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From: Sparky
Date: 06-25-2006, 09:04 PM (1 of 20)
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So after hanging out here for a while I got the itch to make something again. I need skirts. Skirts should be simple. Went to the fabric store and browsed through the catalogs. I found a pattern that showed a really cute drop-waist skirt with a printed border at the hem. Went looking for some fabric. Of course they had nothing like that, but I did find some fabric with a cut embroidered design down one edge. Of course there wasn't quite enough, but I though, oh well, I'll just make it a little less full. I wasn't quite sure what size I'd need, but I normally wear a 10 or 12 in ready-to-wear, so I figured I'd probably wear a 14. MAYBE a 16. I bought the $10 pattern, went home and pre-washed the fabrics. Several days later, when I had a chance to work on it again, I measured myself. My waist is 34 1/2. According to the pattern, I need a size 20. What?! Of course the pattern I bought only goes up to size 16, so I went back to the fabric store and tried to exchange it. I'd tidied up and tossed the receipt. They offered me credit for $1.99. I decided to keep my too-small pattern and bought the larger size pattern. Now I'm out almost $20 just for patterns, but I DO have a receipt. Maybe I can use it to take the smaller pattern back? While at the store I couldn't resist looking at skirt fabrics again. They had one that would have been perfect. Oh well, I have a skirt that color anyway. They also had more of the fabric I'd bought. I resisted the urge to start over. I cut out a "muslin" yoke from scraps in size 20 and stitched it together. Of course it was way too big. I tried it in 18. Still too big. I tried it in 16. It was perfect. I could have used my original pattern. Oh well. It's been over a week, and so far I've accomplised ... getting the thing cut out. I hate all the stuff I have to do before I can finally start sewing. But maybe this time I'll finally end up with a garmet that fits. Wish me luck. Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: esrun3
Date: 06-25-2006, 09:18 PM (2 of 20)
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That's one of the reasons I rarely sew for myself Sparky. Sorry you are having so much trouble. I tend to sew for my grandchildren and my daughter-who doesn't mind being a guinea pig every time I do a new pattern for her-I don't have the patience to mess with the fitting to make me something-for someone else, that's different. Good luck with your skirt-show us a picture when you are done. Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 06-26-2006, 11:01 AM (3 of 20)
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Same here. I hate how the patterns are anymore & don't want to buy a pattern & then have to redo so much of it. Just isn't worth the frustration that goes with it. I do sew for the grands & others , just not too much for myself. I do take a lot of ready to wear & redo it like I want for myself. Some of the styles out now I don't care for so I change them to suit me. Sounds like your well on your way to getting your skirt made. Send a pix when it's done if you can. Sure it will be great. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: Patty22
Date: 06-26-2006, 11:25 AM (4 of 20)
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Sparky....be sure to check the back of the envelope to see if they give you the garment's finished measurements (as they're not always listed). Sometimes the styles are loose fit and others are tight. Some patterns have a written description about how the garment is to fit, but alas, not always. Keep the muslin draft to check your next pattern for fit. It will help eliminate all your other steps you've gone through. Hope this skirt turns out to be your favorite.....and people profusely compliment you on your style! Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: MrsSnuggly
Date: 06-27-2006, 11:19 AM (5 of 20)
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I have found that if I take and write down the measurements for whomever I am doing the outfit for it makes things easier. But even then, quite often the height/weight/chest/waist don't actually match and I have to adjust parts of it. I have yet to figure out who they are measuring.....sounds like you're on the right track to a nice skirt t6hough. And if you only spend $30 or $40 on the outside you can be proud because stuff sells for way more nowadays! And you'd probably have to fix it anyway! Please post pics - i'd love to see what it looks like. Brandy~ |
User: MrsSnuggly
Member since: 05-21-2006 Total posts: 104 |
From: Sparky
Date: 06-27-2006, 11:25 AM (6 of 20)
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Well, the way I look at it, if it comes out right, I can use the pattern again and I'll know it'll fit. I should have known, because I'm almost straight up and down. I have no waist, and this sits an inch below the waist. Who are these wasp-waisted women they design patterns for anyway? Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: Sparky
Date: 07-16-2006, 07:45 PM (7 of 20)
