2013 Sewing Year in Review: Part 1 (Misses)

Wadders ranked supreme in 2013.  So much so, I thought a completely separate year-in-review post was in order.  The number of wadders I had this year made me question my skill at sewing and fitting.  Some of the misses were due to poor fabric choice, but still.  How much fail can a girl take? 

McCall's 5523 & BWOF 9-2009-137 (skirts) 

Ugh!  The fabric, a very nice rayon-poly-lycra woven suiting, contributed to the demise of these two skirts.  I could have set both of these skirts on the sun and the wrinkles would not be moved.  You win my wrinkly friend.

Vogue 8426 (skirt)

This skirt wouldn't be so bad were it not for the insane stiffness of the denim.  It fits well and I love the topstitching.  However, when I wear it, the back sticks out like a little tent and I'm pretty sure "tent butt" is not on trend.

Jalie 2805 (top)

This was my biggest disappointment because I really wanted a knit top in this color.  This wadder was definitely due to poor fabric choice.  Ponte knit simply doesn't provide enough stretch needed for this pattern.  

Vogue 8379 (wrapped dress)

I think I am the only sewer to have ever failed with this pattern.  The look on my face says it all.  I really want a wrapped dress, but either I have to start from scratch with this pattern or try a different one. 

Jalie 2680 (coat) 

I don't know what happened with this one.  I made a muslin, tweaked the fit, and was happy about it.  When I tried on the nearly-finished garment, it looked horrible.  It was too small in the front, pulled at the front and back armholes, and overall didn't look good.  Meh.  At least I used four yards of stash!

Burda World Of Fashion 11-2005-108 (skirt)

I don't even know what went wrong with this skirt.  It looks great on the dress form and that's it.  The fabric is a wool-acrylic boucle with a bit of crosswise stretch.  It's too big in the waist and yet snug in the hip.  How is this even possible?

Simplicity 2804 (knit top)

Again with the fabric. I feel like I should have my heart rhythms checked or something.  Eww.  Not wearing this.

Vogue 8805 (knit dress) - honorable mention?

I found this one in the donation pile.  I don't remember if this is a wadder from this year or last year.  I like the colors, but this shapeless sack is for someone else.  

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In addition to wadders, I attempted several garments but have yet to decide on how to proceed with fit.  Most were woven button-front blouses and a couple were pants. 

In all, 2013 had its fair share of failures and mehs.  On the positive side, each wadder was a great learning experience and thus is an essential part of becoming a better sewer.

Author and political commentator Donna Brazile says this about failure:

""Failure" is just what happens when we lose perspective."

Up next:  One more review and  2013 Sewing Year in Review:  Part 2 (Hits)

Until next time, peace!

L

Kwik Sew 3667 (sweatshirt): Complete

I never sew clothes for other people.  Ever.  

I've had people ask me to make them jeans, skirts, etc.  Upon seeing my Indygo Junction coat, a friend at the rink asked me to make him a pea coat.  Um.  No.  This semester, one of my students asked me to teach her to sew.  No problem.  Then she asked me to make her a skirt so that she could watch me and learn the process.  Problem.  I can make me a skirt, but I won't do the work for you.  Later on, she said I was stingy.    o_O

But.  There's always a 'but', right?  I offered to make a very dear friend a sweatshirt.  She's like a second mom to me and I love her to pieces.  It was a pleasure and an honor to make something for her.

Fabric & Notions

• 2 yards of grey cotton-poly sweatshirt fleece
• scraps of fusible interfacing for the front pocket facings
• regular sewing machine, serger, and thread

I made this top three times back in 2011 for a biking trip in The Netherlands.  So I had plenty of experience with its construction.  Since my second mom is really, really tiny, and this top has lots of ease, I sewed a size small.  I was confident that the bodice would fit, but I wasn't so sure about the lower band.  This fleece doesn't have as much crosswise stretch and the band felt a bit restrictive.  

The only change I made involved adding two inches to the sleeve.  I found the sleeves as designed to be too short and allowed too much air in.  Given that both my friend and I are always cold, I knew she would appreciate having the extra length.

My friend tried it on and said that the top fits perfectly.  She absolutely loves it and is very pleased.  I am really happy that she likes it.  I haven't seen it on her and hope to do so before she returns to the east coast.  If she doesn't mind my posting her picture on my blog, I'll share a photo or two in a later post.

Conclusion

Kwik Sew also has a couple of companion versions of this top:  3879 has set-in sleeves and 3892 has raglan sleeves.  I've not tried either one of these patterns, though I do have 3879. 

I will certainly make this top again.   It is really a quick and easy to make.  There are five pieces total and the majority of the construction can be done on a serger.

Up next:  a review of BWOF 1-2009-106.  Gotta get pictures!

L