#MeMadeMay days 7&8. Yesterday I wrote my polka plaid Pattern Emporium Lounge Dress with Helen's Closet Avery leggings made with navy sweater knit (leg sweaters!) with my favorite Seamwork Oslo sweater. Today we are cleaning, moving furniture and hopefully priming and painting the porch stairs, so I'm wearing some RTW knit joggers with an old See Kate Sew Dreamer Top (that I just noticed is on backwards lol) and I put on the purple denim jacket I made in the Pattern Review sewing bee last year to go to breakfast at Jaguar, our favorite Mexican breakfast place. #memademay2022 #peloungedress #seamworkoslo #seekatesew #helensclosetaveryleggings #helensclosetavery #isewmyownclothes #sewlife

Annapurna sanctuary trek wardrobe & post-trip review Just over half (8 out of 15) garment items I packed were me-made. Five out of the 8 were sewn in the week before departure. 1. #sabettywoventunic in light blue linen from #fabricana 2. The ubiquitous #sabobpants in charcoal linen from #fabricana 3. #saetheltop in striped linen from #fabricana 4. #sewaholicrenfrew in charcoal merino wool from #riversidefabric 5. #helensclosetaveryleggings in black merino wool from #riversidefabric 6. #wikstenshifttop in green cotton double gauze from #fiddleheadsartisansupply 7. #jalievanessa in black winning the most worn 8. #satullypants in black winning the least worn The sewing frenzy started when I realized that most of the days the weather was going to be a lot hotter than I thought. While linen was easy to sew, I opted to try out the Sandra Betzina’s method of pre-treating and pre-washing linen, which added a lot of prep time. This method promises less wrinkly linen, and the verdict after 2 weeks of wearing: I agree! While the linen was perfect for the hot days, I wished more of the pieces were long sleeves for UV protection. As we ascended to base camp, my arms got sun burned. I had intended to sew a long-sleeved shirt but just didn’t manage to squeeze a more complicated project in the last week. I swapped out the beige RTW hiking pants for a pair of black #jalievanessafluidpants , which turned out to be the most worn item. The cuffed legs were absolutely crucial for preventing leech bites. Once we learned that our clothes aren’t drying in the rainforest humidity and afternoon monsoons, I saved the #stylearcpatterns Betty and Bob set for the travel days at the end. I never got to wear the #satullypants as the #bobpants was the winner. Now I get why Bob is so well loved in the sewing community.

Here is my entry for the #sewfrugal22 challenge organised by @theyorkshiresewgirl and @frugalisama I used the #thestitchsistersuk kaftan pattern as a basis and then made a few adjustments. I reversed the dress so the centre seam was on the back as I didn’t want to break up the amazing leaf print on this #rainbowfabrickilburn viscose. I also omitted the split and added extra volume into the skirt so I could still walk easily. Finally I tried the waist ties but I found they pulled when I stretched my arms so took these out and converted it into a belt and added belt loops. Currently with it snowing outside I paired it with a #tatbfreya top and some #helensclosetaveryleggings to keep warm, hopefully more seasonal weather will return soon and I’ll be able@to wear it without all the extra layers! #imakemyownclothes #memade #freesewingpatterns

#helensclosetaveryleggings (view A) Fabric: Maria cotton jersey from @sewmesunshine.uk

I love being able to sew! My Yoga practice was hot today, so I ran up some yoga shorts with some left over jersey, as this week is set to get hotter and hotter! I cropped the @helens__closet Avery leggings as that is my go to leggings pattern. I must try the pocket hack on my next pair. I’m off to see if I have any more remnants, as I need more of these . . . . . #helensclosetaveryleggings #averyleggings #memade #memadeeveryday #whyisew #isewmyownclothes #sewingforyoga #yogisthatsew #sewing #sewingismysuperpower

I've just seen @thatlenaking post about #fitnesssewing Combining two pursuits that have a benefit on physical and mental health is a double joy. The mindfulness that sewing and exercise brings can't be overestimated. I really notice when I've not been as active in either area. @sewover50 recently posted about leggings and the lack of representation of our community. We come in all shapes, sizes and ages and, as we age, exercise (and bone strength, become increasingly important. Two if my outfits above are; left, @fehrtrade leggings from her fab active wear book in fabric from @guthrieghani ages ago. right, @guthrieghani kit of brilliant jersey in one of their kits and @helens__closet #averyleggings #sewover50mar #sewover50march2025 #helensclosetaveryleggings #helenscloset #fehrtradepatterns #guthrieghanisewingsocietykit #guthrieghani

