Final day of #MMM and I am continuing into June

31st May

I originally pledgedto wear two items every day in May for the #MMM18 challenge. I found this difficult if I am honest. The two items idea is easy until you want to wear a dress. I should have said two items or a dress to make it a more realistic challenge. Anyway I also pledged to try as far as possible to wear #MM into June so here is the last day of May and the 1st June. I will not necessarilly be wearing 2 items daily from now on but willtry to continue to wear one because as it happens I am also currently job hunting and when wearing #MM for an interview I think could work to stop me getting the job so on days I have interviews ( I am being hopeful here😀) I will not be wearing me made and since it maybe an entire day I will have to opt out for this.

Otherwise though its been fun so I am carrying on indefinitely. I have been wearing a lot of #MM for ages now anyway so maybe its time to measure just how much and see if I can incorporate even more into my working life as well as play life.
I may have to do round ups at the end of each week because trying to post daily has been difficult. My Mum was very ill the last few days. I spent quite a bit of time chasing doctors ( literally - I had to go to the surgery to demand a home visit!). It does not sound like much but took far more time than you will expect when reading this. This made it impossible to have time to do my normal living stuff ( making dinner, cleaning etc) and still have time to post so round-ups may be the way forward during June.

On the last day of #MMM18 I wore my african block print fabric top which was so simple it is really a square with a neck hole and shaped hems. No pattern for this one but I really should make more because I really like it, have always found it easy to wear, and really I need to get away from "complicated is better" which tends to be my mindset, because sometimes the simplest tops are really nice to wear. This one is.
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.com/2016/06/54-self-drafted-floral-yellow-top.html

With my yellow top I wore my new navy trousers. I like these. They are comfortable and I left the hems to fray which I can just about get away with at work in summer. It feels more "me" if you know what I mean. Being a linen type of fabric they seem to be fraying very nicely tho I have needed to cut the straggly bits off every now and then. I think that should stop now tho because I did sew a row to hold the frays in place and limit how much they fray. It also makes for a more professional RTW look so is acceptable in an office.

I am probably going to make a second pair of these because they are very "pyjama-ish" so will fit in well with this months The Monthly Stitch challenge which is "secret pyjamas".

I may have to add pockets to the next pair tho because not having any is bugging me.


I wore my navy trousers again on Friday 1st June with a dotty top. This was another new top I got round to in desperation for something different to wear in May!

Thanks for visiting

Bracken

#MMM18 day 30 new pink lace burda style top

Day 30 (Wednesday) and I wore my imperfect pink lace top made from the same Burda style magazine pattern as my recent ladybirds top and my red Ikea fabric top: http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/another-red-topburdastyle-022014117.html
and my ladybird top:
 http://brackencrafts.blogspot.com/2018/05/mmm18-new-ladybird-top-from-burda-style.html


I love this pattern. This version is imperfect in that I did not have enough fabric really. It was a small remnant left over from my lindy petal lace skirt.
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.com/2018/05/lindy-petal-skirt-white-lace-trimmed.html

To make it work each sleeve has an extra panel down the centre of the sleeve and even worse one centre sleeve panel is slightly wider than the other. I suspect no one but me will ever notice tho! It was the only way to squeeze it out of my minute bit of fabric. Works tho.

I wore this as a light weight jumper or over top with my black mixed media top and my turquoise waterproof faux suede coat. I forgot to get a photo of my coat today but you can see it here: http://brackencrafts.blogspot.com/2018/04/turquoise-faux-suede-waterproof.html

For a self drafted very basic coat I find I am wearing this loads in the rainy english spring we are having this year. Tho its probably summer really now.

thanks for visiting,

Bracken

#MMM18 another goldfish dress

 

So as promised

 here is a second Gold fish print dress and I have to say its a hit. I used the top pattern from the costume pattern and added a slightly A line skirt and its ace to wear. I have to make another in the same style. I am finding it very easy to wear tho not I think suitable for work despite my inteding for it to be.
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/new-fashion-top-from-costume-pattern.html

With it some ancient RTW leggings and my belt which is original 1980s pirate style and I fixed a while back.

