Hello there! I have been busy sewing, but nothing is turning out. I am all set to start the Mini-Wardrobe contest over at Patternreview.com tomorrow, and am hoping my recent rash of wadders doesn't continue.
Here's my latest failure. It's skirt A from Vogue 8455, recently OOP. The problem with this pattern is that the front overlay rests atop a back overlay, and they both have pleats. I made view B a few years back and there was way too much bulk from having over and under pleats. For A, though, the pleats from the front and back overlay are in the same spot, so I thought I could stitch them together and cut down on bulk. Except with double fabric pleated at center front, I'm getting an 80's coo-lot effect. Blah! Plus this fabric has been in my stash for years and is not something I would gravitate to these days. It's that polyester peachskin stuff JoAnn's stocks every color of that I have learned the hard way to stay away from (resists ironing, puckers, and won't be steamed into shape.) Everything I've ever made with that stuff turns into a wadder, and this is no exception.
Grrr this pattern. It's being boxed up for Goodwill. Although maybe I'll just throw it away so it doesn't sucker anyone else into making an ugly skirt. If I was super ambitious I'd draft a smooth front skirt to sew the pleated overlay on top of. Na. Two wadders from one pattern is enough for me.
Okay, guess I'll go trace my Burda 9-2008-129 jacket to be all set for tomorrow. I hope you are all having gorgeous spring weather like we are here in Texas.
I have some of that peachskin from Joann's, the dress was a wadder, too, that I tried. That stuff is yucky, so it must be universally yucky.
ReplyDeleteI've been having some wadders too. Lately I've been doing some super easy Kwik Sews just to keep sewing. Maybe it's just one of those seasonal things that will go away soon. I've got that pattern. I'd like to give it a try, but I may wait a bit. Just think positive thoughts and your perfect sewing projects will come back.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous autumn weather here :) Shame about the wadder(s). Good luck with the mini swap - may the sewing gods be with you.
ReplyDeleteGood call re: the cheapy fabric. You do such meticulous work; it only makes sense that you use fabric worthy of your craftsmanship.
ReplyDeleteMeant to ask you, is the fabric called Kashibo (koshibo)? We get tons of it here in South Africa, in fact it is what most fabric stores try to sell and I hate the stuff!
ReplyDeleteOkay, call me crazy, but I think your skirt is adorable, much cuter than the pattern. The pattern looks frumpy and matronly, and your skirt looks fun and cute and happy! I hope you didn't already toss it and might see if differently once you get some distance from it.
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you unhappy, get it out of the house asap!
ReplyDelete(wadders happen to us all, i sewed one this weekend, too :(
I have that pattern....I think I might just keep it in my stash and not onto my cutting table.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the wadders.
*Whew!* I was *this close* to buying some of the peachskin from Jo-Ann's today, but thought better of it. I guess I'm glad I did! Thanks for the head's up! Hopefully, you'll be out of "wadderville" soon! :-)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear your skirt did not work out. I have this pattern, too, and have always been baffled by the presence of pleats on the underside flap.
ReplyDeletethe skirt in the pattern drawing is so cute, too bad it turned out blah. But as I always say, beware a pattern that only has a drawing on the front!
ReplyDeleteI can see why you were drawn to the pattern, but it sounds poorly drafted. It should have a flat underlay! Bad fabric is rarely worth the effort, but this is a lesson I learn over and over.
ReplyDeleteWadders are just so frustrating. :( I'm hoping that the wardrobe pieces go together much more smoothly for you.
ReplyDeleteUGH! I made that same skirt and it was AWFUL! I ended up throwing it away because I was so frustrated with it!
ReplyDeleteI would eliminate the pleats on the underlay - fold them out on the pattern to zero at the hem. They might still be puffy though if it is boingy polyester. I avoid polyester as a rule!
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda, I am PetraL from Pattern Review and this is
ReplyDeleteprobably the fastest reaction you´ve ever had; almost a year later I noticed your answer!
Right now I´m cleaning out my closet of sewing magazines. Hard to part with, because they are filled with memories ( started in 1985 with the help of my beloved grandmother), but the collection is getting out of hand. Here in the Netherlands we have Burda and Knip magazine. As you know Burda is German ( just visited the town where mrs Burda started her bussiness :-)), and Knip is Dutch. Just like Burda it´s loaded with patterns, so a good deal. You can imagine my disappointment when I subscribed to Threads expecting to get patterns as well. Not even one!
It´s too bad you live so far away, or I would give the magazines to you. I would like to see them put to good use.
I´m still amazed at your production rate, with two children already and a girl (congratulations!) on the way. Where do you find the time, and energy? I don´t even have children, well my husband could pass as one perhaps :-), but somehow I get less and less sewing done. There´s always something that comes first, with my energy level I can´t do that much, and when I do take the time I quickly feel selfish.
Well I´ll keep looking up your blog from time to time for some inspiration, and if you´re interested in Dutch sewing magazines; just send me the shipping costs and I´ll ship them to you :-)
Kind regards,
Petra