16 May 2016

Me Made May 16: Day 8-14

And another week has come and gone.

I appreciate that my work environment allows me to wear all my me-mades and they are appropriate attire. This makes it easier for me to meet the challenge.

I'm realizing that there are only a few basic staple items (Black cardigans, Tights, and leggings) that I wear that are not me-made. I don't have one single item of non me-made on any of my hooks or in my main drawers. Any RTW items I own are in the back of the closet and I'd have to go searching for them.

I'm also trying to wear a different item every day this month to determine fit and comfort of each one. This is the more difficult aspect for me as I play favourites; There are two dresses and one shirt that I absolutely adore and are repeat offenders worn weekly. I've already worn two of those items last week....so I only have one favourite left for the month.

But here we go:

Day 8

Day 9
A photo posted by Chrystal McKay (@chrystalclear_) on

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13
A photo posted by Chrystal McKay (@chrystalclear_) on

Day 14
AND ONE LAST ONE FROM THE WEDDING WITH MY HANDSOME BF WHO PATIENTLY TAKES MY PHOTO EVERY DAY AND SUGGESTED THE EXCELLENT BACKGROUND FOR THE LAST PHOTO:
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09 May 2016

Me Made May 16: Day 1-7

And one week is complete. And I realize how much easier it is this year to dress in me-mades.

Not only do I have significantly more me-Mades in my closest to choose from; but they are executed better, more my style, and with higher quality fabrics. 

These three things really do make a significant difference. But that comes with time and practice.

Day 1

Building Ikea #Applaro furniture on the first day of #MMMay16 wearing my favourite handmade item my anchors #v1102

A photo posted by Chrystal McKay (@chrystalclear_) on


Day 2

#MMMay16 Day 2 wearing my cotton sateen #simplicity2444.

A photo posted by Chrystal McKay (@chrystalclear_) on


Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

#MMMay16 Day 5 sporting my #PBJamLeggings by #FehrTrade made of cupcakes! #isew #handmadewardrobe #memademay2016

A photo posted by Chrystal McKay (@chrystalclear_) on


Day 6

Day 7
And on to week 2.
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28 April 2016

Me-Made-May 2016 - Pledge



Oh I'm in.....

 'I, Chrystal McKay of Seams Like Chrystal, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '16. I endeavour to wear 1 piece handmade each day for the duration of May 2016' and challenge myself to complete 2 new items during the month.

Nothing extravagant...I just love to participate and enjoyed it so much last year. And again, I shall be taking my MMM16 to instagram daily and summarizing here with weekly round ups on May 7, 14, 21, 28 with a final round up and thoughts on June 1.

I haven't been sewing as much lately....We bought our first house at the beginning of March and moved in at the end of the month. Extremely quick sale, pack, and move. But when you know, you know, and this is our dream home. With a new home comes a new sewing territory and fortunately for me the entire 3rd floor of my house is now my own personal dedicated sewing space. I'm still working on the layout and determining the best flow for me but I'm getting there. Slowly.


A photo posted by Chrystal McKay (@chrystalclear_) on



Here's the space on my first day after moving all my sewing/knitting related stuff (and there is A LOT of it) into the room:


A photo posted by Chrystal McKay (@chrystalclear_) on


And are the two new pieces I've added as inspirational art:

A photo posted by Chrystal McKay (@chrystalclear_) on
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05 January 2016

2015: The last 6 months

So I'm a bad blogger. My bad. It isn't for lack of content or time or even interest in it.....it's photos. I'm truly not a photo op type. In summer I'm more inclined; that temperature; that tan! But bleak winter? These sweats aren't my most endearing look. 

But alas, a new year, I feel I should summarize my last and start anew for 2016.

So I present to you in the form of Instagram photos only....the last 6 months of my crafting life:

Pattern: Flora - By Hand London
Fabric: Italian Cotton Viscose

Pattern: Simplicity 1104
Fabric: Ponte Knit

 Pattern: Ginny Cardigan - Harry Potter Knits
Yarn: Classic Elite - Woodland

Pattern: V8728
Fabric: Cotton Voile by Gertie 

Pattern: M6696
Fabric: Chambray 

Pattern: V1102
Fabric: Cotton Sateen

Pattern: PB Jam Leggings by Fehr Trade
Fabric: Spandex

Pattern: Hetty Cardigan by Andi Satterlund
Yarn: malabrigo worsted 

Pattern: Kielo Wrap by Named Patterns
Fabric: Terry Cloth

Pattern: Anna - By Hand London
Fabric: Alexander Henry Cotton

Pattern: Owligan by Kate Davies
Yarn: Diamond Yarns Galway Worsted

Pattern: Henriette by Andi Satterlund
Yarn: Knitpicks Bulky Andes


Pattern: Self Drafted circle poncho
Fabric: Wool coating

Pattern: Purl Soho Herringbone Scarf
Yarn: Illimani Llama II


I've made a few more items with no photo evidence....so it's like they didn't happen right? Sad face. 

