I’m also a great fan of your earrings and especially the way you display them, it’s very clever!
Thank you for sharing all these thoughts, I agree with you on all aspects and was particularly striked by the distinction between sewist and stylist! I am definitely not a stylist and probably will never be. I don’t see the trends, and I’m not very adventurous in my sewing. I sew both for the process and the result, and I want to be sure to be able to wear the garment in the end. Fitting is already a serious struggle, I don’t want to add an element of surprise with the styling. So I stick to the colors I like (a lot of blues just like you) and I’m happy to see that after almost a decade and a half of sewing, I have a consistent wardrobe with most of the pieces working together.
As to Me-Made-May, I participated via my blog in the early years of the 2010s, but since now 99 % of my wardrobe is me-made, I don’t really see the point anymore
This really resonates with me as well, having been sewing for a few years now, I know I gravitate towards the things I have made that feel easiest for me to wear, it’s all dark wash jeans, T-shirts, and dresses in blue and white, which don’t feel like the most exciting things to share on social media. It seems like me made May is for trying to style the makes you rarely wear, but it’s good to get to a place with your making where you wear the same things over and over. I do agree with you as well Stacey that the styling and making videos are emphasising physical appearance and also (imo) extroversion! Also I want to add another thing. I think privilege of all kinds plays
a part too, so many of the most popular posts/accounts feature large homes with plenty of light and space to take photos. I love my home but it’s small and old, with funny angles, so not ideal for taking great photos, and that’s ok. I actually love the less perfect photos/locations/styling I see every May and it helps to affirm that the space is not just for the most privileged among us!
Great point about privilege and sewing. Having the space, money, and time to sew things and then document them just for fun is definitely not something that everyone has the luxury to do. I agree that one of the biggest joys of Me Made May is seeing a greater diversity of sewists participating on social media. 😊
haha, totally agree. At one point in 2016 I realized that everything I had sewn that year was blue! After that I tried to diversify a bit more, but I still always come back to blue as a safe and favorite color.
Thanks for typing these thoughts out! I enjoyed reading them in stories but it’s nice to have them all in one place.
Re: sewing blogs, I still read yours and go back to them a lot, though I don’t read others. You have a great way of explaining things and are interested in similar patterns to me, so I like catching up on your makes either here, on the blog, or threadloop. Blogs also pop up when you do a general internet search for a pattern. So they’re a good reference source.
I agree! I am sad that many sewing blogs have been disappearing lately. One of my favorite sewing bloggers recently deleted years worth of pattern reviews from her site and it was such a sad moment for me (although I totally get it, web hosting fees can get pricey).
I'm glad my blog has been helpful for you! I am going to make a renewed effort to post to it this year.
Thank you so much for articulating all of this! Because social media and IG are SO visual I don’t think there’s always attention towards some of what actually draws some of us to sewing: the quiet, the focus, the creativity, the figuring out how things work. After reading your post I realized I’m more of a process sewist :) fashion and style haven’t ever really been my thing (although I do appreciate both!) so it feels refreshing to acknowledge that they ARE different skills and it’s okay to make clothes but not be as invested in the styling them part. It’s so helpful to remember that we each get different things out of this hobby :)
Hi Stacey, and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Like others, I really identify with the sewing vs styling comments. I'm NOT an adventurous dresser, and definitely not girly. Mostly pants, love a good t-shirt, jacket or other simple thing, abhor ruffles. No puffy sleeves although I'm considering a flutter sleeve <gasp!!> for a top I want to make. My take on dressing for Me Made May, and my style, is trying things in different combinations, finding an accessory combination or other small thing to add. Not necessarily for the 'Gram, since I can't bring myself to post every day. I do love to see what others post.
And body image is part of it too - no details as I don't want to go down that particular path - but I think lots of people struggle with it. I'm not comfortable in front of a camera either, and have only tried video on IG once. It was awkward. I've just decided that I'm not one of those people who needs their lives shared in detail on social media. I'm content on the sidelines, contributing when I feel the urge but not creating an obligation for myself to do so.
Sewing and Instagramming are different skill sets, just like sewing and fitting, or sewing and styling.
Yes to all of this! Some day I will write a post about all of the different skill sets that one can choose to learn (or not!) while sewing. Garment construction, fitting, fabric selection, styling, a documenting all require different skills. And some of us prefer to focus on just a few of these rather than all of them, and that's perfectly ok!
