Homespun.

Me Made March is a series of weekly workshops on how to make handcrafted clothing, including tights/leggings, scarves, tanks, sack dresses - and even underwear.

Melanie Wesley, a self-taught seamstress and clothing designer, came up with the idea for the month-long event after taking part in an online challenge where participants had to wear a handmade item every day.

“I had so much fun and I really wanted to find a way to get others to join in on it,” says Wesley, who is running Me Made March with fellow do-it-yourselfer, Alesha Frederickson.

“It’s a really good way to introduce people to sewing for themselves and also open up the possibility of buying locally handmade items. They start to understand how much work, time and effort goes into handmade clothing and they might be more inclined to spend money on something that’s handmade versus something that’s more disposable.”

Me Made March participant Jennifer Smith is determined not to take part in a throwaway culture.

She aims to have an entire handmade wardrobe by 2014.

“For me, it revolves around environmentalism and social issues,” says Smith, vice-president of the Manitoba Craft Council.

“Me Made March is a great opportunity to start learning and refining skills so I can continue making for myself and not feel completely controlled clothing-wise by what’s in the stores and not knowing who made it, where it came from or how the workers were treated.

“How do they acquire fabric, make it, distribute it, get it into stores and then sell it for so ridiculously cheap? Basically, these workshops give me more control.”

Wearing entirely handmade attire may sound like a lofty goal, but Wesley says making your own clothes isn’t that difficult.

She says most of the patterns she’s developed for Me Made March are two pieces - just simple, basic garments.

Simplicity doesn’t mean unsophisticated though.

“These garments are very simple but you accessorize them and put your own personality into them,” Wesley says. “For instance, if you pair them with a nice pair of shoes, some tights, a belt and a nice jacket, you’re still wearing handmade and you’re still looking fabulous.”

“I also want to change people’s perception of what wearing handmade means; it doesn’t necessarily mean frumpy or not fashionable.”

Smith says she’s not only interested in creating some handmade high fashion but also making some new friends.

“This idea of making together goes so far back, things like quilting bees and what not. Craft has often been done as a group activity so to bring us back to that is really exciting,” Smith says.

Me Made March workshops take place at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Saturday in March. You can register at Tara Davis Studio Boutique at 246 McDermot Ave. Workshops are $50 each or $85 for two. Visit Me Made March’s Facebook page to find out about registration, workshops and the kick-off party on March 1.

Published in Volume 67, Number 21 of The Uniter (February 28, 2013)