I will be joining you for the OAL. When I looked at the dress pattern it is one I have already and been meaning to sew (I even have the fabric earmarked for it!) So I see this as a sign!!! Not sure whether I will do this cute little cardi or the Miette which I have had my eye on for a while.
I’m in! I have always wanted to make and FINISH!! a cardigan! I have one almost done but a sewalong would be so helpful and this pattern looks great. Your me mades are always great, lauren!
Lovely poost