Like you, I prefer to be more on the sidelines than in the spotlight, too. I often take long breaks from Instagram and return whenever it feels right. It's been a helpful strategy for managing my social media presence, and making sure that I still can enjoy my sewing time. 😊
To say that I loved reading this a an understatement. I am not participating this year and your post actually helped me articulate what I feel about that. So thank you. But coming back to your post — what resonated the most was how different sewing and styling is. I admire people who have the patience and skill to document visually what they make. Not the same as styling but related. Thanks for casting an insightful eye on sewing. Looking forward to your blog reviews— yours must be the only one I read anymore.
I used to use the month of May to try wearing all my handmade clothes, even the ones I didn’t like or that didn’t fit my lifestyle and although my IG grid looked more interesting I suppose, I felt off and self conscious in real life. These days I just use it to document only what I actually like and feel confident in, even if it’s less exciting. Love your thoughts here, especially the reality that interest in garment construction and “fashion” do not always go together.
I appreciate all of this. I'm still early in my sewing journey and still figuring out what I like to make and wear. I don't really post much on social media anymore, but I do enjoy seeing everyone's makes (and all of the Me Made May content is handy later, when I'm looking for photos of real people wearing patterns I'm considering). Mostly, though, I want to say that I didn't know Esprit made patterns! That's amazing. 10 year old me is exciting about scouring the internet for them.
Oh definitely! I don't think they did a ton of them, the collab might have only been for a year or two, but it's worth searching around on places like Ebay or Etsy for them if you like vintage patterns.
Found one! For some reason I assumed they'd be rare and expensive. It's notable how small the size range was. I ordered a tank/shorts pattern, we'll see!
Love this post. Nails so many aspects of why I have never wanted to participate in MMM. I especially appreciate your observation that sewing and styling are two different skills!
Recent life changes made me realize that for me, sewing met three needs:
1) I don’t ever have to shop for clothes unless I want to! I’m at the bigger end of average, and even so, shopping has always felt like an exercise in humiliation. Sewing means I bypass that, get to wear clothes I like (sometime love!) in gorgeous fabrics, and feel free to be as playful or pragmatic as I like.
2) it’s a de-stressing strategy! Puttering in my studio space on the weekends was a key part of recovery from super stressful and exhausting work weeks. Sewing (for me!) is extremely low stakes; the worst possible outcome is a garment I cut up and turn into something else.
3) it kept my hands busy and making things when my “usual” studio practices (painting / printmaking) were just too much given my other responsibilities. Plus I got to learn new skills! Goodness all around given real world constraints. I really enjoy seeing others’ makes during May, but I never quite got why some were compelled to post every single day or otherwise found it stressful to participate. If it works for you and is fun, awesome! If not, adapt your approach until it is fun, or just kick back enjoy the awesome show while appreciating the folks who do want to share.
I'm in LOVE with your earrings Stacey!!!!!! As for Me Made May, (and I wear me mades EVERY single day) the upside to sewing for a changing shape is that we (as a rule) become very aware when an "old favorite" begins to fit differently, and we have the skills to alter our pattern so the next version fits better.
Hi Stacey, I read this again at the close of MeMadeMay, which I participated in just a few times, as I felt motivated. In addition to my previous comments, two more things came to mind. One is your comment, "In my case, the result is a smaller wardrobe of clothes with the same silhouettes and colors repeated, which doesn’t lend itself particularly well to exploring my personal style or conjuring 31 days of fresh outfit combinations."
Interesting because of course what's hiding here is that repeating favorite silhouettes and colors actually IS your style. Mine too. So you ARE exploring YOUR sense of style, which isn't and shouldn't be like anyone else's. It's also pretty well defined.
Pulling out a never ending collection of different items and a closet full of accessories feels like playing dress up to me. It ISN'T my style, and apparently isn't yours either. AND THAT'S OK.
Perhaps it's the people who make every pattern, in ALLLLL the colors and fabrics, are the ones who don't have a defined sense of style. Because that's what I'm seeing more of now. Sewing is like fast fashion for some people. Make all of the popular patterns, and after MeMadeMay, drop off a load of what "no longer works for me" at the charity shop. Rinse and repeat.
I apire to a wardrobe of items I love to wear and will keep for years. So I go slowly. Consider shape, color, and longevity. THAT is my style. It's not exciting but it suits me and my values.