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/1987-vintage-belt-fixed.html

It had completely stretched out of shape and was unwearable but for some reason I carried it round with me for years before I got round to fixing it.

I forgot the belt is me made and because dresses are really only one garment I also wore a Me-Made necklace.

 So I intended to wear my agreed two items using my necklace but actually my belt counts too so I have 3 Me-Mades today.

Thanks for visiting and I am off to drink prosecco now!

Bracken

#MMM day 25 a visit to London

We have not been to London for a few years so went on a day trip. We both wore Me-Made.
Besides being a great day off work it was excellent fun and we  even had a picnic in Regent Park which I am sure I have been to before many years ago with my parents but never remembered how lovely it is. I have to visit it again in fact. So for our lovely visit to London I wore my gold gypsy top with my black trousers and my turquoise water proof coat.
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/turquoise-faux-suede-waterproof.html
 It was torrential rain in Northampton when we got the train but it never rained all day in London. I was too hot with my coat on but when we went home I needed it again!

I was so happy when I made these trousers but now I just see what is wrong with them!
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/98-and-99-sports-top-and-flared.html

I still love the top:
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/mmmay16-080516-day-8.html


I re-did the rolled edges a few weeks ago because I ripped the edge on next door's fence. Its chain link and runs between the side of the two houses and has loads of bits that catch your clothing and rip it. I have lost count of how many things I have ripped on it. Sadly I ripped the sleeve of this top within two days of making it but its all sorted now so I am much happier to wear it again.


These roses smelled lovely. There were loads of roses all over the gardens and they were mostly labelled with variety as well which was very interesting ( I love roses)



Mick wore the stripey hoody I made him:

We had coffee in a lovely little coffee shop on Portland Street. We found it after our picnic but I think we should go back sometime because they had the most beautiful cakes and I fancy trying out their salads.

I think it was called Peyton and Byrne?

We also saw these lovely ducks/geese. They are very beautiful and most unusual. 

Not indigenous I expect - not that I know!

They have a very unusual call. 

 No idea what type they are but lovely all the same.

Thanks for visiting

Bracken

#MMM18 New ladybird top from Burda Style pattern

I wore my navy trousers again. Not much to say really they are just elastic waist and very basic but OK for work in summer, but today I also wore my new ladybird fabric top which I really love.

I went looking for skull fabric but bought this instead. Yey!

Its meant to be kids fabric!

This is the same pattern as this ikea fabric top.

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/another-red-topburdastyle-022014117.html

I love this pattern. Really though rather than make more (I have yet another yet to show you - 3 in total!) I need to start tracing patterns again. 

So my tasks next month, cos May is a bit crammed right now, is to do this FBA adjustment on the peplum jacket since I really need to learn that as well since I am now noticing the same problems on other tops so I am now believing this may be a problem on several items I already made so has to be sorted. AND trace some more tops patterns. But thats for later. 

I enjoyed this top today. Its polycotton so does not crease which is what I need for work. Its cool (abit too cool today cos it was not a warm day or maybe its the office I work in).

Tho as usual there is an error. The central part of the sleeves I cut the fabric the wrong way! It actually looks good tho I think 😊

Thanks for visiting

Bracken

#MMM days 22 and 23 and new Navy Trousers

I was not very well yesterday. Had a migraine which I rarely get and did not go to work at all all day. You would think it would be fun being off work but not with a migraine. I felt a bit better yesterday evening but not really enough to blog so again I have 2 days to tell you about. I actually wore 2 lots of me mades yesterday but did not take a photo of my first set of clothes but never mind. I went up to water the allotment yesterday evening and my other half took these. I got an Adder bite last summer when up at the allotment so tend to cover up even if its hot. It was a dry Adder bite so no poison but I may not be so lucky next time. So here is my lovely satin backed goth top with my ancient and worn camo trousers:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/82-cuddly-camo-for-me-too.html

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/black-top-from-pattern-sew-and-sew-b5940.html

I changed the original buttons for bows a while back and have yet to decide which I prefer!

In fact when I got to the allotment I remembered my feet and had not worn boots so was totally paranoid I would get bit again. Needless to say we watered and left quickly.