Another terrible photo but I’m not going to post a pic of me in them so it will have to do! These are the second pair of #helensclosetaveryleggings that were part of @guthrieghani #sewingsocietykit . My other pair are navy. This time I did the lower waistband,used @guetermann_creativ_uk #maraflex thread and all my machines! They are so comfy and really pleased with the finish. Hubby said they look like shop bought- praise indeed! Completely messed up the label but it’s just about visible so I can tell what the back is!🤣🤣 #sewover50 #sewover60 #sew #sewing #sewistsofinstagram #imakemyownclothes #gandgsewingsociety #sewingismytherapy #sewingismysuperpower

I made my first pair of #averyleggings out of a thrifted Christmas skirt. I added the side pockets and check out the print matching. I am so excited about these. They fit so great! I will be living in these for the rest of the month. My top is a #uvitatop I whipped up to go with the leggings in a gorgeous sun dried tomato rayon/spandex from Joann fabrics. I added on 4 inches of length, the flop collar and the bottom band. Yea Christmas! #helensclosetpatterns #helenscloset #helensclosetaveryleggings #averyleggingspockethack #refashion #refashionista #memade #imakemyownclothes #sugarlandsews #itchtostitch #itchtostitchpatterns

Hello May! And #memademay2024 kicks off in @helens__closet #averyleggings because it's Wednesday, which means Pilates 🥰 A kit from @guthrieghani (congratulations to Lauren on the safe arrival of baby Sammy 💕) in fabulous fabric (modal and still available I'm fairly sure!) The top is made from the leftover black and blue fabrics, think it's a new look pattern.... Definitely a high repeat wear count. #wardrobetracker #mmm2024 #helensclosetpatterns #helensclosetaveryleggings #guthrieghanisewingsocietykit #sewover50may2024

All righty then! If anyone is looking for me I’ll be working on my time machine so I can head back to a 1980s aerobics class 🤣! I’m ready to go in my @helens__closet #averyleggings in nylon lycra from @dressew 💗. #sewing #isew #sewingwithknits #sewover50 #helenscloset #helensclosetpatterns #helensclosetaveryleggings #helensclosetavery #dressew

Happy Sunday everyone. It’s maximum lounge life today. This is my “mommy’s busy” place where I can hide away and take a breather when things get too squirrelly. I made the @helenscloset #averyleggings on Friday, and I can attest to the ‘no roll down’ of them since I’ve been living in them already.❤️ I made View B, high waisted and long cuff for extra lounge-ability. I never paid attention to leggings as a make before, but now that I have these buttery soft jersey leggings that I’m not pulling up every two seconds, well I’m a convert. They come together in a flash too so I’ll definitely be making more of these to add to the home life winter edition capsule. Top is my most fave hack of the @closetcorepatterns #sallyjumpsuit turned t shirt. #helensclosetaveryleggings #handmadewardrobe #fetchandbloom #craftygirl #613blogger #sewingblogger #sew #sewistsofinstagram #ottawasews #sewinglife #meandthemachine #sewlove #sewingproject #sewist #quarantinesewing #sewlikethewind #sewingsuperpower #canadasews #loungewear #mommylife

I'm posting far more than I expected for #mmm2025 and, as today is Wednesday and Pilates, it's #helensclosetaveryleggings 🥰 Great pattern and instructions, as always with @helens__closet I can definitely do with making more. #memademay #memadeeveryday @sewover50 #sewover50may @janomeuk #madeonmyjanome #iwearwhatisew

Last summer I had the chance to visit @discoveryfabrics in person. It was so nice to touch, feel, see, and stretch the fabrics in person 😉. What was not so nice was choosing what would come home with me and what would stay behind 🥲. A very helpful employee helped me to choose this Breathe Tek fabric for my favourite @helens__closet #averyleggings pattern and I am super impressed 🤩. They really feel like a high end brand name version with that awesome sucky-inny compression feeling. Maybe one day I’ll even exercise in them! (Obviously joking there 🤣.) #sewing #isew #handmadewardrobe #isewmyownclothes #sewover50 #sewingwithknits #helensclosetpatterns #helenscloset #helensclosetaveryleggings #helensclosetavery #discoveryfabrics #breathetekathletic

Sometimes your hobbies overlap! Like when you’re starting the #sweatchallenge tomorrow and decide you need new #helensclosetaveryleggings Bonus pictures of sweet Sadie after our run this morning and the #classicsweater I started knitting a few weeks ago, which I worked on yesterday post trail run. #makersgonnamake #sundayfunday #greenvillescsews #200ontrails