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From: Lynnie
Date: 07-24-2006, 08:47 AM (1 of 20)
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Useless garments, that is. I've been sewing for about 6 months now. I'm a little frustrated at the amount of times I work on something for an entire day, only to end up with a useless garment at the end.  Either it's too big, or too small, or I accidently cut two right fronts instead of a left and a right. I'm still trying to learn what alterations I need to make to fit me correctly. I have a skirt pattern that I love and works up great, but since I live in the frozen North, I can only wear them a couple months out of the year. I really want to learn how to make a woven shirt that fits me and looks enough like RTW so that I can wear it to work. I'll post about my questions on that in a bit, but first I want to know that I am not the only one with these issues, right? I keep telling myself that as long as I learn something from my mistakes, then it's not a total waste of time. Still, I'd like to have something turn out right. On the plus side, I've got the alterations for my SD10 down to a science.  Of course, she keeps growing so I don't know how long that will last. 
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User: Lynnie
Member since: 02-23-2006 Total posts: 44 |
From: pucktricks
Date: 07-24-2006, 09:25 AM (2 of 20)
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Of course not, and it's always the time when you just barely have enough of the cloth that you cut it wrong or something goes so completely wonky. One time, I bought this gorgeous deep purple jaquard (and I'm sure I spelled that wrong  ), and I had a dress all picked out that I wanted to make it for. Well I followed the pattern and everything, I think I even tried french seams, and I made a muslin just to check out a few things. Well, I get the silly thing done and it's not looking at all the way it should. When I wear it, the whole thing just is completely wrong. It was horridly frustrating. And I'm sure that now the silly thing won't even come close to fitting whenever I feel up to trying to fix the thing.Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 07-24-2006, 10:19 AM (3 of 20)
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We all completely screw stuff up now and then. I started sewing in junior high school and that was about 1,000 years ago and I burned part of my daughters elopement dress this summer. Now, I knew better -- but I was in a hurry. Over the years I found that you just kind of stumble along, learning a bit with every piece you make then you find some little thing that boosts your skills and confidence and you feel like you have reached a new level of skill. These things are different for each person, but if you tell us where you are having problems you will get either the one universal solution or -- more likely -- a bunch of ideas to try until you find the ones that work for you. Try simpler patterns at first and learn to fit with them. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 07-24-2006, 10:22 AM (4 of 20)
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We've all been there. I made myself an outfit to wear for Thanksgiving 2 yrs. ago. I tried it on & measured & it fit great until I put the waistband on & got it all done then I couldn't button the button. It is sitting in the bottom of my closet waitng for my waist to shrink (I think it may be a while). I may sell it at a garage sale. I have made many outfits for my kids that went to an older or younger one because of the fit. I guess that is 1 atvantage of having so many kids!
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: esrun3
Date: 07-24-2006, 01:43 PM (5 of 20)
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Been there, done that and it doesnt' seem to matter what it is that you are making..if it's screw up time, it happens. It's frustrating but they will get fewer with more experience-or at least further apart. Just made a pair of jeans into a skirt for my dgd which of course didn't fit when I was done-I'm claiming not my fault though-her mom said the jeans still fit, well i couldn't pull them over her hips when I was done adding the skirt and I didn't alter the waist in any way! So...I think her mother doesn't know what size the kid wears but anyway...we all have those times. My new dgd who isn't even born yet now has a cute jean skirt in a size 3T! LOL Hang in there, things will work out for you and the "problems" will minimize. Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 07-24-2006, 02:18 PM (6 of 20)
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I'd say half the fun are the challenges of fixing mistakes but whenever I say that someone throws an egg at me! Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Lynnie
Date: 07-24-2006, 03:52 PM (7 of 20)
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Dorothy, You should come visit me. I have lots of "fun" for you. 
