Top 5 of 2012 - and now the Misses

The year was not all roses for me sewing-wise unfortunately and this post is to share my misses.  Yep I am far from perfect and the same for some of my projects. 

In order of worst to best:

1.  This attempt to make a 1940's pattern from an Australian Home Journal - it was all good until I added the skirt.  Then it was so awful that it ended up balled in a corner for two months before being cut up and made into this top.  I love the replacement but will have to give the pattern another go as I won't let it beat me!!

 

2. Flowery, Girly dress - the fit on this is not great. In my defence at the time I was not really reading or following any blogs, if I had I would have known that loads of people had issues with this pattern and might have made a muslin. *sigh* live and learn.

 

 

3.  My first item I blogged about. I did like the jacket when I first made it and I still think it's...ok, but I am not loving the sleeves.  I may refashion it and narrow the sleeves to look a bit more normal.

 

 

4. Colette Violet - I never wear this blouse, it just feels too boxy and a bit short.  Again, just not feeling the love.  Plus the collar seems huge and it is too big across the shoulders.  Seriously thinking of refashioning it as I hate things to gather dust in my wardrobe.

 

 

5.  The Turnaround Blouse - another top I just don't wear.  Not really sure the reason, I guess I feel it is not that flattering, plus I didn't have a decent skirt to wear with it. Now I do, but it is the wrong season, perhaps next season?  I do really like the fabric so perhaps just need to find a way to wear it in 2013.

 

So what have I learnt from the above:

- make a muslin more often, especially for vintage patterns

- take care to adjust the pattern to fit i.e. different sizes for shoulders, bust & hips, consider FBA

- think about the pattern more and whether it will suit my shape

- it doesn't matter too much, if I don't like it, it can always be hacked or donated!

 

What are your fails for the year?  Please share and make me feel better!!

 

 

 

Birdie Sencha

My first version of the Sencha Blouse by Colette.  I did a toile first which showed I needed to make a small shoulder adjustment as it was not comfortable to wear.

I underlined the whole garment as the original fabric was pretty sheer and used french seams throughout.

I used a size 6 in the top (and adjusted for narrow shoulders) and then graduated to a 12 for my waist and hips.  I found that due to the blouseyness (is that a word?) of the pattern an FBA was not required.

I omitted the neck facing and instead incorporated the underlining to make a nice clean neck finish.

I also omitted the back buttons as there is no way I could reach to do them up!  I cut the back on the fold instead and like the clean lines this option gives.  I may do a version in the future with a faux back button opening as I found the pattern has enough room in it to go over my head just fine.

For those followers, you may recognise the fabric, it is a hack of my previous fail garment.  I am much happier with this and took great pleasure in cutting the failure into pieces!!  I am really happy with the fit of this blouse and it is comfortable, wearable and I think flattering. I shall definitely be making more.

Turnaround Blouse

This is a self-drafted back button blouse that I made using leftover fabric from this dress - I loved the fabric and had just over a metre left over so thought I would whip up a blouse that I had envisioned.  I I started with a dress pattern as a block and then reshaped it, added a peter pan collar and cut the back to allow for the button tab.

 

For the back I used buttons covered in the collar fabric and for the sleeves I used buttons covered in the main fabric. The back centre seam is also piped to further accentuate it.

I think I will be doing more of these types of blouses as they are so easy to wear and go with jeans and skirts and are a bit more dressy than a t-shirt.

The fabric is a cotton sateen, a bit heavier than that I would normally use for this kind of thing, but it is winter here at the moment so it seems perfect.  I think this will be a good winter/trans-seasonal item in my wardrobe and with all the different colours in the pattern I am finding it seems to go with many things I already have.

Oh So Wholesome!

This is my first Colette pattern and I can I start by saying how much I love the packaging and presentation of these patterns? Now I am not normally one for instructions, but thought I would follow these as I am keen to fine tune my techniques and learn some new skills or new ways of doing things along the way. No-one actually taught me to sew, so it is probably about time that I learned the "real" way of doing things. All my previous knowledge has been from reading pattern instructions or trial and error.

I purchased the Violet pattern and decided I would make a wearable muslin - so please forgive the inperfections as the fit will be a work in progress.

 

Overall I am pretty happy with it (the super crazy grin is due to Mr Photographer-extraordinaire being a dork and not being serious at all in my blogging venture).  I think it is a nice wholesome look and makes a change from my usually dark coloured wardrobe.  I used a mini polka dot Japanese cotton and trimmed it with satin ribbon made into flat piping.  I shortened the sleeves (as I think I must have short arms) and replaced the elastic with satin bias binding.

I found the pattern seemed quite wide in the shoulders and have altered the pattern for future makes (already planning), I also shortened the body, being 5"2" I find this is usually necessary for the waist to end up in the right place.

I did have one personal drama when constructing this - my overlocker had to go for servicing - how traumatic not having it for two whole weeks when I am on a sewing binge!  I used pinking shears for most of the seams and am quite pleased with the inside as it is quite tidy.

Pros for this:

• Love the style
• very comfortable
• easy to make
• great instructions
• I like the piping detail

Cons:

• I am inbetween sizes so need to spend some time re-sizing the upper area to a smaller size and then doing an FBA
• I cut the collar a bit big and so it seems a bit huge
• I should have paid more attention to the collar fit also, but maybe these are imperfections others can't notice (she says hopefully)
• I am unsure about the gathering in the back and may omit it next time. Has anyone else experienced the same issue with the back bagging out on this pattern?

What I have learnt:

TAKE MORE TIME GETTING THE FIT RIGHT!!!  (yes I am yelling hoping it will sink in)

I wore this outfit all day today, not bad since it is supposed to be winter!