Tag Archives: MeMadeMay

2013, A Year in Review

Posted on January 1, 2014 by | Comments Off on 2013, A Year in Review
This past year's work collage:


So, what *did* I do last year?  And, did I meet my resolutions from 2013? Let me revisit my resolutions, and let's see how faithful I was to them...
"And, my 2013 New Years Resolutions...knitting- publish a few more patterns, learn brioche knitting. Crochet - do a bit more of it. Sewing- sew a pair of perfectly fitting jeans/trousers, drape 1 dress or outfit. Quilting- finish quilting the 2 quilts from last year and make 1 quilt. Design - learn more about WordPress to create an online shop"
Knitting - I definitely published more patterns than I was expecting: Lustig Hat and Gloves, Squishy Cabled Vest, Easy Lace Loop/Cowl, Rosita Hat and Mittens, Bow Slouch, Columbina Camisole, Tyrian Loop, and Laren Fingerless Mitts... phew!  And, two projects still aren't published... more about that in the near future.

Rosita Hat & Mittens, photo copyright Knitscene/ Harper Point
Brioche knitting - I signed up for a class, and started learning, but then forgot to finish the online course!  Oops.  Let's give that one a try again this year.

Crochet - I used it more frequently this year, and I made a few amigurumi gifts and used crochet as a border in some of my own projects.


Sewing - I did manage to create a pair of jeans that fit me really, really well!  BUT... then I grew out of them, and more on that in the near future.  I loved participating in Me Made May, and hope to do it again next year if possible.
((Confession.)) I still haven't draped anything!! I failed here.  I did start drafting skirt and bodice slopers, but definitely no draping!  ((Ugh.  Guilty feelings here.))

Quilting - I did way more quilting than I thought I could!  I learned to free-motion quilt and I finished a bed-sized brown quilt, a mini lap version,  the blue sampler quilt, a baby quilt, and a double-wedding ring quilt for a friend.




Design-  I finally got my portfolio site transferred to WordPress, but I still haven't created an online shop.  Anyone have advice on easy PDF distribution systems with templates on WP?  Also, I redesigned my crochet font StitchinCrochet(PRO), and released it!



2014...  Truth be told, I don't know what resolutions I should make.  I am anticipating some big changes in my life, and the only things I can hold onto at the moment seem very vague...

1) make some art:  get back into pen and ink, finish digital illustration commissions
2) make some things with yarn: finish hand-knit projects, use machine to stash bust
3) make some things with fabric: continue on the quilting and sewing goodness track
4) blog more efficiently and step away from the internet traps (facebook and cheesy news sites)

Happy New Year!
Cheers to the new year!

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Me-Made-May final days!

Posted on May 30, 2013 by | Comments Off on Me-Made-May final days!
Here are the last few days of May, and I've been happily wearing me-made stuffs.  I'm kinda bummed this month is nearly over, but I'm so glad I brought out my hand-made goodies.  The weather has been so crazy, I was actually able to wear some of my winter hand-knits!

May 26th, I wore my Mod-Podge jacket.  Little did I know I spent most of the day with the snaps misaligned.  Oh well.

 May 27th, all this hand-made goodness inspired me to finish a pair of jeans!  I had the fabric ready, but was unsure it would be enough to make a full-length pair.  They're tailored and about ankle length.  I think they look rather fetching at ankle length.  I've worn them twice now, and they're quickly becoming a fave.

 May 28th, the second time I wore the jeans, I paired it with one of my favorite cardigans knit in Malabrigo Lace which is super soft and fuzzy.  I had no idea I'd be wearing hand-knits and it's nearly June.  The weather's been crazy.

 May 29th, and I think this may be my final Me-Made-May post.  I have a wedding to attend this weekend in Italy, and I don't know how likely it will be that I can photograph my wardrobe.  So, I did it!  I wore hand-made items 4 days of each week.  It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, but I did get lazy last week.  The cold weather actually helped me pull stuff from my hand-knit collection that I might not have worn.  So, today I pulled out my alpaca shell.  One of my warmest hand-knits and one of the earliest garments I knit.  I love it and it used exactly one giant skein of Alpaca with a Twist yarn.



If I dooo manage to finish the dress in the background I'll post a pic. ;)
Happy Me-Made-May!