 On the way up there I also realised my lovely Mick had worn his hangman top:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/two-hoodies-hangmans-hoody-and-striped.html

Today I finally got to wear my NEW navy trousers. These were a very quick make ( because I am seriously desperately needing some new work "bottoms" as has become very apparent this #MMM.These are made from New Look K6013 which was a very early pattern from a magazine which I bought right at the start of my adventure into clothes making. I also made one of my bugs dresses from this pattern:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/28-bug-dress-and-mesh-top.html

The new trousers are a synthetic / linen mix fabric which does not look like it will crease too much. I am going for synthetics for work cos I hate all the ironing. Its not so bad once in a while but I do not want to spend every sunday ironing and when I am happy and actually prefer to wear creased cottons it does not work for work.

I wore my red egg shaped top with my new navy trousers: http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/another-red-topburdastyle-022014117.html

I also made the top under it but will have to take another photo of that a different days since I forgot all about it till now!

Thanks for dropping by my blog

Bracken

#MMM days 20 and 21.

Sunday went to water the allotment and wore spotty trousers
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/dotty-flared-trousers-with-twisted-seams.html
and my hoody wrap Kalinda top.
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/kalinda-free-top-pattern-disaster.html

However, I have hacked this top since it was completely rubbish. It works now as a tie front top. So really today I wore two of my worst makes and both are defective in someway.
Fine when on the allotment tho!

Monday possibly cos of my rubbish wrap top I wore my new paisley front T shirt which is made from the remnant left over from that top. This one I have yet to blog about in fact but its quite a success with lettuce edges and is very pretty and nice to wear for work. Its another of my go to pattern tops from McCalls M6612. You can see a few others here: http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/mmm18-day-16-my-new-dotty-top.html

I wore this with my recent make the Lindy Petal Skirt.
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/lindy-petal-skirt-white-lace-trimmed.html

I am currently making a second one of these since it brilliant. Show you that once its finished!

Thanks for reading my blog, 

Bracken

#MMM18 Day 18 and 19 - Chiffon top with skulls and flowers

Friday I wore a new top I made from chiffon with my long suffering wide leg trousers ( again!).

It exactly the same pattern as this skull top:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/new-fashion-top-from-costume-pattern.html

I made a bit of a cock-up with this top because it frays loads so I had the idea to sew up just with the overlocker. Well a few hours in on the first day I wore it and I realised it was fraying apart at the under arms.

Its not even tight so when they say you need to sew woven fabric with a normal machine this is why. I have got away with just overlocking on tighly woven cotton fabrics but not on chiffon apparently. I ended up repairing it using a normal sewing machine and its a total bodge really. I suspect I will end up having to totally remake at some point and luckily because of the style this is actually possible due to the style and fit so I can afford to lose a small bit of fabric along the seams. Obviously being lazy I am only going to do this when I must so for now its an imperfect top but no one would know so thats fine.

I love this fabric and bought it about a year ago. I only had 1 meter so decided to make something summery. I used the same costume pattern as for my other skulls top.

 Please ignore the background mess. I was about to start planting out plants in the garden

Saturday 19th May - to be perfectly honest I started the day in old clothes cleaning out my chicken house. I do not wear anything I care about when cleaning out chickens because I get absolutely filthy and the edges of chicken wire rip clothes.

So I only wore me made for half of Saturday. Still it kind of works with the pledge because I did not say all day everyday, just every day. Or so I am going to justify to myself.
 So here is my spider top


http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/productive-weekend-1-shirt-3-pairs-of.html

with my brown faux leather trousers.


http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/burda-easy-cropped-trousers.html

 And as it happens here is my partner wearing Me-Made as well.

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/butterick-b5562-t-shirt-number-4.html

Thanks for visiting

Bracken

#MMM18 day 17

 

Today I wore my goldfish dress. 

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/45-goldfish-dress-mmmay16-day-27_27.html

I made this dress for my brother's funeral. He loved goldfish and it seemed more apt than anything else. Plain black was not for my brother Charles. 

He was only 47. He went to bed one Wednesday and never woke up on Thursday. They never found out why which makes it worse in some ways although I suppose its the best way there is to die. No pain, no fear, nothing. Anyway I cannot wear this dress without thinking of him. Perhaps going to my cousin's funeral made me think about this dress.