Thank you for sharing these thoughts on MMM! I think your tips are great. I've been doing MMM since 2013, before I even had Instagram. For many years, I shared flatlay photos of my outfits because it was easier and fun for me. I enjoyed creating the composition of my outfit to fit the square grid and I didn't have to worry about posing or what my hair looked like. But as IG has changed so much, it's been harder to do daily posts. (I think the non-chronological feed also makes it less fun to do a daily challenge.)
My life has changed a lot in the last few years and I'm not as interested in creating outfits. So, this year, I set a totally different goal to actually sew for 25 minutes a day. It's been a great kickstart for getting back into my sewing practice.
Ultimately, I think MMM can be whatever you need it to be whether that's an outfit challenge, a wardrobe audit, social connection, inspiration or a making reboot.
Great points, and I love your Me Made May pledge! Sewing for 25 mins a day seems like a terrific way to focus the month around sewing in a low-stress and fun way. I might have to try this for the rest of the month!
I’ve never participated in MMM, because just as I was beginning to really fall in love with garment sewing, I removed instagram from my life forever! I started reading tons of sewing blogs to learn about other people’s experiences with patterns I was interested in, and to learn about making adjustments etc etc etc. Which is how I found your blog and have really enjoyed your very informative posts! So yes there are still people reading and loving blogs. I only just finally dove into Substack like 3 days ago and it is filling the void that I feel I’ve been missing out on with the IG sewing community. So very grateful for you and others who are putting their time and experience out here for us to enjoy.
As for the hard feelings MMM can bring, I can resonate with that for sure, in my own way. I have been around the same size and shape for most of my adult life, but after my third child in my late thirties, well the body change has finally hit me and it is sometimes hard to navigate. But overall I’m so grateful for the ability to sew garments that fit the new me. Let’s all try give ourselves some love, we are amazing humans, no matter where the lumps and rolls may be ❤️
I’m also a great fan of your earrings and especially the way you display them, it’s very clever!
Thank you for sharing all these thoughts, I agree with you on all aspects and was particularly striked by the distinction between sewist and stylist! I am definitely not a stylist and probably will never be. I don’t see the trends, and I’m not very adventurous in my sewing. I sew both for the process and the result, and I want to be sure to be able to wear the garment in the end. Fitting is already a serious struggle, I don’t want to add an element of surprise with the styling. So I stick to the colors I like (a lot of blues just like you) and I’m happy to see that after almost a decade and a half of sewing, I have a consistent wardrobe with most of the pieces working together.
As to Me-Made-May, I participated via my blog in the early years of the 2010s, but since now 99 % of my wardrobe is me-made, I don’t really see the point anymore
This really resonates with me as well, having been sewing for a few years now, I know I gravitate towards the things I have made that feel easiest for me to wear, it’s all dark wash jeans, T-shirts, and dresses in blue and white, which don’t feel like the most exciting things to share on social media. It seems like me made May is for trying to style the makes you rarely wear, but it’s good to get to a place with your making where you wear the same things over and over. I do agree with you as well Stacey that the styling and making videos are emphasising physical appearance and also (imo) extroversion! Also I want to add another thing. I think privilege of all kinds plays
a part too, so many of the most popular posts/accounts feature large homes with plenty of light and space to take photos. I love my home but it’s small and old, with funny angles, so not ideal for taking great photos, and that’s ok. I actually love the less perfect photos/locations/styling I see every May and it helps to affirm that the space is not just for the most privileged among us!
Great point about privilege and sewing. Having the space, money, and time to sew things and then document them just for fun is definitely not something that everyone has the luxury to do. I agree that one of the biggest joys of Me Made May is seeing a greater diversity of sewists participating on social media. 😊
You can't have too many blue shirts. Or blue pants, or blue skirts, even blue underwear. It's just impossible.💙
haha, totally agree. At one point in 2016 I realized that everything I had sewn that year was blue! After that I tried to diversify a bit more, but I still always come back to blue as a safe and favorite color.
Thanks for typing these thoughts out! I enjoyed reading them in stories but it’s nice to have them all in one place.
Re: sewing blogs, I still read yours and go back to them a lot, though I don’t read others. You have a great way of explaining things and are interested in similar patterns to me, so I like catching up on your makes either here, on the blog, or threadloop. Blogs also pop up when you do a general internet search for a pattern. So they’re a good reference source.
