We were lucky enough to spend the October half-term on a family break at The Celtic Manor Resort, near Cardiff. It’s a beautiful spot and I was looking forward to seeing how much Cardiff had changed since I was a student there in the, gulp, early 90s #feelingancient 🙂
As I did on our Summer break, I was also determined to set myself a personal sewing/knitting challenge to see how much of my me-made wardrobe is relevant to my day-to-day life. I find it a really useful process to assess what I’ve made and how much of it actually gets worn. This does, however, seem a little self- indulgent (or at least the blogging about it afterwards bit), even to me, so please feel free to skip this post if you’re more interested in actual makes.
As in the Summer, I was limited as to how much I could actually take, so I needed to think through carefully what I would actually wear. It was also a pretty casual, family holiday (aren’t they all? ) so nothing fancy was required. Casual me-mades are slowly being more fairly represented in my wardrobe now that I’ve conquered my knit-phobia! But I think this area of my sewing wardrobe is definitely the way forward for future makes.
First up was my Coco Top, which is my go-to for me-made casual wear (above right). I do already have a fair few shop-bought casual tops like this, so I don’t really need any more at the moment, but it’s definitely a pattern I’ll return to again when I need to. My knitted item was easy, my one-hour scarf project (above left). I’ve worn this loads since making it: it’s warm, cosy, stylish (I hope 😉 ) and light-weight to pack.
Next up was my recently repaired bargain, knitted, peplum top. Not quite a me-make, but I’m making the rules here 😉 so I’m counting it in (above left with the beautiful view from our lodge). Meals out were restricted to the usual kids’ haunts of Pizza Express and Frankie and Benny’s, but my latest Megan Dress, fitted the bill nicely (excuse rubbish selfie on this one, above right). I was also itching to wear it out and about 🙂
The only other slightly posher me-made item I allowed in my packing was this true oldie, above left. This was one of my first ever makes: a simple, elasticated skirt. Getting it out again (I’ve made a lot of things since, skirts especially), made me realise that this fabric choice was far too heavy for this style. I still love it though, as it was one of my firsts (forgot to take new photo sorry). And finally my favourite top pattern, that I’ve worn and worn since making it, here layered up with a shirt underneath (and my pink scarf again).
We were only away for five days, so I’m impressed I fitted in so much and I did far better than I did in the Summer. It’s funny though, that unless I’d set myself this challenge I probably wouldn’t have taken quite so many me-makes, let alone worn them. If you’re heading off somewhere nice, I’d definitely recommend this as a little, indulgent challenge 😉 And if you do, let me know how you get on…
navybluethreads 
Haha, I had to laugh out lout at #feelingancient! This happens to me a lot, especially when I tell my kids ” how things were when I was young”. They don’t even pretend to take me seriously anymore…
Well done on having such a versatile, useful handmade wardrobe”
Thank you! I love telling the kids at school about life pre-mobile phones and pre-emails! And yes, we did cope very well thank you! It always makes them laugh and look at me as if I’m actually ageing right before their eyes 😉
All of your makes look great! I have been intrigued recently when reading about people who have pledged not to buy RTW for a year – eek! But I am definitely trying to shift my focus from buying to make, I think it feels so nice to wear your own things. I like your challenge idea, and am trying the regarding what I buy and wear for teaching 🙂
Thank you! I’m pretty sure I could never wear completely home-made when I enjoy clothes so much generally. But I’d like to get to more of a half and half point and I definitely need to push myself a little to get there…
Me too! I could imagine making most tops and dresses, but outerwear and trousers definitely scare me!
Snap! Though I’m slowing building myself up to try some ‘simple’ trousers… As for underwear, not sure I’ll ever get that far, much though I love seeing what others have made up 🙂
Lovely part of the world. We’ve stayed in a lovely little cottage not far from there a few times. And you had nice weather too!
🙂 We were so lucky with the weather. And that certainly makes holidays with children a whole lot nicer, and less expensive 🙂