ETA: final me-made photo.  'twas too cold to wear the dress-in-progress unfortunately.  But, I did manage to wear my nicely brightly colored loop!  Who would have thought the end of May would be so cold in Italy!
May 31st, me-made-loop/cowl, Bassano del Grappa, Italy

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Me-Made-May, Week 4 update

Posted on May 24, 2013 by | Comments Off on Me-Made-May, Week 4 update
This week was a blur.  In fact, I can't remember what I wore when, but thankfully the photos have dates time-stamped in them.  I forgot to photograph May 20th's outfits, but that's okay.  It was generally a lazy week in terms of clothes.  I was really excited about finalizing a big illustration, and my eyeballs were practically plugged into the computer this whole week.
May 19 - I wore Sorbetto made by upcycling my friend's skirt that ripped.  She gave it to me with a big ripped hole in it and I managed to use the remaining fabric to work up a Sorbetto.  The trousers were recently hemmed which makes them fit finally!  They're a bit on the frumpy side, but they're comfy.

May 20 - I wore my Clover trousers, but I forgot to take a photo. It's okay, I wore other me-made stuffs this week!
 May 21 - I started off wearing this shirt I finished last year.  It got cold later in the day, so I ended up covering up.  But, at least it was sunny for a little bit, and I was able to wear it out for a while.
 May 22 - Another dreary, overcast day and so out came the wool jacket from last year.  The shawl is an adaptation of a free knitting pattern called "Haruni".
May 23 - Today was still really cold and rainy, and since the jacket was already out I just decided to wear it again.  Sorry for the repeat. In honor of the MMM theme "hometown" I wore this super bright flower print shirt I got from a thrift store in the hometown of my heart- Austin, TX.  The colors of the shirt remind me of my actual hometown, Miami, so it was the perfect nod to the hometown theme.

All this wearing of last year's stuff reminds me I should make stuff... this year.  :)  So, out came the denim and I'm working on a pair of jeans now.  I'm already at the zipper!

And, next week I can finally reveal my latest published patterns!  I'm so excited about that.

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Me-Made-May Week 3

Posted on May 17, 2013 by | Comments Off on Me-Made-May Week 3
It's the Me-Made-May Weekly Wrap-up!

Part of last week and the beginning of this week I was traveling, but was still able to bring along a thing or two of hand-made goodness.  I wore this comfy travel ensemble to Prague where I fit right in. This is the Iris Pullover from last year combined with the Amaranth headband.  I love wearing it what can I say? 

Re: Prague - The locals like to dress really funky, and I loved their personal style!


Then, when I came back to Munich, I wore a completely me-made outfit.  From head to toe, I wore a cowl (cross-hatch cowl) and top (to be named) both designed by Amanda of Dilettant Knits, and then hand-made jeans made with Jalie's 2908 pattern.


missing photo here>>> http://twistcollective.com/collection/blog_images/mjandadriana.jpg


Later in the week, I walked about town and wore the plaid skirt I made for the Sew Weekly along with the cross-hatch cowl previously mentioned.  That's the thing about cowls - they become your go-to accessory and especially in Munich's fickle weather, you just don't know if it's going to be cool or warm or what!  So, a cowl is a great flexible item to have.  And yes, my hair was a bit crazy yesterday...
Today I'm wearing a hand-knit camisole, the Orange Blossom Camisole I designed last year.  And, as I was writing, I realized I missed a photo from this week.  I met up with a friend and wore my hand-knit lace Apres Surf Hoodie (designed by Connie Chang Chinchio).  Hmm. Maybe I can ask her for the pic when she has some down time?  Ah well.  In the meantime, here's today's outfit...

Also, the giveaway winners have all been in contact and their loot is on the way!

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MMM 2013, Week 2

Posted on May 8, 2013 by | Comments Off on MMM 2013, Week 2
This week has been really interesting.  Firstly, thank you to all the visitors to the blog that commented on the Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway!  Wow!  I've never had so many people comment on anything.  Ever.

