8 Sept
134 Sewing Failures #pfBetterDoneThanPerfect
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Who’s our sponsor this month? Ha! Trick question! We don’t have one. Going forward, challenges are just for the fun of it. Does that mean I can win too? It means we all win.
Catch up:
Jenny:
We’ve continued swimming every other night or so which means I’m starting to consider sewing swimwear again. Any one listening have great recommendations for fabric & 60” + hip patterns? Two piece preferred.
Beverly: Jim is home from guitar camp!!! Yay! We missed him way too much!
Somehow screwed up the July bonus for Patreons – so sorry about that. It has been fixed.
I am working on my Skirt Skills class with Brooks Ann Camper. She has a really interesting way of making a block, using NO STANDARD measurements. So far we have determined our hip level, and our waist level. By definition, the hip level is parallel with the floor, but this is NOT true for the waist. Many folks of all different body sizes have angled waistlines, but standard clothing and patterns assumes a parallel waistline because when you make clothing for many or even patterns for many, you have to make a choice and you aren’t likely to make the “non standard” choice.
We also measured out where anchoring darts and where curved side seams were necessary to make the block fit our bodies.
In my previous online classes, we made blocks to our measurements but not to our BODIES. For example, one instruction was to arbitrarily make a straight waistband, and to divide the difference between my hips and waist and then divide that up by a standard ratio to know where and how much to put in my darts vs side seams.
My first draft of my block looks pretty boring but that’s to be expected based on my waist:hip ratio.
I like precision in my work, but I am embracing “Better Done than Perfect” as Brooks Ann says having a block fit perfect the first time is a disservice to ourselves because we miss the opportunity to do fitting!
New patterns:
These are not really new patterns, but at some point – maybe recently? They did nice size expansion. I had to really search for an pattern that had not been updated, but they used to go to size 26 = 52” hip and now go to size 34 = 60” hip. Stitch Witch patterns – check them out for all your ren faire needs!
Shown below:
The Basque Dress
Daughter Judy Coe Trouser – up to 67” hip
The Coe is a high waisted trouser with a side seam that wraps to the front giving it a slightly curved leg shape. On-seam pockets at the front and patch pockets at the back with optional self belt. The inseam finishes below the ankle giving you a relaxed look.
Topic:
Sewing Failures. We’ve all had them – let’s talk about some of our worst fails.
Jenny:
My #pfProm dress! I made this from a free mood pattern in a slinky taffeta and everything went wrong. It was strapless, but the cups weren’t even close to fitting my body. It was short, and puffy, and all around amazingly awful. The drafting was bad, but I also didn’t toile (I should have). I waited to the last minute and boy, was it not great.
All my undies. I made them with fabric that was too heavy, and ended up not really loving any of them. For one pair I cut up a tee shirt that was important to me – and came to regret it. Now I buy my underwear on sale twice a year, and accept that I’m not meant to make my own.
My Noice Jeans – sort of. The fit was amazing, I spent a long time crafting these only to stumble at the last minute. I put the button hole on the wrong side of the waist band – and finished it, and cut it open, before noticing. I keep thinking I need to send these to someone else to repair so I can really wear them. I did a junky job at the end trying to make them work. I’m really bummed by these.