I agree! I am sad that many sewing blogs have been disappearing lately. One of my favorite sewing bloggers recently deleted years worth of pattern reviews from her site and it was such a sad moment for me (although I totally get it, web hosting fees can get pricey).
I'm glad my blog has been helpful for you! I am going to make a renewed effort to post to it this year.
Thank you so much for articulating all of this! Because social media and IG are SO visual I don’t think there’s always attention towards some of what actually draws some of us to sewing: the quiet, the focus, the creativity, the figuring out how things work. After reading your post I realized I’m more of a process sewist :) fashion and style haven’t ever really been my thing (although I do appreciate both!) so it feels refreshing to acknowledge that they ARE different skills and it’s okay to make clothes but not be as invested in the styling them part. It’s so helpful to remember that we each get different things out of this hobby :)
Hi Stacey, and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Like others, I really identify with the sewing vs styling comments. I'm NOT an adventurous dresser, and definitely not girly. Mostly pants, love a good t-shirt, jacket or other simple thing, abhor ruffles. No puffy sleeves although I'm considering a flutter sleeve <gasp!!> for a top I want to make. My take on dressing for Me Made May, and my style, is trying things in different combinations, finding an accessory combination or other small thing to add. Not necessarily for the 'Gram, since I can't bring myself to post every day. I do love to see what others post.
And body image is part of it too - no details as I don't want to go down that particular path - but I think lots of people struggle with it. I'm not comfortable in front of a camera either, and have only tried video on IG once. It was awkward. I've just decided that I'm not one of those people who needs their lives shared in detail on social media. I'm content on the sidelines, contributing when I feel the urge but not creating an obligation for myself to do so.
Sewing and Instagramming are different skill sets, just like sewing and fitting, or sewing and styling.
Yes to all of this! Some day I will write a post about all of the different skill sets that one can choose to learn (or not!) while sewing. Garment construction, fitting, fabric selection, styling, a documenting all require different skills. And some of us prefer to focus on just a few of these rather than all of them, and that's perfectly ok!
Like you, I prefer to be more on the sidelines than in the spotlight, too. I often take long breaks from Instagram and return whenever it feels right. It's been a helpful strategy for managing my social media presence, and making sure that I still can enjoy my sewing time. 😊
To say that I loved reading this a an understatement. I am not participating this year and your post actually helped me articulate what I feel about that. So thank you. But coming back to your post — what resonated the most was how different sewing and styling is. I admire people who have the patience and skill to document visually what they make. Not the same as styling but related. Thanks for casting an insightful eye on sewing. Looking forward to your blog reviews— yours must be the only one I read anymore.
Thank you, Asmita! ☺️
I read sewing blogs! I always enjoy your posts and deep dives.
I'm so glad to hear that, thank you! 😊
I used to use the month of May to try wearing all my handmade clothes, even the ones I didn’t like or that didn’t fit my lifestyle and although my IG grid looked more interesting I suppose, I felt off and self conscious in real life. These days I just use it to document only what I actually like and feel confident in, even if it’s less exciting. Love your thoughts here, especially the reality that interest in garment construction and “fashion” do not always go together.
I appreciate all of this. I'm still early in my sewing journey and still figuring out what I like to make and wear. I don't really post much on social media anymore, but I do enjoy seeing everyone's makes (and all of the Me Made May content is handy later, when I'm looking for photos of real people wearing patterns I'm considering). Mostly, though, I want to say that I didn't know Esprit made patterns! That's amazing. 10 year old me is exciting about scouring the internet for them.
Oh definitely! I don't think they did a ton of them, the collab might have only been for a year or two, but it's worth searching around on places like Ebay or Etsy for them if you like vintage patterns.
Found one! For some reason I assumed they'd be rare and expensive. It's notable how small the size range was. I ordered a tank/shorts pattern, we'll see!
Love this post. Nails so many aspects of why I have never wanted to participate in MMM. I especially appreciate your observation that sewing and styling are two different skills!
Recent life changes made me realize that for me, sewing met three needs:
1) I don’t ever have to shop for clothes unless I want to! I’m at the bigger end of average, and even so, shopping has always felt like an exercise in humiliation. Sewing means I bypass that, get to wear clothes I like (sometime love!) in gorgeous fabrics, and feel free to be as playful or pragmatic as I like.
