I'm going on a sewing retreat soon. In preparation for that, I've been cleaning up the cutting area and sewing room. Putting away projects and getting ready to prep several projects for the retreat.
I've had some unsuccessful projects recently, but I didn't realize how many until I did some cleaning.
I've had five, yes FIVE failed projects since New Years. I know that other sewists appreciate hearing about failures, as well as successes, so here's a listing. No pictures are forthcoming. Pattern names are not listed to protect the innocent - it really wasn't the patterns' fault in any of these cases. :)
- A beautiful coat using an expensive, gorgeous wool. Argh, this was a bitter disappointment. In this case, when I did the FBA on the pattern, I hadn't realized how another area would be affected by my large bust and it just did not work. I could not figure out how to salvage this one. C'est tragique.
- A jacket using an expensive wool knit from Mood. This was one of my "brilliant" ideas for converting a top pattern to a jacket, but I did not muslin it. Fail.
- A pair of pants using a taslan fabric. Wow, was the fabric wrong for the pattern. On so many levels, it was wrong. Let me give you just one example: you know that awful sound of pantyhose crunching between ample thighs? Yeah.
- There was a RTW jacket I wanted to replicate so I used a pattern to create a "muslin" using a very ugly piece of linen. It was a giant blech.
- Another RTW top I wanted to replicate. I used a cheap, but usable, crinkle knit fabric. I did lots of hand sewing on this one. The end result is so "meh" I will use it only as a sleep shirt.
What did I do with all of these failures? I pouted a bit. I whinged, especially to Margy. I tried other, easy, projects with better success.
And all of this is now purged and cleared. Time to start new projects. Hopefully, these will be more successful. :)
I just came in for a rest from yardwork. So sorry to hear of your "failures, but at least you have LOTS of successes.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the wadders; BUT....doesn't it feel good to finally get them "out in the open"/tossed/and move on? Always does me a world of good. On the better, more beautiful things!
ReplyDeleteTha last line was SUPPOSED to read, "On to better, more beautiful things!" oops
ReplyDeleteOh, that is so painful! FIVE! You're a better woman than I, as I'd be surely be knitting, or cleaning the floor, or anything else than sewing at this point. I think I can take 2 failures in a row before caving in..
ReplyDeleteOuch! Never mind, onwards and upwards!
ReplyDeleteMmmm, I just want you to know that my pantyhose gently whispers as my ample thighs rub together when I walk...no loud crunchy noise from me! Sorry about the wadders...here's hoping you have better sewing days ahead!
ReplyDeletelol. It's been awhile since I wore pantyhose, but I remember noise. Maybe it was the brand I wore.
DeleteWe all have 'em, but why oh why is it always those special projects and gorgeous/expensive fabrics?? and to add salt to the wound.....it's often our own fault? Then how hard is it to just toss those wadders and move on? Glad you made it through okay and look forward to seeing your next run of many successes.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about the fails. I agree that it's especially sad when it's the precious spendy fabrics that end up as wadders. However I maintain that the number of successes is actually pretty amazing as compared to, say, trying on RTW. For me at least, that's pretty much a guaranteed fail! Which is why I sew, natch.
ReplyDeleteMoving right along!
Hope your retreat is both fun and successful!
ReplyDeleteYou are a courageous woman, Shams...it's one thing to have everyone ooh and ahhh over your (well-deserved) successes...but to let us all know (well, yeah, I knew 2 weeks ago :)) you, too, have failures is comforting, in a nasty way...
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I feel your pain, but the truth is your funny descriptions here made me laugh each time... awful sound of pantyhose crunching... "cest tragique"... giant blech; I wish I could hang out with you Shams!
ReplyDeleteThe good news is that your successes are SPECTACULAR successes, so that should be some consolation!
You are ever so kind to share your failures with us. Sometimes I convince myself that no one else has failures in sewing (or elsewhere). Thanks for owning up and reminding us all to call it what it is and move on. PS- I've loved all the recent pieces you've reviewed at PR. You have such a fun style.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is thank goodness - you're human after all - :) This gives hope to the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is in the middle of what will likely be an utter failure, (complete with high end and much loved fabric), I sympathize. I have no qualms about wadders hitting the trash or some other "repurposing". I just pull out something that really worked, don it and set about removing the offensive item. Damn Spot, Be Gone!
ReplyDeleteThe only way to create so many winners is to have a few wadders, too.
ReplyDeleteI have been meaning to write a blog post about a few of mine and then get rid of them.
Then I think, maybe I will come back around someday and want to finish?
nah, it would be cleansing to get them out of my sewing space.
and thank you for turning off captcha.
ReplyDeleteVery worthwhile post - I do have a fail once in a while, and I am ruthless - out they go. thanks for sharing, and I can't wait to hear about the sewing retreat.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain. It must be in the air, I have had 3 failed knit projects. Almost wanted to give up sewing for myself (pity party at its best). Not wanting to give up my sewing room I switched to linen and all is well. Enjoy your blog, look for it everyday. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI have plenty of projects that don't quite make it -- it's tough to acknowledge it and move on. Can't wait to hear about your sewing retreat!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your failures. I know how it is to ruin an expensive fabric. Doing that sometimes paralyzes me. I do a lot muslins these days. I try to make them 'wearable' You have so many successes though! You should be proud. What retreat are you going on?
ReplyDeleteThat hurts! Ouch! But you will be duly inspired by your retreat and will return to regale us with all your creativity. Have fun!
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ReplyDeleteSham....REALLY! I love you! Thank you so much for telling us that! It has been a few YEARS since I've sewn for myself because of many clothing disasters-I have a frustrating shape. I've done other sewing, but no clothing for myself. I have just about given up. You just gave me permission to fail and go forward. Bless you!!!!
ReplyDeleteJudy
I love it when I clean up my sewing room after a project. Just putting the pattern into its ziploc bag is fun. You just have to throw out your lovely, expensive cloth scraps and get ready to have a good time at your retreat.
ReplyDeleteHow generous of you to share your failures--it gives hope to those of us who are not so skilled or prolific!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderfully affirming to read the commiseration in all of these comments. And interesting to hear the variety of ways we deal with "failure". Sometimes it can truly knock yme off my creative perch, while other times I can simply pass it off and move on. The best part of it all is how we learn from it, and how it can lead to success. Way cool!
ReplyDeleteWin some lose some, Listen Shams you make so many things that I just wish I had made I would just put these guys behind you. Your work is terrific and very inspirational.
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