There is something quietly defiant about reaching for a garment you made yourself each morning before the coffee even brews. Me Made May is here again — that annual celebration started by @sozoblog where we wear the things we’ve sewn and give ourselves permission to feel proud of it.
Most years this is easy for me. Half my wardrobe is self-made. But this year I kept asking: what’s my challenge? What am I really committing to?
I had my answer when I looked at a Pinterest collage that was open on my screen. It held everything I wanted May to be.
In that image: sewing patterns in aqua and blue (my two favorite colors), a bicycle, handmade earrings, a coat pattern for later this year, and a sustainability pledge. There was even a park. It felt like a wish list I could actually wear.
My Me Made May plan
So here is what I decided on: wear my favorite me-made outfits in my favorite colors, add handmade jewelry, ride my bike in them, and try sewing patterns I already own but have never cut into. Simple enough — and yet simple things are often the ones that shift how you feel.
We turned the heat back on again this month, running it a lot during the day. There’s even a hard freeze warning this weekend for multiple days. In our part of the country we get cold all winter, but a freeze warning means the growing season has started and we need to cover things up. It feels like spring refusing to quite arrive.
What I’m sewing right now
I try to finish at least one project each May, and this year it should be straightforward. I’m almost done with a knit set — ME 2138, in black knit with lavender contrast trim. That counts as my UFO, my unfinished object, for 2026. Just elastic and hems left on the pants. A quick win within reach.
I also have ME 2033 cut out: barrel-leg “wave” pants and a top in French Terry, along with a coordinating three-quarter sleeve Breton tee from HotPatterns.
The Sudoku capsule experiment
Several Me Made May participants have started doing what they call Sudoku capsules. It’s a 3 x 3 grid of tops, bottoms, and layers — mixed up deliberately. Once you lay out the nine pieces, you draw tic-tac-toe lines across the grid and can build up to 27 outfits from them. I’m not entirely sure how the math works, but I am willing to try it.
Sewing my way through midlife changes
I have a lot of clothes. What’s frustrating is that post-menopausal weight gain around my midsection — it’s just there and it won’t go away. So I plan to sew my way out of this predicament. Better-fitting clothes in patterns I already love. Wear what still fits, put together a couple of capsules to carry me from spring into summer.
This year has been a struggle for me — financially, emotionally, physically. But every day is a new day. Sewing and wearing things I made helps. Seeing what other people have made and are wearing brings me genuine joy.
Lessons from the month
At the end of Me Made May, here’s what I noticed:
- I wanted wide-leg, cream-colored lightweight pants so many times. My last pair was too small — I gave them to my daughter. That is a must-sew this summer.
- I got dirt on my favorite best-fitting shorts, the Closet Core Pietra style, that didn’t come out in a wash. It made me sad and told me clearly: make more of these.
- May is colder than I expect it to be every single year. Cardigans are better than I give them credit for. Plan: sew one during May.
- I really like layering with casual jackets. I have wool and blend fabric from a bygone suit-making era that would work perfectly — but only casual ones. The more formal they look, the less I want to wear them.
What to do with scraps
I have so many usable scraps nobody else wants, and I don’t want this fabric going to landfill. A box has been set aside for a charity dog bandanna sewing project. A bag is reserved for making garments from scraps. And there’s a pile of partially cut-up tee shirts destined for t-shirt yarn — I cut them up for a t-shirt quilt.
Me Made May is a little less fun now that Instagram limits hashtags, but I’m sure we’ll make the best of it. Go sew something. Even one piece counts.
The Morning Reset
Before you choose what to wear today, take three deep breaths by the closet door. Ask yourself: does this outfit feel like me? If not, pick the next thing. 80/20 is enough — you don’t need a perfect wardrobe, just one that fits where you are right now.
FAQ
What is Me Made May?
Me Made May is an annual challenge started by @sozoblog. Participants wear only self-made or handmade clothing throughout the month and share their outfits online using hashtags.
What is a Sudoku capsule wardrobe?
A 3 x 3 grid containing nine pieces — tops, bottoms, and layers arranged deliberately. Drawing tic-tac-toe lines across the grid creates up to 27 outfit combinations from those same nine items.
Do I need expensive fabric for a capsule?
No. The patterns mentioned here use French Terry, black knit, and even wool blends from years ago. What matters is fit and how the garment makes you feel — not the price of the yardage.
A note from Hazel: Sewing taught me that clothes don’t have to be perfect to be right. They just need to fit who I am today — not who I was three sizes ago.