Me Made May: Meet The Bloggers Sewing Their Own Wardrobes

Me Made May: Meet The Bloggers Sewing Their Own Wardrobes
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With fashion trends changing faster than ever, we're living in a throwaway clothing culture - but this month some women are taking a stand.

Hundreds of crafty bloggers from across the globe are taking part in Me Made May, a challenge designed to celebrate the love and hard work that goes into handmaking clothes.

Participating bloggers aim to wear at least one self-stitched or refashioned garment each day for the entire duration of May, documenting their unique outfits on blogs and social media.

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Me Made May was first started by Zoe Edwards, author of the popular sewing blog So Zo... What Do You Know?, in 2010 as a personal challenge to see how well her homemade wardrobe could function.

After being impressed with the durability of her creations, the following year Zoe threw it out to the online sewing community and now the challenge has over 700 participants.

Zoe said of the online response: "I've been surprised by the deep and varied ways the challenge has effected people."

"Since participants set their own challenge specifics, people experience the month differently - but what I didn't expect was reading that people reported more self-confidence and a better body-image through taking part."

"Each year's challenge has its own dedicated Flickr group in which participants can post their outfit pictures if they wish, and it's always the most supportive, positive and friendly place on the internet!"

Want to follow all the Me Made Mayers? Bloggers will be sharing their outfits using the hashtag #mmmay15 on Twitter and Instagram. You can also see a collection of the outfits posted in their official Me Made May Flickr group or on the Pinterest board.

Six Of The Best Sewing Blogs
(01 of21)
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Tilly from Tilly and the Buttons“Sewing your clothing yourself means that you can create your dream wardrobe, exactly as you’d like it to be. You’re totally in control of your style and can make something that’s unique to you and you alone. If someone asks you where you got your dress, it’s a great feeling to be able to say, ‘I made it!’Making things with your own hands – transforming a flat piece of fabric into a wearable garment – is incredibly satisfying and can boost your well-being. Plus it can make us feel more connected to the process of producing clothing and thus more mindful of the environmental and ethical impact of consumption.” (credit:Tilly and the Buttons)
(02 of21)
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(credit:Tilly and the Buttons)
(03 of21)
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(credit:Tilly and the Buttons)
(04 of21)
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Nina from Murmur"After studying biology, I quickly realised that I should choose my career path according to what I love doing most, and not what I'm necessarily best at. So I quit university and worked at a jewellery shop for a while and applied to art school, where I will start this autumn! I hope to work with garments in some way in the future, from fashion design to costume design, textile design and pattern making - it's all fascinating. I started sewing during my exchange year when I suddenly had so much time after school that I bought a sewing machine on Amazon and just started. I learned the basic as a child in school, but am mostly self-taught. I've learned so much from the internet (especially other sewing blogs), books and through trial and error. I love vintage inspired clothes but at the moment I'm inspired by more angular, modern pieces. I've also set up an online shop and hope to have some pieces ready to sell soon". (credit:Madalynne)
(05 of21)
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(credit:Madalynne)
(06 of21)
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(credit:Madalynne)
(07 of21)
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Rochelle from Lucky Lucille"My passion for sewing stems from a long family tradition and a special interest in 1940s wartime fashion. Lucky Lucille evolved as a means to share my creations and meet others who are inspired by sewers of decades past. Aside from sewing and obsessing over the 40s, I also dabble in knitting and seeking adventure in the countryside with my furry four-legged sidekick: Lucille". (credit:Lucky Lucille)
(08 of21)
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(credit:Lucky Lucille)
(09 of21)
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(credit:Lucky Lucille)
(10 of21)
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Alana from lazystitching.com"For me sewing is really about the joy of creating something from scratch and also finally making something that fits. Being plus size means your options are often limited, so sewing opened up a whole lot more choices and finally things that fit properly - no one likes a seam that sits across the bust instead of under it! Through sewing, I've discovered such a welcoming and friendly online community too and that support can be invaluable when you've ripped out a zipper for the tenth time." (credit:LazyStitching)
(11 of21)
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(credit:LazyStitching)
(12 of21)
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(credit:LazyStitching)
(13 of21)
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Maddie from Maddalynne"My focus and my goal is to make pattern making and sewing cool. I got into sewing on a whim – discovering my mother’s sewing machine in a linen closet at the age of 18. I first pursued the craft as a hobby but as I got more involved, I realized more and more that this is what I wanted to do. But I knew I couldn’t be a seamstress for a living. If I wanted to wear Kate Spade and J. Crew, the salary of a seamstress would not suffice. So I transferred schools and eventually got a place on a production design internship at Urban Outfitters. Now I'm concentrating on my blog - it's my dream job!" (credit:Murmur)
(14 of21)
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(credit:Murmur)
(15 of21)
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(credit:Murmur)
(16 of21)
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Karen from Did You Make That?"My sewing career began three years ago when I acquired a sewing machine from an elderly lady via Freecycle. I made my first (badly fitting!) top and was hooked. Soon after, I began my sewing and knitting blog. I love the community aspects of blogging and making things and my world has opened up immeasurably. If anyone wants a huge boost to their confidence, the joy of creating clothes for themselves or others, and a whole bunch of fantastic new friends, they should pick up a needle!" (credit:DidYouMakeThat)
(17 of21)
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(credit:DidYouMakeThat)
(18 of21)
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Emily from lovemesew.co.uk"For me personally, I love sewing because I consider myself to be more of a ‘do-er’ than a ‘thinker’. I like the practical nature of sewing, using my hands and being in control of the result, which is not always great, but can always be undone or redone to make perfect. I love the feeling of pride when an items turns out so much better than I could have hoped for, and knowing that the effort I’ve put in to something for someone special is worth so much more than what I could have bought off the shelf". (credit:LoveMeSewMe)
(19 of21)
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(20 of21)
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Elena from Seamless"Part of sewing's appeal is the control you ultimately have over your own wardrobe. Instead of relying on the whims of the high street, you can create garments which are truly your own. I haven't actually bought new clothes for more than a year and I really don't miss fast fashion at all. I think I stopped appreciating clothes because of the sheer amount I used to buy. Now that I sew, I take the time to look at how a garment is made and appreciate details like fabric and buttons.The best bit about sewing is when someone can't believe you've made something you're wearing. That's when you know you've made something really good!" (credit:Seamless)
(21 of21)
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(credit:Seamless)