Except for one day, in which I stayed in my pajamas all day, I have managed to wear a different handmade garment every single day of May and have even managed to document (almost) every day by sharing my pics via Instagram and Twitter along with the other Me-Made-May-ers out there. It has been a lot of fun seeing everyone's day-to-day me-mades. Instagram and Twitter turn out to be great Me-Made-May platforms!
So far, I have also not needed to take advantage of the loophole in my pledge, which lets me wear a repeat me-made outfit once a week.
But despite having worn a different handmade item every day, I still don't feel as if I have really challenged myself. The point was to wear unworn items and I really haven't gone anywhere far enough into the recesses of my wardrobe to fish out those really unworn items. I'm still only wearing my favourites (there's a lot of those, I guess).
But why? What makes some garments better than others? And if I don't want to wear them, should they just go?
I've thought about this and come up with a few reasons of why I don't wear certain garments on a daily basis, and what I could do to challenge myself a bit more in the next two weeks. So here it goes:
REASON No. 1: I HATE ALTERATIONS!
Some of my handmades desperately need fixing. Some are too large, too small, have a hole, are too short,.... you name it....and I'm just too lazy to fix that tiny little problem. Least of all early in the morning in the ten minutes I give myself to get ready for work.
SOLUTION: Maybe I should try set an evening aside for some boring alterations - perhaps spiced up with my favourite films. (Yes, films plural - because that's how long this is going to take :)
REASON No. 2: IRONING IS DULL
Some clothes are really high maintenance, because they crinkle like mad. I don't mind a bit of ironing, but meters and meters of uncooperative linen (as in this dress) or wrinkly dress + wrinkly lining (as in this dress). That's just too much to handle on a work-day morning, or any morning for that matter.
SOLUTION: I think I'll try to do some bulk ironing one evening. My mum does it, maybe I should too. Have I reached the age where I need to do set time aside for ironing? (Oh no!)
So far, I have also not needed to take advantage of the loophole in my pledge, which lets me wear a repeat me-made outfit once a week.
But despite having worn a different handmade item every day, I still don't feel as if I have really challenged myself. The point was to wear unworn items and I really haven't gone anywhere far enough into the recesses of my wardrobe to fish out those really unworn items. I'm still only wearing my favourites (there's a lot of those, I guess).
But why? What makes some garments better than others? And if I don't want to wear them, should they just go?
I've thought about this and come up with a few reasons of why I don't wear certain garments on a daily basis, and what I could do to challenge myself a bit more in the next two weeks. So here it goes:
REASON No. 1: I HATE ALTERATIONS!
Some of my handmades desperately need fixing. Some are too large, too small, have a hole, are too short,.... you name it....and I'm just too lazy to fix that tiny little problem. Least of all early in the morning in the ten minutes I give myself to get ready for work.
SOLUTION: Maybe I should try set an evening aside for some boring alterations - perhaps spiced up with my favourite films. (Yes, films plural - because that's how long this is going to take :)
REASON No. 2: IRONING IS DULL
Some clothes are really high maintenance, because they crinkle like mad. I don't mind a bit of ironing, but meters and meters of uncooperative linen (as in this dress) or wrinkly dress + wrinkly lining (as in this dress). That's just too much to handle on a work-day morning, or any morning for that matter.
SOLUTION: I think I'll try to do some bulk ironing one evening. My mum does it, maybe I should too. Have I reached the age where I need to do set time aside for ironing? (Oh no!)
REASON No. 3: COMFORT RULES
Some handmades are just pretty damn uncomfortable. Sometimes the material is scratchy or too flimsy or too heavy or too unbreathable. Others are too tight or too loose or ride up or slide down.
SOLUTION: I suppose if they can't be fixed, they'll have to go! Charity? Bin? Will I manage to part with them?
Some handmades are just pretty damn uncomfortable. Sometimes the material is scratchy or too flimsy or too heavy or too unbreathable. Others are too tight or too loose or ride up or slide down.
SOLUTION: I suppose if they can't be fixed, they'll have to go! Charity? Bin? Will I manage to part with them?
REASON No. 4: I CAN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE HALF-NAKED
A perfectly fine blouse matches nothing and ends up a closet orphan. Or a skirt just needs a simple top, which I'm always loathe to make (or - even worse - buy!). And since I can't leave the house half-naked, these items never get worn.
SOLUTION: The solution seems obvious: More sewing to make some matching tops or bottoms for worthy closet orphans! Weehee! More sewing!
So, there's a plan, I guess. A plan to be a bit more pro-active in the second half of Me-Made-May and attack some of these long unloved me-mades.
Do you have any more reasons or solutions for unworn me-mades? And when is it time to part with handmades?
What are your pans for the second half of MMM'14? Anything radical?
A perfectly fine blouse matches nothing and ends up a closet orphan. Or a skirt just needs a simple top, which I'm always loathe to make (or - even worse - buy!). And since I can't leave the house half-naked, these items never get worn.
SOLUTION: The solution seems obvious: More sewing to make some matching tops or bottoms for worthy closet orphans! Weehee! More sewing!
- - -
So, there's a plan, I guess. A plan to be a bit more pro-active in the second half of Me-Made-May and attack some of these long unloved me-mades.
Do you have any more reasons or solutions for unworn me-mades? And when is it time to part with handmades?
What are your pans for the second half of MMM'14? Anything radical?