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So here's an update: Okay, I lied. I actually had purchased fabric for two skirts. The first one, which in our last adventure we had finally cut out, I got it halfway done and kept getting interrupted. No time to sew. Things kept happening. Finally I set my sights on 4th of July weekend. We were taking Monday off, I had a 4-day weekend, perfect! That Saturday night I came down with the stomach flu. Didn't feel well enough to do anything that weekend.  The next weekend, well, I had just plain lost my momentum. Finally, I decided to take Friday off work. It's slow right now and I have a lot of vacation time built up, and I still feel totally cheated out of my long weekend. So on Friday afternoon I finally got back to the white skirt. I had decided to make a change to the pattern by putting a sort of second gathered skirt inside. Sort of a built-in slip. In retrospect, I probably shoudn't have done that because it's a bit bulkier and heavier than I like, but at least I won't have to worry about a slip.  I was doing great until I got to the zipper.I decided it was time to learn to put in an invisible zipper. I've never done it before. I bought the handy-dandy little invisible zipper foot -- the exact thing, the exact BRAND that the zipper called for -- but I could not for the life of me get it together. I finally figured out HOW it goes together, and which ... thingy I was supposed to use (apparently my machine is a "short shank"), but it would NOT fit together, no way, no how, no chance in hell. The gizmo was the cheapest piece of junk I've ever seen, which isn't surprising since it cost me all of $2.50. My daughter advised me to take it back to the store. I tried putting in the zipper with a regular zipper foot, and it looked ... so-so. I tried sewing again, closer, and it looked great! But it no longer worked. So I followed my daughter's advice and took my zipper foot back. They don't tend to have a lot of people at Jo Ann's who know anything about sewing, but when I showed my junky gizmo to the girl there she agreed that it didn't work. We got another one (same exact thing; last one in the store) and opened it, and it looked just as junky and cheap. But just as the sales girl was shaking her head about how it would obviously never snap together, I tried and it did! So I was happy (sort of) and I bought another zipper and headed home. And I put in that zipper, which was the easiest thing ever, and it looks PERFECT, and it works (actually it kind of sticks right where the skirt is gathered, but that part, as I said, is a bit bulky, and I don't really need to unzip it that far anyway) and my white skirt is DONE, and it FITS! Okay, actually it's a little bit big, but this is probably because I lost weight when I was sick. Anyway, I am going to wear it to work tomorrow, and I'm excited! Then I started the second skirt today. After the first one, I figured this would be a piece of cake. I decided not to do the "built-in slip" thing again, so it should be easier, right? First I cut out the skirt then I looked carefully at the fabric (embroidered linen-look fabric) to figure out which was the right side. Then I fused interfacing to the fabric for the yoke, cut it out, decided not to use the same fabric for the facing, went to buy some, prewashed and dried it, fused interfacing on that and cut out the yoke facing, stitched the side seams (leaving a biiiiig opening for the zipper) pinked and pressed them open, and pressed up the hem. I sat and carefully hand-hemmed the skirt (which is about two yards wide) and I did a bee-you-ti-ful job if I do say so myself. I stitched some piping on the yoke. And I was just starting to do the gathering when I finally figured out that way back when I decided which was the right side ... I had decided wrong. I looked again and I definitely was using the wrong side for the outside. Isn't it amazing how fast a whole day's work comes apart again? But now the side seams are redone, the hem is repressed and ready to resew, and the good news is I have plenty of leftover fabric to remake the yoke. Unfortunately, I don't have enough interfacing left, so I'll get to that another day. Or possibly another weekend. But one skirt is done! Yay! Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 07-16-2006, 08:00 PM (8 of 20)
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See, you can do it. We all have days (weeks) like that. It's the challenges that make this fun. If it all just fell together what fun would it be? Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Sparky
Date: 07-17-2006, 11:36 AM (9 of 20)
It's a good thing, really. I'm wearing the white skirt today (LOTS of compliments! :bg and it really is too big. I can wear it, but I think I really need a 14. Which, of course, is what I thought in the first place!  Grrrr!!! Double grrrr!!!!But I can easily gather the size 16 skirt onto the size 14 yoke, and since I have to remake the yoke anyway, that'll be easy. I already have the interfacing made, but I can cut it down. The good news is I'm finally going to end up with a garment that fits! The bad news is by the time I get it done I'll be so tired of it I won't want to see it anymore. That's always the way. Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: MaryW
Date: 07-18-2006, 08:51 AM (10 of 20)
Nah, I'm betting you actually wear the skirt once it is altered. I know exactly how you feel. When I was learning the corner was full of unfinished disasters. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: bridesmom
Date: 07-20-2006, 09:20 PM (11 of 20)
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I had a long time of not being happy with anything I made myself but with tons of help from everyone here I have now made 2 dresses, 2 skirts, a blouse, and 2 jackets for myself that I am very happy with. NOW to psych myself up for the pants attempt. I am totally with you on the frustration. I hadn't sewn anything for three weeks, went to go at it and everything I touched I messed up. So I gave up, same thing next day. Today was my day off and I had a fantastic day of sewing!!!! Congrats on persevering. Like Dorothy said, we all have those days/weeks.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Sparky
