As you may know, I’ve been on a ready-to-wear fast since January 1st, 2018. Not being able to buy any clothes in stores is forcing me to sew more basics. Normally I would just buy wardrobe basics and focus on sewing things that are more interesting. Like binging on candy rather than eating my veggies. But I’m finding that sewing basics is very satisfying, and, let’s face it — I get a lot more wear out of them.

This is the Chai Tee pattern from Oliver + S. I like it because it’s a basic Tee but with a little candy coating — the details on the sleeves and yoke raise it up a level.

I made it with a go-with-everything, off-white marled jersey knit that I got during a giant fabric haul at the Berlin Turkish Market. I think it was 3 Euros a meter, and I have enough to get another top out of it.

Here is the same pattern done with a drapier fabric. I think this is a rayon knit, also  purchased at the Berlin Turkish Market.

These tees will come in handy as I get ready for Me Made May. I’m pledging to wear at least one me-made item every day next month. I can’t go whole hog yet; I haven’t got enough me-made pants to see me through a whole month of wearing only hand-mades. But I think this will be enough of a challenge anyway, especially because the weather in May here in Ontario can still be unpredictable. I’ll need a range of warm- and cool-weather options to get through it.

I expect doing this challenge will help me to identify where the gaps in my handmade wardrobe are so I’ll have a better sense of where to focus my sewing efforts. And if I start to lose my mind by late May, I reserve the right to grab for some me-made jewelry or knitted accessories in order to still meet the challenge. 😉

If you want to know what Me Made May is all about, or want to sign up for your own challenge, click the image below.

Have you done a Me Made May before? How did it go? Or are you thinking of signing up this year? I’d love to hear about it.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

— Lori