2) it’s a de-stressing strategy! Puttering in my studio space on the weekends was a key part of recovery from super stressful and exhausting work weeks. Sewing (for me!) is extremely low stakes; the worst possible outcome is a garment I cut up and turn into something else.
3) it kept my hands busy and making things when my “usual” studio practices (painting / printmaking) were just too much given my other responsibilities. Plus I got to learn new skills! Goodness all around given real world constraints. I really enjoy seeing others’ makes during May, but I never quite got why some were compelled to post every single day or otherwise found it stressful to participate. If it works for you and is fun, awesome! If not, adapt your approach until it is fun, or just kick back enjoy the awesome show while appreciating the folks who do want to share.
Grateful for your thoughtful writing as always!
I'm in LOVE with your earrings Stacey!!!!!! As for Me Made May, (and I wear me mades EVERY single day) the upside to sewing for a changing shape is that we (as a rule) become very aware when an "old favorite" begins to fit differently, and we have the skills to alter our pattern so the next version fits better.
Hi Stacey, I read this again at the close of MeMadeMay, which I participated in just a few times, as I felt motivated. In addition to my previous comments, two more things came to mind. One is your comment, "In my case, the result is a smaller wardrobe of clothes with the same silhouettes and colors repeated, which doesn’t lend itself particularly well to exploring my personal style or conjuring 31 days of fresh outfit combinations."
Interesting because of course what's hiding here is that repeating favorite silhouettes and colors actually IS your style. Mine too. So you ARE exploring YOUR sense of style, which isn't and shouldn't be like anyone else's. It's also pretty well defined.
Pulling out a never ending collection of different items and a closet full of accessories feels like playing dress up to me. It ISN'T my style, and apparently isn't yours either. AND THAT'S OK.
Perhaps it's the people who make every pattern, in ALLLLL the colors and fabrics, are the ones who don't have a defined sense of style. Because that's what I'm seeing more of now. Sewing is like fast fashion for some people. Make all of the popular patterns, and after MeMadeMay, drop off a load of what "no longer works for me" at the charity shop. Rinse and repeat.
I apire to a wardrobe of items I love to wear and will keep for years. So I go slowly. Consider shape, color, and longevity. THAT is my style. It's not exciting but it suits me and my values.
I love this so much, thank you so much for articulating it all so well! I am having a lot of these same thoughts at the close of MMM. ❤️
Thank you for sharing these thoughts on MMM! I think your tips are great. I've been doing MMM since 2013, before I even had Instagram. For many years, I shared flatlay photos of my outfits because it was easier and fun for me. I enjoyed creating the composition of my outfit to fit the square grid and I didn't have to worry about posing or what my hair looked like. But as IG has changed so much, it's been harder to do daily posts. (I think the non-chronological feed also makes it less fun to do a daily challenge.)
My life has changed a lot in the last few years and I'm not as interested in creating outfits. So, this year, I set a totally different goal to actually sew for 25 minutes a day. It's been a great kickstart for getting back into my sewing practice.
Ultimately, I think MMM can be whatever you need it to be whether that's an outfit challenge, a wardrobe audit, social connection, inspiration or a making reboot.
Great points, and I love your Me Made May pledge! Sewing for 25 mins a day seems like a terrific way to focus the month around sewing in a low-stress and fun way. I might have to try this for the rest of the month!
I read sewing blogs!
I’ve never participated in MMM, because just as I was beginning to really fall in love with garment sewing, I removed instagram from my life forever! I started reading tons of sewing blogs to learn about other people’s experiences with patterns I was interested in, and to learn about making adjustments etc etc etc. Which is how I found your blog and have really enjoyed your very informative posts! So yes there are still people reading and loving blogs. I only just finally dove into Substack like 3 days ago and it is filling the void that I feel I’ve been missing out on with the IG sewing community. So very grateful for you and others who are putting their time and experience out here for us to enjoy.
As for the hard feelings MMM can bring, I can resonate with that for sure, in my own way. I have been around the same size and shape for most of my adult life, but after my third child in my late thirties, well the body change has finally hit me and it is sometimes hard to navigate. But overall I’m so grateful for the ability to sew garments that fit the new me. Let’s all try give ourselves some love, we are amazing humans, no matter where the lumps and rolls may be ❤️