Firstly - let me say a HUGE thank you to all of those who have given me advice on my TNAT pattern. It is greatly appreciated. It is always great to get another perspective and I really respect the advice.
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| Thanking you all |
Overwhelmingly the vote was for the shorter length - with just a couple of dissenting views. It's funny, I look at it and even after so many people have said the shorter looks better, I think the longer looks more "lady like" (and when did I become a prude - or a lady for that matter??? Maybe it was when I turned 50! - after all - the shorter version is hardly a mini skirt - only an inch shorter). I am going to try splitting the difference and trying just a smidge shorter first.
I may also take the approach of lighter / more casual fabric shorter, heavier or more sophisticated fabric the longer length. I have some gorgeous fabrics that are just screaming to be made into that pattern. I am definitely going to peg it in a little as advised.
I also had some feedback on doing a V-neck and I totally think this is a great idea. I am a little "afraid" of the v-neck. Easy to do as a cross over - but will have to try out the straight V-neck.
Now to current sewing news:
I don't normally do progress reports. Mainly because I guess my past sewing has been quick and also I haven't been this discouraged before.
Nothing to do with the pattern - I actually really like the way the pattern is coming together. No - unfortunately this is pure user error - compounded by more user error - and then yet more.
User has now crashed and refuses to work anymore today.
Yesterday I was so happy with my progress I was doing the happy dance around the house.
Now I sit here dejected - if I had a glass of wine I would be crying into it. Instead I am venting my spleen on the computer in the chance that if I ever sew again I will read this and remember my mistakes.
Here is the "torso".
So far so good. Happy with the look and how it is coming together.
The shiny irony patches don't show up in life. The flash has picked them up. Proof however that I do press as I sew. Note to self - use ironing cloth in future.
Fit is good on me.
So - what is the problem I hear you ask?
Well - let me give you a bit of background.
As you have to choose one size with StyleArc, I chose a size a couple down from my size and added an inch to the sides - which adds 4 inches of - well let's call it "volume".
Problem is - I forgot to add the inch to the sides of the sleeves - so they were too small for the armhole.
No biggie - I purchased plenty of fabric - enough for a matching dress and "wriggle room"..
I cut myself some more sleeves and sat down to sew.
All looking good.
Smile still on face - no longer dancing around the place in joy but humming to self whilst Dog Whisperer is on in background (don't know why - don't have dog - do like Cesare Milan's techniques though - but it don't work on cats - *sigh*).
First step - sew cuffs. A bit tricky but because of the review from PattiE on PR I worked it out.
Cool - looking good.
Attach sleeve to cuff. Great job - fit nicely.. Turn right side out.
DOH - attached so that seam allowance of cuff is on outside of sleeve. See nicely pressed sleeve seam at bottom of picture.
Oh well - a bit of time to be spent with stitch picker - still smiling - no longer humming - Cesare Milan is espousing "Calm Assertiveness" - I can do that - I can be calm and assert myself on the sleeve.
Cuff now unpicked and stitched properly to sleeve - all good.
Sew second sleeve and cuff. Looks good - Trim excess seam allowance to reduce bulk - iron nicely.
Pull sleeve up arm to look - split on cuff on INSIDE of arm.... DOH DOH DOH.
No longer smiling! Cesare raving on about perseverance and patience, harmony and balance - Aargh!! Cesare is starting to SH*T me. Switch Cesare off and put on DVD of 24. Terrorists, torture and Jack Bauer to save us all. Much better. (I wonder if Jack can sew - he saves the day everywhere else - why not in the sewing room - Hey great idea for a show - "Sewing Rescue" go into the homes of sewists like me and save their sanity -- hmm -- but I digress.).
Take deep breath and go and cut new sleeve and cuff - more fabric used up. Starting to think short may be the only available length for brown dress.
CAREFULLY sew sleeve and cuff. Take another deep breath. Looks good. Iron, try on arm. All good. Edges of lips start to twitch.
Now have 2 sleeves with cuffs.
CAREFULLY pin sleeve to jacket - check notches match. Attach sleeve to jacket.
Sleeve fits nice into armhole. Sews up beautifully - no cap ease worries at all. Edge of lips twitch a bit more.
Iron seam allowances flat.
Pull right side out to try on.
Sleeve picked up - shoulder of Marni (pattern) in background. How the Bleep did this happen? The damn sleeve is INSIDE OUT!
Throw Marni on floor and curl into fetal position on couch. Worry that since the notches matched up - does this mean I have sewed the whole sleeve inside out? Will I need to cut more sleeves and cuffs? Dress is getting shorter by the minute. At this rate I will only have enough fabric left for a pair of bike shorts...
Mental picture of self in brown ponte bike shorts makes me laugh out loud. Restores good humour.
Pick Marni off floor - after all - it is not her fault. She is a good pattern. Don't have the energy to unpick and see if I need to cut more fabric.
Marni is now keeping Babs warm until I am ready to face her again. Probably next weekend. Luckily Babs doesn't have arms. Weird experience of lots of disembodied sleeves floating around the house...
BTW - I shortened the sleeves when cutting this pattern out. I thought that StyleArc must have thought that if you are a larger lady you must have very long arms. After checking PattiE's review to put in the link I realised that the cuff - was exactly that - a cuff to be folded up. Not an end piece of the sleeve - more to think about.
Please - all you great sewists out there - please tell me you have had days like this. Not to depress you but to make me feel less stupid.
