Looking Back: Me Made June '11

This year I participated in my first Me Made event through So Zoe...What Do You Know?  Here are some of the photos that I wasn't able to post because of camera and internet issues.

One of my favorite refashion, my Cowboy tank and my paint jeans.  I had just finished a high ropes course at Camp Edge.

The same night we went bowling.  I wore my lavender pencil skirt that I made the day before I went to camp. 

It was cooler the next day and I wore my hand knit cotton nautical sweater and my comfy shorts.  Perfect for meetings in air conditioned spaces. 

One of my favorites! My melon striped tunic and my self stitched black  leggings.  My hair is perfectly tousled from a ride in the golf cart. 

Happy July

I have a lot to put to page this blog post and might not have enough time to do so. Me Made June '11 is over and while my camera broke and I wasn't able to update what I was wearing I did try to finish out the month. Being at camp though it got tricky and I mostly resorted to wearing my navy athletic shorts and cotton jersey pencil skirt in lavender.

How do I feel about having completed this challenge? It made me have to go outside of my comfort zone in sewing. I made my first pair of pants that weren't meant for PJ's, I also made my first garment with out the use of a pattern and just my measurements. This challenge has made me a better seamstress. I was wearing my lavender skirt yesterday and noticed that my hemming was straighter than when I started this challenge. I am more confident when I start out making a garment and I feel that I am ready to take on more difficult projects, (like the Lady Gray).

This challenge has also ruined my outlook on ready to wear, none of it fits! I would rather make my own t-shirt than buy one that doesn't really fit me right. Maybe it's my high natural waist or my broad shoulders, but even though I am small ready wear clothes don't actually fit me right. I have a theory that ready wear doesn't actually fit anyone.

One thing that this challenge did not help me do was figure out my style. This is proving difficult. I would like to me a bit more put together, but I am stuck in a casual rut. I do however have a plan for the fall on being more fab, but this is too early to go on about that. To help with this I have made a Pintrest account and as of right now there isn't much, but I have high hopes for after camp, as well as some sewing plans.

My advice to someone looking to start making their own clothes, is to start small. Start with altering a t-shirt, then learn how to make a tote bag on a sewing machine, then try a simple pattern and build up your skills. If you take small bites you will be sewing in no time.

For some fun and easy t-shirt alterations check out Megan Nicolay's blog Generation T. She has great tutorials and if you want more of her designs she has two books out Generation T:108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt, and Generation T: Beyond Fashion: 120 New Ways to Transform a T-Shirt.

Quick update

Things are crazy busy and my camera is broken and I'm out of underwear so I am off to do laundry and then back to work.

I will admit that I miss sewing and I haven't gotten anytime to knit with meetings and everything. I am hoping for a little extra time once the kids get here and I will not be scheduling and ordering as much as I have in these first few days here on camp.

One thing that I am regretting is that because of my schedule here at camp and with my camera being broken I am having some trouble with my Me Made June '11 challenge. Today was my 1st slip up, but I was working in an icky shop full of dust, dirt and spiders. I also Don't have pictures of what I wore the last few days. Even if I can't photo document my me made challenge I will still finish it, no more slip ups for me.

Me Made June '11 Update: Day 12-15

Training is winding down for me and I finally have time to give you an update. Hopefully I will be able to update more often now that the intense training weekend is over.

Day 12

I Finally got a photo from Sunday. (Thanks Jamie!)
Top: Altered softball tee, I added the contrasting cap sleeves
Bottom: Navy blue, double knit athletic shorts, made by me!

Day 13

Top: Altered Men's Tee Tunic
Bottom: Black leggings
Braided Belt

Day 14

Top: Cotton Anchor Tank
Bottom: Go To Shorts

Day 15

Hey remember this dress? (Don't worry that's not what I wore!)

Now it looks like this! I finally finished altering that horrid pink thing. I took in the straps making it an empire waist. I also brought the hem up and finished the edges with bias tape. Ta-da a dress!

Me Made June '11 Update: Day 10-11

I had an unexpected day off from work on Friday so what does one do when they have a beautiful day and no where to be, go the fabric store and sew! I leave for my summer job in three days and have been sewing furiously to make sure I have what I need. I guess I should start packing soon.