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User: Lynnie
Member since: 02-23-2006 Total posts: 44 |
From: Sancin
Date: 07-24-2006, 07:23 PM (8 of 20)
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"Been there, done that and it doesnt' seem to matter what it is that you are making..if it's screw up time, it happens. It's frustrating but they will get fewer with more experience-or at least further apart." And having sewn only for 6 months does make you a real beginner - don't get discouraged. Perhaps you need to focus on construction before getting into alterations - try a winter tunic before a shirt - aim for success first. I am one of the dinosaurs and thought I had made most mistakes that can be made but it still happens. Several years ago I bought some rayon I absolutely loved and a pattern I knew would work (first mistake). To this day I do not know what went wrong. I completed the dress and then hung in plain view for nearly over a year going over and over to see what I could rescue and where I went wrong. In the end I had to throw it in the garbage as the even the fabric was not salvageable - did cut the buttons off though.  As Dorothy suggests, try simple patterns with fewer seams during the learning process. One of the problems with my rayon dress was it was a complex Vogue designer pattern with lots of little pieces, yet I had made it before. There are some garment patterns with lovely lines and simple seaming. *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 07-24-2006, 11:09 PM (9 of 20)
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Lynnie one of the best books I have in my sewing room is a book by Pati Palmer and Marta Alto "Fit for Real People". I bought mine new but you may be able to find a used one on Amazon.com or one of the other book sites. This book has been one of the best investments I've made for my seiwng room. It has great illustrations as well as fitting issues for almost every type body you can think of. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 07-25-2006, 12:47 AM (10 of 20)
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Heads Up Dorothy!!! Here comes one! I find the most frustrating part of sewing is finishing something then having to take the blankety blank thing apart and redo it. I have learned to try on the garment over and over and over while sewing it, making adjustments as I go. I've even found with my little granddaughter that stuff I make doesn't go over her head, or the armholes are too big, and then by the time I get it fixed she's grown too much and doesn't fit it. So now if I find a pattern that fits I make about 5 of them. PS - Did ya catch it D? Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: MariLynntex
Date: 07-25-2006, 05:52 PM (11 of 20)
| Lay out your fabric, folded selvage to selvage, with the right side of the fabric folded to the inside. That way you will never end up with 2 right fronts because you are cutting the right and the left at the same time. Make sure the pattern pieces are all laid on the fabric in the same direction, so when they are sewed together the pattern, if any, is all in the same direction; and the fabric looks the same because the nap, if any, will all be in the same direction. Anything that says ON FOLD, lay with that instruction on the fold. Those are the main things to remember when you cut out a pattern. I not only did custom sewiing, I taught sewing and it is the basics that matter most. Sew the shoulder seams together first. This gives you the basic shape so that you know where you are. Make something simple without sleeves the first time. Good luck! MariLynntex |
User: MariLynntex
Member since: 01-05-2006 Total posts: 107 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 07-25-2006, 06:40 PM (12 of 20)
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Everyone has made stuff that they toss or "remake" I like Barbara Deckarts "Sewing 911" it is a great book with lots of fix its for the mistakes we all make, I'm becoming a bigger fan of muslins, and waistbands still often screw me up but those are usually fixable Plus if I REALLY mess it up I can recut to make something for one of my kids
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: Skye
Date: 07-25-2006, 08:57 PM (13 of 20)
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Yep been there - however I call it my charity sewing 'cause I donate it to the local St Vincent de Paul or Salvation Army Shop. If it doesn't suit/fit me then someone else can get some wear out of it. Just wish it wouldn't happen when using fabric I really love. Skye |
User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
From: LauraM62
Date: 07-26-2006, 09:06 AM (14 of 20)
I don't know how many thing I made that in the end left the house! Some of it was fitting issues, which I'm getting better at with the help of "Fitting For Real People" And "Pants For Real People". My other problem was and is fabric choices! Sometimes it is the wrong drape or then it is the wrong color! I've realized I love turquoise, I seem to pick that color up when fabric shopping, but when I wear it  not a color for me ! I know it when I buy RTW so why do it buy it in fabric  I getting better though! As for the things that left the house I count them all as learning, I have learned so much with each item that wasn't right for me! From fitting, to fabric issues, to construction issues. I don't think my lessons in learning are as expensive as my DH who is taking up wood working projects have you seen the price of wood compared to fabric 
LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 07-26-2006, 09:25 AM (15 of 20)
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I don't think my lessons in learning are as expensive as my DH My husband went back to college. Now that's expensive. And every time he gets a new degree he gets a new job and every job is a pay cut (entry level in a new field). So he doesn't say much when I buy fabric. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: johnmouse
Date: 07-26-2006, 09:41 AM (16 of 20)
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Made one really bad one a couple of days ago. I was making shorts for yard work. Came to the part on "stitch backs to fronts on side seam." Easy enough. Well, not really. Ended up with a nice tail on the back end! I kept wondering why it looked funny. I checked and rechecked twice more my pattern which I had traced. Yep, I traced the right size on all pieces. Finally figured out that I had put the backs on upside down. I was too far along to rip things out so back to the store to get new material and start all over again. Mind you, I only started sewing this summer! John |
User: johnmouse
Member since: 06-23-2006 Total posts: 22 |
From: LauraM62
Date: 07-26-2006, 09:45 AM (17 of 20)
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Dorothy - I hear you! We are talking about this stuff in our house now too. DH is wanting to change jobs, but not just companies, industry types. This would really change his pay level, but would enhance his resume, he may need to take some classes too for some certifications. So cost us some money so he can get a new job for less money Really though if it wuold make him happier then he has been it is okay! Then I've been looking at taking classes too, because if he takes too big of a pay cut I may go back, but I want to change fields too
LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246
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From: LauraM62
Date: 07-28-2006, 08:32 AM (18 of 20)
I have been on a roll of sewing blunders lately  I don't know what my problem is - too many interuptions - kids home from school - plus my dh works from home or what! But yesterday I sewed the front half of a bodice to the wrong side of the back so the armhole of the bodice was at the neckline! I was so thinking about the lining in the front bodice, I don't know what I was doing - so I had to unpick on this sheer fabric! Well I got the bodice in right! But in pin fitting either the bodice grew (bias & sheer) or I did too much alteration in the bust so the bust line is coming down too far on me! Of course I didn't try it on to see this until after I sewed on the lower front! I will be ripping again today! I know part of my issues is really learning more about alteration on ME! I have done plenty on my plus size dd - but I'm working on ME! So it slows me down, means fitting as I go, and more ripping as you go too! But it is times like this that I can't wait for the kiddos to go back to school - then I only have dh bugging me during the day
LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246
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From: Patty22
Date: 07-28-2006, 09:46 AM (19 of 20)
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Laura, Do you have a dressform? If not, why don't you have a friend do one of the duct tape varieities on you, and you could use that to drape your pattern to make sure it would fit. (Good way to experiment with using a dressform to even decide if you want to build your own or obtain one.) Since patterns vary so much with ease incorporated in the pattern and your fabric choice for the garment a dressform really helps in gaining a better vision of the finished garment for your body. I also find that pinning garment pieces to my form helps me keep organized when I'm sewing my garment. Just an idea....... Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: LauraM62
Date: 07-28-2006, 09:58 AM (20 of 20)
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Oh the problems of living in a very very rural area, that you have only lived in for about 3 years, and the sewing that is being done is quilting. No I don't have a dressform. Although a duct-tape double sounds wonderful, I have read so much, I don't have anyone around me to help, so I just think about it mostly. Even pin-fitting is a act for me, should have seen me doing the shorts, getting the back darts It mostly means allot of putting on & off. Sometimes I can get my 15 year old to help a little, she has done some sewing, not fitting though. I'm hoping that the ASG about 1 1/2 hours from here will give me some garment sewers, will go to a meeting after school starts! Believe me if it wasn't for the internet I would be without anyone to talk to about garment sewing And the problem with my rural area, everyone is nice, but I'm still the outsider, I wasn't raised here, not family, so am still kept at arms length. It is beautiful here, but can get lonely - thank goodness for the internet, and phones!
LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246
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