So, for the next year I am challenging myself to create at least one piece a month for myself. It can be an item of clothing or jewelry or an accessory, it can be knit or sewn or strung or hot glued! The pieces need not be extravagant or runway ready, but I am hoping that they will all be finished enough for wearing in public.

November was a whirlwind of making for others, and December was looking to follow suit. So before I could get wrapped up in Christmas crafting I whipped up this great hat for myself.

I last knit a hat for myself a decade ago and have been wearing it ever since. If there’s anything I’m good at it is convincing myself that if I have something that works well enough then I don’t need another. And so, I have knit hats for everyone else in the family and a handful of sweet babies, but not myself. I’m a bit tickled to have a little something new, and all my own.

The aquamarine color and the pom pom are quite a bit out of my plain and purple comfort zone, but in any case, I’m pretty sure I’m in love.

So, for the next year I am challenging myself to create at least one piece a month for myself. It can be an item of clothing or jewelry or an accessory, it can be knit or sewn or strung or hot glued! The pieces need not be extravagant or runway ready, but I am hoping that they will all be finished enough for wearing in public.

This month’s project (and by ‘this month’ I mean ‘September’ despite the current month actually being October) is this lovely pair of maroon leggings.

I’ve been wanting to try some new things and I am not very well practiced with pants, especially adult sized pants. I used the tried and true method of tracing around pants that already fit and altering the size down to make skinny leggings.

Here are some thoughts about the making of these cozy leggings:

*I should definitely spend more than 5 or 6 minutes contemplating the plan.

*’Measure twice, cut once’ is very good advice that I should have heeded.

*Having a seam down the outside of one leg but not the other is not terribly noticeable (I hope!)

*Even if they aren’t perfect, they are certainly decent and modest and totally wearable.

*Of the many things that are nice to make at home, leggings might just be cheaper and easier to buy.

*They are very cozy on this crisp fall day. They might not be runway worthy, but they’re great under a skirt and I’m wearing them out to dinner!

This denim skirt, made from an old pair of jeans, marks the first project in my self imposed “Made for Me” series.

Most of the things that I sew and knit are destined for other people, kids mostly. I love to give handmade things as gifts and really don’t want for anything personally, so it has never been a problem.

But lately I have been feeling the urge to make for myself. To put a little effort into choosing and preparing things that make me feel good and that are unique to me. I want to try new techniques and take chances that I normally wouldn’t.

So, for the next year I am challenging myself to create at least one piece a month for myself. It can be an item of clothing or jewelry or an accessory, it can be knit or sewn or strung or hot glued! The pieces need not be extravagant or runway ready, but I am hoping that they will all be finished enough for wearing in public.

I liked these jeans, but they were wearing out in odd places. I was able to cut them up, saving the waist and pockets, and use the bottom of the legs as the center panels in the front and back. The ribbon trim was a bit of a departure for me. I love the ribbon, but tend to wear far less decorated items (often just single color). It is a small touch at the bottom and it is definitely growing on me.

{jeans found at Savers, handed down ribbon from a friend}