Hi there! I thought it was about time I talked about a couple of my makes which I’m deeming to be failures, although for different reasons.
So, what’s it mean to me for a make to be a failure? Basically, it means I haven’t worn it when I meant to.
As I’m sure you’ve noticed (and I swear I’m nearly at the end of them) I sewed a LOT of new clothes for our summer holidays, partly out of need and partly as a form of stress relief. One of them was worn, very briefly, once on holiday and the others went all the way to America and back without getting worn at all.
First up was the Poppy jumpsuit by Sew Over It. The pattern came free in Simply Sewing magazine a few months ago, I got some gorgeously soft (and very cheap!) pineapple print rayon from B&M fabrics in Leeds and eventually made it, finishing just as Sew Over It finally launched the pattern in print themselves.
The free pattern is for a playsuit with a boat neck and kimono sleeves (the full version includes a long legged version) and I thought it looked really cool and fun on the envelope. For the most part, it was a very straightforward make, dart free and therefore pretty simple. It involves an elastic wasitband, which isn’t my favourite thing but isn’t that hard to do once you’ve done your first one.
The only bit that was a little tricky was wrapping my brain around the methodology for stitching the turn up cuffs on the sleeves and legs so that the stitches didn’t show. It took me a few read throughs and some slightly baffled folding of fabric before it clicked. This was the only hand sewing I did on the whole thing, other than to attach the hook and eye at the neck. I actually did quite a bit of the handstitching perched in the back of Rich’s car, watching the girls playing on their bikes on the street (a very quiet cul-de-sac) in the sun; random but true!
As soon as I finished it, I knew I wasn’t going to wear it as an all day sort of garment. Yet again, my upper body and the Sew Over It block came to blows. It’s just too short in the body to be comfortable and the neckline is rather wide. And frankly, I resemble a sack of potatoes in it! It did get taken on holiday but only worn as a swimming cover up. Not a success!
Lengthening the body would definitely help this out, but I think for another playsuit or jumpsuit I’d be tempted to try the By Hand London Holly instead as their block tends to give me less problems.
So on to failure number two. This time, it was the Colette Myrtle dress, a jersey dress with a draped neckline which I have loved since it was first released but didn’t have the skills for at the time.
I decided that I now did have the skills, and bought some incredible digital print fabric from Fabworks, patterned with glorious orchids. It’s a very silky, slinky jersey (which led to its own problems when sewing) but I absolutely loved this fabric.
The pattern was fairly easy to follow and went together well; as with all patterns of Colette’s that I’ve made, it’s well drafted and the markings and everything are clear. There are even links to little video tutorials in the instructions, which is always helpful.
So what went wrong? The main problem with this one was I didn’t realise quite how short “short” was for Colette. Much as I loved a mini skirt in my younger days, there’s a distinct feeling of mutton dressed as lamb to anything this far above the knee. And I just don’t think the colours in the print would go well with black leggings or tights. So, despite having the pockets I love in a dress, this one travelled all the way there and back again without ever being seen out in public. I kind of hoped that the holiday feeling of not caring because I’ll never see these people again would help, but it didn’t make it.
I think I would make this pattern again, but I’d definitely need more fabric for a longer length skirt!
So, on to my final disaster! This one is, once again, a Sew Over It garment, this time the Silk Cami. I bought the kit to make this at the Knitting and Stitching show and hadn’t got around to making it. I got to the day before we were leaving for Florida and, in a total state of panic due to my fear of flying, got the kit out, traced, cut out and sewn up in about 3 hours.
I don’t know why I thought this would fit me out of the packet? Given all the issues I had with the Betty dress, it’s clear I need to make adjustments when using their patterns. But I was, as I say, not entirely thinking rationally at this point.
I used a rayon remnant I bought in Sew Over It a few weeks earlier to make the top. The envelope says 2m but, by using a plain navy remnant from my Datura top for the facing, I got this out of about 80cm. It was a lovely straightforward sew, and I would definitely try it again when I’ve finished the block I’m trying to make myself, but oh lordy, is this version unwearable!
It gapes at the front but is snug over my chest, the neckline is a mile off me at the back neck and I need a serious sway back adjustment. I threw it in the suitcase without ever trying it on; I think the only good thing I can say about it is it did distract me from thinking about the aeroplane for a while!
So, there you go, three total wadders!
Have you had many sewing disasters?
Becca x
Oh no becca! We love and learn don’t we?! I’ve got a few one a skirt where it’s too puffy and makes my hips look huge and the other is a Tunic that’s a little too short for my liking even with leggings! 😂 x
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It’s hard to judge as you’re making things sometimes isn’t it? I guess that’s how you get experience though, by doing something wrong and never doing it again!!
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Too true! But it’s shame when it’s the really nice fabric you picked out esp 😂
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Too true!
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Oh no! I hate it when that happens! I think they can be saved though- the first two would make lovely tops if you chopped off the bottoms.
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You know that all of these look absolutely fine in the photos and no one would bat an eyelid if you wore them! But I absolutely know what you mean – if you don’t feel comfortable then you just won’t wear them! I made an Inari tee that never saw the blog – I love everyone else’s versions but it looked like a really unflattering sack on me!
Louise
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I think I’ve done a few like that! I find myself now trying rtw styles on before I make something just to see whether it might suit me!
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A big leaning curve, ….muslins all the way . To say I’m very average height or more likely on the short size at 5’4″ I find bodices about 4 cm too short so it must be lots more for you with being tall. I think it’s good to share the flops though as others learn too from them. I ended up sending one of mine to London as a fellow blogger loved it. And the post has been my most popular with over a thousand views. And I looked terrible!! 😳
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I bet you didn’t!! But an extra 3″ really made the Colette unwearable for me 😳
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It’s a shame they didn’t turn out as you’d hoped, it’s nice to know it’s not just me that after making something realising it isn’t what I had imagined, as above maybe chopping off the bottom might give them another chance.
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But… the pineapple fabric?… 😦
I admire your pragmatism. Acknowledging you’ll never wear something is hard whether you made it or just bought it.
I am a new sewist and a new followers of your blog, I’m enjoying it so far!
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Thank you! I think sometimes you have to chalk it up to experience (and hope the pineapple fabric is restocked next year! )
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Have I had many sewing disasters! Ha ha! Most disasters don’t actually get finished, just flung in a corner and then chopped up into something else wherever possible. I hope you decide to have another go with the Myrtle because I think the bodice looks lovely on you but I know if you’re not happy with the length you’ll never feel comfortable in it.
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Thanks Jane. I would definitely make it again, I do like the bodice particularly in this almost silky jersey, but i need it to have more skirt!!!
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Well they look nice! I like the fabrics. So sorry it didn’t work out for you. Maybe we are just really critical about our garments because we were the ones that made them. But if it you aren’t comfortable in them, then out they go!
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I have had SO MANY failures! Luckily I have also been sewing for so many years, that I have forgotten about most of them. Blogging has made me try harder and spend more time working on the fit, which has led to more successes. Despite that, I believe that any creative hobby needs some failures, it comes with the territory.
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It’s always good to have a disaster, (I tell myself) – because then you have something funny to post in all those end-of-year round-ups. Love the orchid print jersey though – I hope you can rescue that one somehow – could you chop the skirt off to make a cowl-neck top?
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I’m thinking about it because I absolutely bloody love that print but I’m not sure yet: it might sit in the wardrobe and wait to see whether I’m feeling braver next summer holiday! 😂
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