The Honest Truth of a Handmade Wardrobe

If you’ve been following me on Instagram at all this month, you’ve probably noticed a trend. Along with many other sewing friends, I embraced the challenge of Me Made May: wear handmade clothes every day of May. And then take a slew of awkward selfies and let the world see just how dirty your mirrors really are.Not too long ago, I prioritized sewing for myself. Instead of waiting for the perfect circumstances to sew for myself, I just did it. But since I spread out my sewing time between the boys and myself, I hadn’t realized how much I had actually sewn for me! I didn’t take pics of everything I wore in May, because let’s be honest… everyday selfies are really not my style and you can only stare at yourself in the mirror so many times before you realize yes, that really is the face you make when you take a selfie and no, you can’t do anything about it.

Here’s what I learned from #memademay:

• I need to clean my mirrors more. Seriously, that’s the first thing I learned.
• I don’t make enough everyday garments. The few days that I didn’t wear handmade, it’s because I just wanted to wear a T-shirt and I didn’t have one. T-shirts have already been added to the to-sew list.
• I wore my yoga pants to bed or to work out, so I didn’t feel guilty on the days I didn’t choose handmade during the day. I like to be a rule follower.
• I have a few handmades that I just never reach for. I liked them when I made them, but I just don’t anymore. I need to pass them along to someone else who will enjoy them.
• I totally enjoyed hearing “You MADE that??!” more often. It really never gets old!
• I should sew more cardigans. I wear a lot of cardigans.
• I don’t wear as many dresses as I’ve made. So either I have to stop making dresses or I need to actually wear them. Stopping is silly… wearing is not.
• I wear my hair up way too much. I’m working on that.
• I. Can. Make. Jeans. I wear jeans nearly everyday, so I need to perfect these and make some more.
• I have way too many clothes. Compared to a lot of women, it probably isn’t a lot, but I really only wear a tiny fraction of the ones I have.
• Handmade clothes fit well. Duh, right? When you make garments specifically for your body, they should fit you and flatter your body (after you get those first-time-make kinks out, of course). I have a lot of ready-to-wear clothing that doesn’t fit will or doesn’t flatter me, so I’m not sure why I’m letting them take up space in my closet.
• Wearing handmade is empowering! Maybe that sounds cheesy, but it really is true. I don’t feel like I have to rely on stores to have what I want to wear in my price range. I can make what I want when I want it. Being able to take a piece of fabric and create a wearable garment really is an accomplishment. And I feel good in what I’m wearing!

It was super fun to see that I really can wear handmade everyday if I choose too – and to see the holes in my wardrobe that are keeping me from doing it all the time. But I think I’ve made such progress in my handmade wardrobe! And it really gets me excited to keep sewing and really fulfill the handmade wardrobe dream!

So… Jess Generated June? Does that work?? ;)