My very first Me Made May was in 2013 and so this is the eighth time I have participated. At the beginning I was still working so I just wore something I had made every day, mixing in with ready to wear, but as the years have gone on and I’ve stopped buying ready to wear, every item of clothing I wear, I’ve made. This year I pledged to have no repeats, and I was successful in this, with the exception of my raincoat, which has appeared on my Instagram feed twice, but only shown below once.

If you want to see each outfit in detail, read on.

I’m wearing mustard zero waste trousers, teamed with my favourite black shirt from the  Japanese sewing boo “Basic Black”  and my 1970s Zanin shoes which are like slippers. I was a bit cold so I briefly added a handknitted wrap which is just a rectangle sewn at one end and buttons added.

Day two and I’m wearing a Filatura de Crosa “blouse” I knitted more than twelve years ago from light as air silk and cashmere, teamed with my Pattern union Lisa bias skirt.

Day three: Jeans from my trouser block in stretchy cotton drill from Potter_and_co_australia, a Thesewingrevival kingfisher top made from beautiful indigo dyed gauze given to me by @lynnesews when she visited Perth, (both last worn in New York so feeling sad) and recycled denim sandals. 

Day four: I’m in my ice dyed Pattern union Cora blouse and some stylearcBarb pants which must be more than 10 years old and worn constantly in the cooler weather.

Day five: This was as close to orange as I could get on this day for celebrating 75 years of peace and liberation in Europe. My lovely Megan Nielsen Tania culottes from that sweet paprika linen from Megan Nielsen’s shop, teamed with a Lotta Jansdotter Esme top made from leftovers, fabric bought in Birmingham last year, and a hand knitted shrug pattern by Dairing and co, knitted in cotton several years ago. Probably my last time wearing my mustard Astrid sandals, made by me with the_shoe_camaraderie. 100% made by me.

Day six: Yesterday I was gently removing frangipani flowers from the pool, today it was a mass of palm fronds following a wild storm in the night! Wearing my only and oldish pair of Hudsons which don’t look as good on me as they do on everyone else and yuki_wafflepatterns Malaga top in spotty French terry from moodfabrics made a few years ago Also underwear and knitted socks by me, which happens every day, I just don’t always mention it.

Day seven: consists of jeans made from my trouser block, a patternunion Eva tee and a little vest thing which I made from a felted scarf which was donated to my stash. It is tied at the back with leather plaited braid I inherited from my mum. 

Day eight: Restrictions are easing and my local area is coming awake with shops opening. I’m wearing a top made from wool scraps from the Japanese sewing book Piecework. The blue and the grey are the same fabric just reversed. Fabric from @knitwitfabrics. Because I was using scraps, I finished up with a divot in the collar which I didn’t notice until I’d sewn it on. I simply sewed a leather square over it, which I love. Also wearing my heavily modified Joan trousers from tweed printed ponte. Neither of these items have been previously blogged.

Day nine: Out on the North Perth maker’s trail and I’m looking at the beautiful felt made by @martienvanzuilen. It was such a fun morning! I’m wearing @itchtostitchAveiro cardigan with matching @itchtostitch Lago tank. Worn with brown trousers I made years ago by rubbing off a rtw pair. Bag (mostly hidden) is also made by me from fabric I dyed with assorted native plants and some passion fruit skins. 

Day ten: I had the loveliest Mother’s Day afternoon tea with Tom and Bridgette but completely forgot to take photos. I wore @patternunion #phoebebibandtucker, with a tee shirt I made at least 15 years ago and my mustard sandals made with@the_shoe_camaraderie and perhaps worn for the last time – again! – this season. 100% made by me today.

Day eleven: I’m wearing @naughtybobbinpatterns #cookieshirt(a favourite) in a lovely knit from Tessuti fabrics, @itchtostitchmountain view jeans in stretch woven from @knitwitfabrics and a large shrug, pattern and yarn from Dairings in Melbourne

Day twelve: and I’m in the studio of @patternunion, wearing my @theassemblylineshop cuff top made from a tablecloth that was from my late mother-in-law, and some bengaline trousers I rubbed off some worn out rtw ones. Have a look at that massive roll of wool check I’m playing with! 

Day 13:  I’m wearing very old vogue 8859 trousers in palest pink stretch cotton from @knitwitfabrics, my ice dyed @closetcase.patterns kalle shirt and a pink silk @stitchdivastudios Endless knitted cardi shawl.

Day 14: Wearing a Lotta Jansdotter Esme dress and a cardigan I refashioned from a dress years ago. 

Day 15 and I’m wearing another Filatura di crosa knitted blouse from the finest cashmere and silk. It’s eight years old and going strong. Also bengaline trousers I made to go with said blouse so long ago I’ve forgotten the pattern.

