Me-Made May: Days 15 and 16
Me-Made-May, Sewing / Posted on May 16th, 2010
I don’t think participants in Me-Made-May were all that impressed by my outfit on Day 15:
I can’t blame them. It was a gardening day and that meant a t-shirt and jeans, both of which are home-sewn. At least I have a coordinating watering can!
Today, Day 16, is not much of an improvement. I’m just lounging around the house, doing a little contract work and tidying up the place. Again, enter the jeans and t-shirt: The top is an Ottobre t-shirt. The jeans are RTW–my Jalie jeans are in the wash.
On the flickr forum, Ali Ali Ali asked about what patterns MMM participants returned to again and again because they worked out well for them. The Built By Wendy pattern, Simplicity 3835, was mentioned as a staple. I have the pattern, but have never sewn it, since I’m not sure if I could pull off such an outfit at my age (I’m not a cute, young 20-something any longer–although I still feel like one!).
Built by Wendy, Simplicity 3835
So, what do you think, could I wear the longer dress version? Or is this just something I’d be better off putting aside?
Posted by 
May 16th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I’ve been tempted by this one, too. I’m afraid that it’s too shapeless to do anything for my nursed-two-babies-aren’t-20-anymore figure. It looks like an easy sew, though, so even if it was awful at least it wouldn’t be much of a loss. Maybe with a belt, or some shirring at the waist?
May 16th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I made the mid-length version of the built by Wendy dress. It was ok, but the sleeves were teeny-tiny, and it is super short… I feel like it needs leggings, and I don’t do leggings really. I do think the top version is cute though, and I want to make it sometime. I didn’t think it was the greatest pattern ever, but lots of people do love it, so maybe I’m wrong!
May 16th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
At least you had an outfit for Day 15! I stayed in my pjs….
May 16th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
OK, I’m dorky- I think the gardening outfit is my favorite so far
I bought that Made by Wendy pattern last summer- it didn’t come with directions??? I never had time to return it (the shop is 3 cities away), but I’m hoping I could figure it out
May 17th, 2010 at 5:47 am
I’ve sewn that pattern as a shirt, and I’m not in my 20′s… Style-wise, it’s basically a Tshirt, right?
I am more of a knitter and this was one of my first projects. I didn’t choose enough positive ease for the woven fabric – I’m used to more give in what I make. And the lack of waist-shaping is a bit of an issue. I solved it in the second one I made by adding 2 Empire-waistline elastic gathers. Looked rather Grecian that way.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:11 am
You can get away with whatever you want to. Lengthen it if it needs it, add a belt if it’s too shapeless…but own it.
Of course, I’m overweight, I have more white in my hair then color, and I’m in my mid 30′s and I still dress like a sex pot. And I get away with it because I think I can.
May 17th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Thanks to all the tips, I’m definitely going to try this pattern, too, and I’d love to see what you come up with! I think the benefit of this pattern may be that it’s a bit loose and forgiving, and the lengths give you options to wear it many ways — I’ll probably do the tunic length first, so I can wear it two ways, as a dress in the dog-days of summer, and over pants/capris the rest of the time!
And yes, I think the longer dress would be great! Ditto the comments on belt-help, if needed
May 18th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Why don’t you check all the versions in the Built By Us Flickr group to see how other people have sewn it up? I’ve only done the shirt myself two and 1/2 times (one was a hybrid version), but want to make the dress one day.