I've had to take most of my own photos this week, which is usually fine because I set up the tripod and all that.  Take my time, check lighting, and adjust locations.  But, with these daily shots, I was trying to do them quickly because I'm working on quite a number of different projects which meant no time for the tripod and the lollygagging. Sadly, I can't show most of these WIP's that have taken over my life because they're not yet published.  But, when they are live and ready to show... one is an illustration project, two are logos, and two of them are knitting projects... you'll be the first (or second) to know.

My own personal knitting has taken a back seat because my arms/hands/elbows are somewhat injured due to repeat motion injury stress. So, I've been using the knitting machine - more on that later.

Here are this weeks DIY outfits for Me-Made-May, 2013.

May 6
(May 5 is a typo!) I wore this upcycled green top that used to have these ridiculously huge leg-o-mutton sleeves that looked a bit like loose flesh to my untrained eye.  I chopped them off and tailored them to short-ish sleeves that are more acceptable to me.  The shawl/scarflette is the Amaranth Shawl that I designed this past fall.

May 7 
This challenge had me digging!  I woke up late and remembered the brown jeans I made for a Sew Weekly challenge last year.  They fit much better now!  My DH took this photo and didn't warn me at all that my top was so wrinkled.  Oh well.  It straightened itself whilst cycling to work.
May 8 
The sun was shining, but I bruised my knees this past weekend with the bike pedals so I didn't want to go bare-legged.  Out came the Go-Go Triangles dress from last year's SewWeekly challenges and the grey leggings.

In knitting machine news, I've nearly completed my first garment.  I'm just trying to figure out how to cast-off in the center of a piece. It's something I take totally for granted in hand-knitting, but it's taken me 3 tries so far to get it right on the machine. 

May 9
We'll see what today brings, but whatever comes my way, I'm wearing the red JJ Blouse I made last year in February.  I'm wearing a hand-knit loop and headband, too!  Have a great day, folks!

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MMM Week 1 complete

Posted on May 4, 2013 by | Comments Off on MMM Week 1 complete
This week's Me-Made-May Round-up...

May 1st as was previously blogged about included wearing a plaid skirt from last year's Sew Weekly challenge.  The cowl was hand-knitted this year and is a self-published pattern.
May 2nd
It was still quite cool here in Munich so I layered this hand-knitted lace hoodie (Apres Surf Hoodie by Connie Chang Chinchio) with this sewn skirt from 2011.

May 3rd
I happened to be traveling to London for a day, and what a change in the weather for me.  Who would have thought London would be so beautifully warm and sunny!  Well, I soaked in every drop I could and wore a hand-knitted pullover (heavily modified Kim Hargreaves pattern from "Precious").


May 4th
I'm back and ready to rumble.  New haircut, hand-knit lace headband of my own design (self published pattern), and up-cycled top.  I bought this top from a fellow student when I was at RISD.  She had the clever idea to sew a patch of cute buttons on one corner, and I bought it off of her at one of the student sales.  The vintage cardigan (my great aunt's) managed to cover the cutie-patootie buttons.  I find self-portraits so challenging without the tripod, but since these photos are nearly daily I just didn't have the urge to set up all my gear.  So,  these photos don't show that I'm wearing cut-offs that I did myself from a pair of jeans whose knees had worn too thin.

That's MMM week 1 wrap up!

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Me-Made-May 2013 Challenge Pledge

Posted on May 2, 2013 by | Comments Off on Me-Made-May 2013 Challenge Pledge
me-made-may'13

I took the plunge!

I, Adriana of Adri Makes a Thing or Two, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May 2013. I pledge to wear at least 1 hand-made/up-cycled item 4 days a week for the duration of the month of May.


There it is!  Plunge taken.  Every year I see wonderful outfits and things that people have made, and I always miss the cut-off dates to join in the Me-Made-May challenge.  So, this year I made sure to note the calendar dates and be sure to join in.  If you'd like to learn more about the challenge, click on the button "Me-Made-May '13" above.

This is May 1st's outfit...



Item 1 is a knitted cowl I made this year.
Item 2 is the plaid skirt I made for last year's Sew Weekly childhood challenge.

I'm hoping to get some use out of the many items I make and try to rotate them a bit.  Does that happen when you make something too?  You start to like the look of something and then forget the rest of the clothes in the closet.  Perhaps, this challenge will get me to purge a few of the non-flattering items in my repertoire.

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