Here is what I wore this week end

Day 10

With a day off and plans to go out it was time to finally pull out and pull on a dress.
Dress: ruffle strap sundress.
I made this dress with out a pattern and just my measurements. I think it was a success.

On our way home from the bar Simon decided to try planking this mail box while Antea was trying to mail her student loan.

Day 11

Saturday is a lazy day or a surf day in our apartment and since the surf was only ankle high and not worth the hour drive we stayed in Philly.

Top: 1 piece kimono top (shhh I made mine in two pieces)
bottom: gray leggings from target.

I'm missing Sunday's Me Made outfit, but I will post it as soon as I have a picture. Here is what else I was up to this weekend.

I finished this sun dress on Friday. This is loosely based on Burda Style's Jane langerie top. I am excited for this dress and it's cute tie straps.

This is the second dress I finished this weekend. I really like DixieDIY's one shoulder knit dress, but my computer won't let me open the PDF so I took my measurements and my trusty chalk and I came up with a pattern that fits my measurements and my tastes. I raised the bodice section so that it was more of an empire waist, and made an A-line style skirt with no gathers. It fits like a glove, and its on of my most favorite colors, TEAL!

Now that I have the casual dress issue taken care off I am going to have a go at pants. Wish me luck!

Me Made June '11 Update: Day 6-9

I am loving MMJune'11, well except the part where Philly had another heat wave this week. But that's not Me-Made-June's fault. Because of the heat, and our apartment being equally hot as the outside a few of my outfit choices where not tops.

Day 6

This has been my favorite out fit of the week so far.
Top:
White tee from old navy
Bottom:
My Maria skirt in this fun teal stripy cotton (there are silver diamonds printed in the space between the whit pin stripes). The Maria is a free Burda style down load. I leaned my pleats all the the left than leaning them into the center like the pattern suggests.
Leather belt

Day 7

This is when things started getting hot and humid in Philly
Top:
Gray tee
Bottom:
Altered dress pants to high waist shorts
Leather braid belt from Oz

Day 8

Top:
Lacey Cami from target
Heat wave top knit in 100% bamboo (this was teh prototype for the pattern)
Bottom:
Go to Altered jean shorts

Day 9

I got called into work early and for the whole day. Thank goodness that meant I got to sit in air-con all day.
Top:
Blue cotton cami, old navy
Variegated knit cami with lace detail 100% bamboo fiber
Bottom:
Brown shorts, thrifted

The heat wave finally broke last night with a spectacular storm that rolled in at 8pm. Things are now not unbearable with out air conditioning and I feel up to doing things other than sit around in my skivies sitting in front of a fan.

Because I got called into work early and for the whole day I was unable to post Thursdays blog post so today you will get a double dose of Blue Betty as yesterday's supposed post with become today's extra surprise post.

Weekend Update or Day 3-5 of Me-Made-June '11

I had a very prolific week I finished two graments and went to a music festival and saw a sheep shearing demo. I was a irresponsible blogger and left my camera at home so sadly I have no pics of the sheep shearing or the music festival.

Firstly I made a romper with pockets! My first attempt at pockets and the were supper easy and came out great!
I used some scrap from another project to make the pockets.

I think the trickiest part of sewing the pockets was figuring which way the right side of the fabric needed to get pinned to. Once I pinned them wrong once I figured it out.
I loved this fabric. It was in the dollar bin at the fabric shop I frequent and I just had to have it. It was a little over a yard, cotton and has this neat leaf motif.

This past week I also made a sun dress. Which is one of the gaps in my me made wardrobe. I found the fabric at the same fabric shop and only got a yard thinking that I could at least make a top, or another romper. Well, after I made the romper I laid out my other fabric and decided on a dress. Three days later and after much fighting with some elastic and a ruffle I have a dress!
It took one yard to make this dress and it isn't even scandalous. I was a bit worried that my decision to make a dress would end with it being way too short to be worn out of the house, but it is a great length. I can't wait to wear it.