2016 will be more successful? 




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03 September 2015

Don't rain on my Anna Parade

I am hooked on Anna. She's quick, she's flattering, she's casual, she displays fabrics well. She's everything I want from a pattern. By hand London produced pattern gold with this pattern. And I hit the pattern jackpot when I decided to re-visit here this year.

It wasn't love at first site for Anna and I. She liked a little boring (shhh pretty baby first impressions hurt I know I know...) but after a barrage of Anna's hit the blogosphere my opinion slowly started to shift and I gave in (as I easily do when buying patterns). 

She arrived and I squealed with joy and did a little dance; what a pretty little packaged pattern you are sent all the way from London UK into my loving arms! 

I unfolded the tissue with care and traced off my size at the time (16/20). And I started to make her using some orange-hued cotton poplin I had. Easy fabric - should work out right? oh so wrong...

Why are you so cruel dear Anna? This first attempt was all sorts of wrong....the shoulder-bust height was almost double, the width was tight, the facings just WOULDNT stay down and my not-so-invisible zipper drove me bonkers. I threw that hideous Anna into the corner in a fit of beginner seamstress rage and proclaimed a hated for her and shunned her pretty packaged self into the "bad pattern" pile. 

It took me over a year and a half to pick it up again and reconsider. I'd shrunk as a Human down into the size (8/10) category and felt maybe my new size and my more advanced sewing knowledge would help with the fit. And to my extreme pleasure it has! 

And without further ado I give you my Anna Parade:

The Yargggg Sailer Girl




The Antelopes-a-Prancing





The LOOK AT HOW COLOURFUL I AM!! (+ V Neck Back) 




The Hipster Anne of Green Gables

And don't you worry....this parade may never end..... 



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01 September 2015

New Look 6067 - Black Magic Rabbit

Winner winner Chicken dinner folks. 


Extremely difficult to see the pattern style lines but the bodice has 3 beautiful bust pleats protruding from centre front. 

And of course the BEST part of this dress - MAGICAL RABBITS!!! Those are not simple white dots my friends. Nope nope nope. They are magical rabbits come to make my day with each and every wear!
Fully lined sleeves sewed as one with the lining for a beautiful clean edge - lining is a plain black stretch cotton poplin.


Details:
Pattern: New Look 6069
Size: 12
Fabric: Cotton Poplin with Rabbits (Fabric.com)
Alterations:
A-lined the skirt
Fully lined the entire dress
Eliminated the neck split

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29 June 2015

Chambray Wenona - Named Clothing


The shirtdress. Big Fan. And the sleeves on this Wenona shirtdress immediately sold me on the pattern.


I once again used Robert Kaufman's chambray fabric but in two colour-ways: olive & blue


I don't think the two colours go together perfectly but I do appreciate that they are the exact same fabrics - same weight, same pattern, same feel.  


Since the fabric is an olive green I opted to use a green tinted marble buttons and I think they go really well against the fabric, they are more muted than a whiter shade.


The back has a button the collar and a pleat on the back bodice - both are really cute details.


The button plackets on this pattern a teeny tiny so if I make it again I'd change those up because I don't like that they are simple turn and stitch because as you can see in the photo if I bend my wrist at all the inside shows and you can see the serged seams.


From the back yoke up the pattern is drafted beautifully. From the boob area down - it's a sack. There are no darts and from the arm scyth to hem line the pattern angles out progressively into a trapeze. NOT flattering at all. To fix the parachute feel of this dress I added elastic to the back waistline only, it helped with the shape, but I don't like the look of it so I only wear it with a belt to hide the elasticated back.


The next version I make will be blended with the Deer&Doe Bruyere shirt from the arm scythe down. This will enable me to keep the details I love about the Wenone: Sleeves, pointed collar, back yoke but merge it with the things I love about the Bruyere: fitted bust and waist, and appropriately shaped skirt/hem circumference. 

Details

Pattern: Named Clothing Wenona Shirt Dress
Size: 38
Fabric: Robert Kaufman Chambray
Alterations: 
  • Added elastic to the back bodice waistline to take in the gazillion extra inches of ease this pattern includes in the design.


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