Planning to Fail = Guaranteed Success!

I'm not sure this fabric and pattern are a good match, which means I can only be pleasantly surprised by whatever turns out (assuming I can wear it). The fabric is a two yard piece of rayon or cotton challis, about 54" wide. It's super drapety (yes, I made that up) and after washing and drying it's gotten a little wrinkly. It's a bit sheer and the scale of the floral print is quite big, with big spaces between motifs.

It's that last fact which makes this such a hard fabric to do anything with. Regardless of one's actual size, large motifs with lots of space in between make one look huge-normous. Sometimes this can work, but it's tricky business. However, sitting in my stash won't change the fabric into something more flattering, so I'm forging ahead by combining this fabric with a Suede Says pattern by Simplicity (2222).

I'm doing look A in size 20, minus the chest ruffles. I'm not sure I want chest ruffles, it's a little too uber-girly for me. I'm going to cut larger than the pattern is to allow for French seams and my ample hips, but I don't expect to make any other modifications. I've already read through the instructions -- love how the pictures are separate from the words, for those of us who know what we are doing -- and I think the pocket construction and waistline treatment are quite clever. So I'm looking forward to make a surprising success ... or something I can sell at my sample sale later this summer.

Oh yeah -- I'm having a sample sale later this summer. Or maybe later this month. Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted!

Fail to Plan

Ah, planning. A good plan is a wonderful thing, but I (rather stubbornly) try to do everything without one. I’ve been getting by, paying lip service to this important practice, but I think my days of living by the seat of my pants are numbered!

Thanks to the wonderful book by Sue Kim I recently discovered, I decided to make myself a new bag, to replace this one:

The above is Butterick pattern B5622 in the large size, and it was a total cinch. I don’t think bag patterns get any easier! But my beloved tote is showing serious wear and tear, and won’t last much longer. I decided to replace it with the Chic Hobo Bag from Ms. Kim’s book. Two hours of reading directions, tracing a pattern, and drafting a new pattern later, I realized the fabric and pattern didn’t match.

Ugh….

If only I had analyzed the fabric before doing all that work, I could have scrapped the project or used a different fabric! The more I sew and make and alter patterns, the more I am forced to accept the importance of planning.

Planning goes beyond simply buying enough fabric for the project at hand. It includes analyzing the fabric appearance, fiber, and drape for suitability to the project; assembling all materials needed and checking that they work together aesthetically and functionally, and are present in sufficient quantity; reviewing project directions, pattern pieces, and dimensions; and more.

But most importantly, the starting point of any successful sewing plan is considering how exactly the project will be used when it is finished. Had I done that step only, I wouldn’t have bothered making the Chic Hobo Bag at all! I would have recognized it is too small, and attempted the Urban Carryall or the Floral Bag.

Well, tomorrow’s another day. And I’ve (finally) got a plan!

Back From Beyond

It’s been several weeks since I last posted on here, though I promise I have been sewing and thinking of content! However, I have burnt myself out on trying to make the best blog ever, and need some time to get perspective.

 

So for now, I will continue to sew and think about content. But I’ll be sewing for me, and I’ll be posting blogs that are less rigorously edited/hyperlinked than before (though I promise to be vigilant about typos!). And yes, I will post prior entries which are all in draft limbo. I hope you stick around for my selfish sewing, and I do hope you get something out of my projects that helps and enriches your own creativity.

Paprika Bites the Dust

Do you remember my beautiful Paprika dress, which was coming together so perfectly? Well, unless I lose about seven pounds, it’s going to have to stay a thought. After all that hard work, I closed up the back seam to find the dress is way too tight in some areas, and way too long in others – and I can’t go back to fix them without undoing hours and hours of work. I simply don’t have the heart for that right now, so I’m putting Paprika in the failure pile for now, and moving on to other things.

But it’s okay! Failure and mistakes are part of sewing. And since I know how much you loooove my modeling photos, here’s a consolation prize: a really funny video that I made one lovely unemployed day in my youth.