I have since made another dress from this fabric and still have a  small bit left but thats for another post maybe.

I also wore my tails cardigan again and despite it being quite long I reckon it works as an outfit.
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/burda-style-long-cardigan-102014-102.html

Thanks for reading

Bracken

#MMM18 day 16 my new dotty top

Today I wore a top made from the same pattern as my white top and numerous others which if you are interested are listed here:

upcycled vest
white layer top
Burda style inspiration lace top
Red hoody top
Red sleeveless vest dress
Two mesh dresses - the blue one became a top
Frumps dress remade
Original frump dress

 Tho' I think the neckline came out somewhat lower on this version.

Its made from the same fabric as these trousers which did not really work as planned.

Other than the wonky seams I actually like them but they are, for definite, not as I meant to make them. 

The top is made from the small bits of fabric that were left over.

It had to have 3/4 sleeves due to lack of fabric and the fabric is slightly off straight grain to make it fit.  I think the top worked far better than the trousers!
You can see the mess I made of them here:
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/dotty-flared-trousers-with-twisted-seams.html

It is interesting that this top hangs fine ( seams are straight etc) but the trousers, which I tried very hard to make perfect came out wonky as if I had not cut on straight grain. I cut then so carefully and I have, since making, wondered if my fabric, which was an end of roll remnant, was already stretched out of straight so when I cut it.

Could it have reverted to where it should lie after cutting hence making my new trousers go all wonky?

Well maybe it was me, but I did spend a lot of time lining up etc.

Still you win some, lose some.

 The top pattern is McCalls M6612 which I actually somehow bought (or got sent!) by accident.

I certainly never intended to buy this pattern but I have made loads of tops and dresses from it so a very happy accident indeed.

I wore it with my navy wide leg trousers made here:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/navy-blue-work-trousers-from-burda-7122.html

I really love these trousers but they are much too thin for most of the year - real lightweight summer trousers.

Unfortunately this Me Made May I seem to be finding I HAVE to wear the same stuff over and over so its become very obvious I need to make more skirts and trousers.

Thanks for dropping in on my blog

Bracken

#MMM18 day 13

So my conclusion of this #MMM18 so far is I should have said my pledge was to wear a top and bottom, two tops and not simply two items cos when its hot and you wear a dress, so one item, but both top and bottom, it only counts as one. It should I reckon count as 2 but never mind. Its England and I probably need a jacket anyway so had to use my upcycled camo jacket as one item. I also wore my overdyed (so upcycled) leggings.

So today upcycled camo jacket ( cost £1 but had some damage on the bits where the insignia used to go so I added some ribbons).
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/mmmay16-100516-day-10.html
And my lovely blue dress. Its a bit crumpled. I never bothered to iron and straight out of the chest I use to store summer clothing in winter and scarves etc in summer.
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/61-3-dresses-from-one-pattern-monthly.html 

Only on a Sunday can I dress like this!

Thanks for visiting

Bracken

#MMM18 day 12

Saturday and I am tired after what turned into a very difficult week. 

Pale green zouave type trousers -great for slobbing and relaxing:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/lime-green-slobbing-slouch-trousers.html

with red puffball top:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/another-red-topburdastyle-022014117.html

Thanks for visiting

Bracken

#MMM18 Gothic Friday 11th May

Today is finally the end of the week. It always seems like a very long week when you have a Bank Holiday Monday. This is weird really cos its actually a four day long week but it does always seem longer.

Anyway I ended my week having a slightly gothic day which is unusual since this really is not how I am expected to look at work.

And I got away with it!

We had to pack up and leave our office for a week while they redecorate so I will be a homeless, deskless employee next week hanging out in one of the on-site cafes. Still its only for a week.

Lots of my office were quite casual today though so no one said anything about my slightly unusual non-corporate work dress. I did wear boring dark grey RTW trousers tho so quite toned down.

I liked this outfit.







Mesh top here:
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/black-mesh-frieda-petrenko-inspired-top.html


Top underneath it here: http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/mmmay16-day-24.html

Happy Friday!

Bracken