So know we come to my me made outfits for the week end.

Day 3

Top: Altered silk, cotton, linen blend dress shirt. (It use to be long sleeved and a lot larger!)
Belt: From a shop in Australia
Bottoms: Olive brown shorts, thrifted.

Day 4
Festival Day!

What I wore: My new romper!!! Oh, and my straw fedora.

Day 5
(The day I rolled out of bed at 5:50am to go to work)

When one has to get up at 5:50am and be to work at 6:30am, one does not really worry too much about what they are wearing. But I did manage to still follow my pledge to MMJune '11.
Top: teal cotton, rayon blend knit jersey. This material is my new bestie. This top was made from a failed dress attempt.
Bottoms: my olive brown shorts.

Today is an unexpected day off from work, and I am planning on a trip to the fabric store to pillage the dollar bin and maybe start some pants and defiantly another sun dress.

Me-Made-June '11 Update

MMJune '11 started while my computer was in for repairs, but I have started and have some photo updates on how it is going. I know it's only been two days, but I am very excited about this challenge.

Day 1

Day one was the hottest day we had had in the city this spring...summer, I'm not sure what season it is. I apologize for the sweatiness, but it was 95 and really humid, and we don't have air conditioning.

What I wore.
Top: Altered T-shirt into tank, I call it my cowboy tank.
Bottoms: Jean shorts altered from jeans, these are my go to shorts.

Day 2

The heat wave had finally broken!! I decided to celebrate by wearing a hand knit garment.

Top: Heat wave top, hand knit with love and a cotton modal blend
Bottoms: My go to shorts. I<3 them.

There you have it the first two days of MMJune '11. Over on "So...Zoe, What do you know she has posted an inventory of her me made items and aims for the month. I decided to do something similar. I love lists and lists of things are one of my favorites to make.

My Me Made Items.
*3 nice dresses (floral, Yellow seersucker, blue coffee date)
*1 cocktail tent dress with ruffle
*1 purple sundress
*2 pairs of altered shorts (jeans shorts, blue high waisted shorts)
*3 Jersey knit tanks (black, Teal, Cowboy)
*1 Kimono Tee
*2 skirts (Teal, and purple floral)
*2 knit Tees (heat wave and gray top with tie neckline)
*1 knit bamboo tank
*2 cotton cardigans (long sleeved lavender and gold striped, and short sleeved light blue)
*1 boat neck pull over (white and blue striped)
*1 woven cotton tank (anchors)
*1 Pair of leggings
*2 altered button ups (1 long sleeved, 1 short sleeved)
*2 pairs of pj shorts
*1 pair of long athletic type shorts
*1 Romper

I can defiantly see gaps in my me made wardrobe. I need to make some more tops and not just tanks and tees, I need to try making some more structured items. I also have never made any pants, or really made a pair of shorts I've only ever altered pants into shorts. So, along with wearing hand made items daily I am also going to try and make a pair of pants, and a few more tops. I also noticed that I love making dresses, but I seem to be lacking casual sundresses. So I mighty make one or two more of those.

I made all of this!

Sick Computer

A horriable virus has struck down my laptop. It is super sad and at the geek squad getting sorted out. Sadly, untill then I will not be able to post this week. Hopfully my computer will be fixed and back to me by the end of the week.

As soon as I get my laptop back I will finish the Beginner Guide to Knitting, along with a free pattern and some pics of my thrift store dress alterations.

P.S. I start Me-Made-June '11 tomorrow. Wish me luck! Once my lap top is back I plan on posting how I am doing and upload pics of what I'm wearing.

Me Made June '11

I'm going to do it, or at least try to do it. I just signed up for Me-Made-June '11 I am going to attempt to wear garments and or accessories made by me each day of June. I think I might have to chronicle my adventure here on Blue Betty. Here is my pledge to Me-Made-June '11:

'I, Amanda of bluebettyblog.blogspot.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-June '11. I endeavour to wear one accessory or garment made by me each day for the duration of June 2011'

If you are interested in participating or just want to read more about Me-Made-June '11 go check out Zoe's post on 'So Zo...What do you know'.