Day 16: I’m wearing a shirt I made in the 1980s from silk I bought in Paris in 1982. It used to have shoulder pads but I can’t pull them off any more. Teamed with my Pattern Union Lisa Bias Skirt in ponte from knitwitfabrics (so not cut on the bias). I wore this for a coffee I’ve had with the same friend nearly every Saturday morning for 40 years!!

Day 17: A required @elbe_textilessorrento bucket hat from recycled denim and tea towel, Megan Nielsen Virginia leggings, sewn socks and a @blueprintsforsewing Geodesic sweater from cotton/silk knit bought at knitwitfabrics and which has travelled the world with me as it’s so comfortable. 

Day 18: Morning walk in another Sorrento Bucket hat, this one made from thrifted table napkins and lined with a tea towel I bought in Sri Lanka when I was working there years ago. Also a Pattern Union Cora Blouse made from the same knitwitfabrics cotton/silk knit as Day 17, but a different colour way. Style Arc Elle pants in weird coloured bengaline made at least six years ago.

Day 19: I’m in my happy place in the bush. Hair not brushed today! Wearing a jumper made from gaudy cotton made with an Elizabeth Zimmerman patter . Underneath I’m wearing a @aliceandcopatterns iceberg top, pattern won from @sewover50 competition. Top is made from lovely linen knit from @knitwitfabrics, and my trouser fabric came from there too. 

Day 20: I knitted this jumper in 2014 and always thought it was a bit short. It’s a 1978 Vogue pattern and I like it because it has pockets. Yesterday I took it apart and added one pattern repeat to the front and back and it feels a lot better, although I may have made the neck a bit tight!  I’m wearing it with thick knit trousers fabric from @knitwitfabrics. Wool for jumper came from a lovely yarn store in Hobart, and knitted socks. 

Day 21: Back home and this is a late afternoon walk. I’m wearing jalie_patterns Eleanor pull on jeans and another Elizabeth Zimmerman jumper, this one knitted from scraps. 

Day 22: I’m off to lunch wearing a very old closetcase.patterns nettie bodysuit made into a tee from black merino. My stitchdivastudios Anais Tunisian crochet jacket and a pair of trousers from Pattern Union that I have made before pattern testing has even begun so very secret squirrel!

Day 23: I’m wearing a linen shirt that I made years ago and which Mark found in the shed at our holiday place! Teamed with my Pattern Union Andy Pandy bib and tucker overalls and the lovely brooch that @sunnydayz06 gave me when we caught up in Perth. 

Day 24: I’m wearing @helens__closet Avery leggings, a tee shirt made from fabric I had printed from a photo and the free So Sew Easy  hoodie, which I think is the best going around. 

Day 25: This was me after my morning swim. The pool reopened, which is a milestone. Surviving the storm of the decade in an unseen merino tee, @sewhouse7 toaster sweater made from scraps and @stylearc elle pants in a knit from knitwitfabrics My raincoat is self drafted, made from Spotlight ripstop and lined with silk. Sorrento bucket hat from the same fabric, but lined with vintage pin cord.

 Day 26: I am wearing jeans that were copied from rtw in a class with workspacefads , my ankestrick holsten jumper and a raincoat designed by me with the help of Sarah from Pattern Union.

Day 27: I’m working in front of the fire today, sorting boxes and boxes of photos that have come from everywhere! Wearing a wool shirt that I originally made for Mark but which I managed to shrink in the wash (he claims deliberately). Fabric bought in Stockholm. With a pair of @jalie_patterns Eleanor jeans, an early pair from ponte from knitwitfabrics.

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Day 28: I’m wearing multiple layers today. My favourite knitted jumper from a Hanne Falkenberg kit I bought in Sweden (a very complex knit) jalie_patterns Eleanor jeans from wool ponte from knitwitfabrics, a wool self drafted top with ruched collar and cuffs, plus undies, tights and socks. I added my knitted knock off Burberry cowl, and self-drafted raincoat, fabric from Missan in London, lining is thrifted wool. And my “Vera” hat, pattern is the Angela Lee Escape hat.

Day 29: I’m warm and dry in my Pattern Union Cora dress (I just lengthened the blouse) made from some ice dyed knit. I made my tights and undies. I also made those felted boots which are perfect in the house as they dust the floor. I’m 100% memade! 

Day 30: Penultimate day of Me Made May. I’m wearing patternunion #mollytee with the thumb holes, black jeans made from my jeans block, and the Loopy mango super cropped cardigan that I knitted on my way home from the US last year. Also red knitted socks, and knitted möbius cowl – a proper möbius, not a twist!

Day 31: For this last day I’m wearing really old Birkin Flares made from stretch cord, so comfy, a Pattern Union Evan Tee and a @stitchdivastudios Anais Tunisian crocheted jacket, which I also wore when I caught up with @kimthemateriallady on this day last year!

If you are still with me, thank you! I have really enjoyed this month’s Instagram, seeing what everyone else has been doing.