Do you get a big burst of inspiration from Me-Made-May? This annual event, started by Zoe Edwards, always concludes with so many inspiring projects, a bunch of lessons learned about sewing your own clothing, and new connections to others who sew.

If you aren’t familiar with Me-Made-May, it’s a month dedicated to wearing your handmade clothing. Zoe started the challenge as a way to, “encourage people who make their own clothes to develop a better relationship with their handmade wardrobe. You the specifics of your own challenge to make it suitable and useful for YOU. For example, a very common pledge is for a participant to aim to wear one self-stitched or refashioned garment each day for the duration of May.”

This month, we’re wrapping up Me-Made-May with some of the lessons you learned about your wardrobe. We interviewed some Seamworkers to get their insights after wearing their handmade clothes all month long!

@soukprida

“Some of my revelations from this year’s MMM:
• I don’t make enough separates. Definitely only have one pair of bottoms, and they were in such heavy rotation I had to re-attach the button a few times.
• I wear a lot of blue, black, and grey. There’s definitely a trend developing in my wardrobe and I love how minimalist it is.
• I’m loving loose-fitted garments, but have a lot of closer-fitting UFOs I’m now wondering if I’ll like.

• I am lamenting my lack of a trench/coatigan for the Spring.

Speaking of UFOs, some of the ones I finished I realized I was not as excited about anymore because my style/taste changed a bit since I took the Seamwork Design Your Wardrobe course! Now I’m wondering how to incorporate them into my wardrobe and work with them to make sure I love them just as much as when I first envisioned the finished piece.” -Soukprida

@wearing_old_bones

“Me Made May showed me that my handmade wardrobe is a major reflection of my practical nature. So now that I’ve got plenty of clothes that fit easily into my lifestyle, I think it’s time to step out of my comfort zone and have a little fun with my sewing.” -April

@whatabwears

“I really need to make shorts...good shorts that fit and that I will wear! It gets HOT where I live, and some days shorts were really what I needed to be wearing, but I found myself either hating the fit or style of all of my options (handmade or RTW). I kept trying to wear shorts, and would end up changing before leaving the house!” -Abby

@thenestingcrane

“I think MMM made me realize that I’m not, in fact, overdressed when I put on a skirt or a dress instead of jeans and a T-shirt. I think there’s this fear of being considered too girly (which is a silly, patriarchal concept anyway), if I’m wearing something pretty to do normal, everyday things. But wearing pretty, handmade clothes and getting a little dressed up actually makes me feel like my best self. So I’m trying to do it more. I still love my jeans and tees, but MMM helped remind me that it’s okay to embrace lots of different wardrobe personalities as long as it makes you feel like you.” -Kendra

@belle_citadel

“This year, MMM highlighted a serious need for coordinating solids (I love ALL the prints) but also showed me I’m actually well on my way to creating a functional me-made wardrobe, which was something of a surprise. Woohoo!” -Claire

@lesmafamafa

“I can see that I have a lot of wardrobe-builders (that are easy, chameleon patterns that can get you from morning to the evening and every occasion). I have made a lot of them to be able to wear only handmade pieces! These pieces are high in rotation! After three years, I can now focus and plan other pieces, like outerwear or lingerie! And definitely take my time to sew them!” -Mafa

@rachaelannesews

“When I wear me-mades, I feel like I can tackle anything. Wearing something handmade, even if it’s imperfect, reminds me that I can do whatever I set my mind to. I’m an ambitious sewist, and wearing my makes to work gives me that extra boost of confidence that I. CAN. DO. IT.” -Rachael Anne

@emilygutman

“MMM taught me that I really should look for fabrics that I’m actually likely to wear! I find myself drawn to novelty prints but rarely have an occasion to wear them. If I get myself in the same mindset during fabric shopping as I would be shopping for ready to wear, I’ll be more likely to make myself a wardrobe that I’ll actually wear.” -Emily