Date: 07-24-2006, 09:40 AM (12 of 20)
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Another frustrating weekend. Another day of three steps forward and two steps back. I made a new yoke for the second skirt. I put the first skirt on, pinned the yoke until it fit properly, measured how much I had pinned (1.25 inches!) and measured the pattern to see which size would be that much smaller. I think I need a 12! But the yoke was too straight anyway, just didn't fit right... So I folded the yoke pattern so that it's sort of a 12 at the top and a 14 at the bottom. Does that make sense? Anyway, I hope it fits. I can't wait to try it on. Then I stitched some piping so that it will show between the yoke and the gathers. And it looks great! And I put the skirt on. So far so good! Then I tried the zipper. Using an invisible zipper again. I had good luck last time after I (finally) got the foot to work, but this time I had some trouble with the foot which kept falling off the machine. Finally got that sorted out and got the zipper in and it looks perfect! But IT WOULDN'T CLOSE. Finally got it closed and IT WON'T OPEN. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Did I hit the teeth with the needle? Did I sew it too close? Did I somehow mess it up when I pressed it open? Why can't they sell zippers already pressed open anyway??? Is it possible to buy an invisible-zipper foot that is NOT a piece of cheap junk? I'd be willing to pay well over $3.00 for it. I am going to get this skirt finished if it K*I*L*L*S me. And it might. I can't think of anything to do but rip that zipper out and try yet again. With another new one. I WILL master the evil invisible zipper. (I would just give up and use a regular zipper, but mine always look like heck anyway.) Then I can figure out what to do about the other skirt. Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 07-24-2006, 08:03 PM (13 of 20)
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Too funny Sparky! I would have given up ages ago and tossed it into the corner! I've purchased about 3 invisible zippers but never tried to put one in, read the directions through and thought, Nah! I did find some directions on line that were good and once I saw it done at a sewing show thought, I could do this, but still they lay in the zipper bin.... at the bottom.... alone.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: habanerohutch
Date: 08-03-2006, 02:08 PM (14 of 20)
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I find that invisible zippers go in beautifully using a pin tuck foot. Forget those cheap plastic specialty feet. Lala Chile Pepper from Texas
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User: habanerohutch
Member since: 07-01-2000 Total posts: 49 |
From: Bekka
Date: 08-05-2006, 12:00 AM (15 of 20)
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Sparky, I had a month like that just last week! All I've done this week is stare at my sewing room door as I've passed it to go to the bathroom. I MUST actually go IN the room and DO something, like...... sew, since daughter starts school in less than 20 days and 2 grandkids will be born before Dec. Charge on brave Sparky, I'm right behind you....promise. Bekka The newbe Bekka
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User: Bekka
Member since: 07-28-2006 Total posts: 79 |
From: Sparky
Date: 08-07-2006, 03:00 PM (16 of 20)
Thanks.  I finally got the zipper ripped out. Had surgery on my leg (varicose veins stripped) last week, and was too uncomfortable to sit at the machine. Maybe THIS week. By the time I get those two summery skirts done it will be December! Oh well, there's always next summer. Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 08-07-2006, 08:00 PM (17 of 20)
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By the time I get those two summery skirts done it will be December! Oh well, there's always next summer. I do that every year. But this year I've had so much stress I'm already hitting my fall sewing. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 08-07-2006, 10:47 PM (18 of 20)
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I can relate, I bought fabric last summer for a fall jacket, that I am hoping to start this month!!! Plus I am trying to sew a bunch of maternity tops for the preggo daughter, and 1/2 of them are summer, and summer is 1/2 over!!!!!! I'm starting to panic! These tops are something that can't wait, they'd be kind of useless getting maternity tops after baby is born!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 08-08-2006, 08:11 AM (19 of 20)
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I just found some fabric that must be 10-years-old. But it was stuffed away. I also pulled out some for a suit that I have been going to make every winter for at least 5 years with fabric for a top I know I've had two years. Sooner or later it all gets used. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: luv2sew
Date: 08-08-2006, 09:52 AM (20 of 20)
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Dorothy, You are so right about sooner or later. I found a piece of fabric last week that must be about 25 years old which I made into PJs. I had a pair that fit so well that, when they were thread bare, I made a pattern and now I have a new pair. Hopefully, they won't disintegrate after all that work. Luv2sew
An act of kindness is never wasted!! |
User: luv2sew
Member since: 05-21-2004 Total posts: 174 
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