I have come to terms with the fact that summer in the South is warm. One may even go so far as saying hot. Perhaps boiling. My northern sensitivity can’t take it. (Though as my Dad pointed out to me earlier today, I complained just as much about the winter in New England, so I guess I’m just picky regardless of where I live…)
My first summer here I stayed inside most of the day, and only really left at night. I didn’t have any reason to do otherwise, having no real job and no friends in a new place, and not wanting to spend any money as well.
Last summer I had a job and friends, and spent the summer purposefully ignoring the heat, which is how I got heavy polyester high waisted trousers. Not that I regret that decision, and reasonably they were for a costume, but still. A good decision? Not in the slightest.
This summer, though. I plan to embrace the heat, at least a little bit. My makes, at least for the next month or so, will be focused on surviving the summer, with at least a bit of very-casual-office appropriateness.
I’m envisioning a host of sleeveless tops. I’ve already made a sleeveless Nettie version, as part of a dress, and with I tweak I could love it for a top, but I also want to take apart this top that I love to death but is looking dingy around the edges and recreate it. And I’ve got the Miter pattern lying around waiting for more use. So those are three different types for at least 3 new blouse/tshirts.
And then some skirts. I have this wrap skirt of this awesome seafoam green that I love to death. It’s essentially a half circle on a bias “waistband,” with a thin cotton layered under and eyelet-type fabric. The only downside is that it has ties, and that doesn’t feel secure enough for me, so I’m planning on making my new ones with a real waistband and buttons. Because I love a good buttonhole! I mean, really who doesn’t live for buttonholes? I may need a life.
I also have been trying to make two more pairs of jeans, probably one bootcut and one long and skinny (since I’ve found my most recent ones a bit short when I want to wear socks and real shoes). These may not be the best options for my “breezy” sewing plans, but I want to use any leftover fabrics to make some shorts. Since I have almost none to speak of. And summer kinda requires them.
In terms of the actual next month, though, I’m planning to “attend” Me Made May for my third year! In case you’re not sure what MMM is about, you should check out Zo’s blog post here.
The first year I “failed” because I was moving and also burnt out and a smidge sick. Graduating from college will do that. But I still made it through the month with only one or two missed days, and I learned a lot about my dressing preferences. Last year, I also moved during the month, and spent a few weeks “adjusting” to my new place, which basically meant ignoring the outside world and living in non-me-made pajamas. So I did okay, but nothing spectacular.
This year is going to change that.
I, Annabelle from Annabelle’s Project Overload, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May ’16. I endeavour to wear at least one me-made garment each day for the duration of May 2016, with one day a week wearing an entirely me-made outfit!
Now, I find myself often doing this daily, but then there’s days where I’m in entirely not me-mades. So, I think this will be a nice challenge, and it will give me a good chance to test some of my less used options, and hopefully I’ll use some of my knits that are chunky but meant for summer.
P.S. I want to add in a clause that prohibits accessories, like my handmade purses, from counting, but perhaps its best if that’s a guideline rather than a hard rule. Never hurts to have a backup plan, right?
