Wednesday 26 October 2011

When you don't like what you sew

Hello all...  it's been a bit hectic and I haven't finished my jacket yet ... nearly there - had to overcome my fear and loathing of sleeve setting, now it's just a question of lining and collaring .. it'll soon be done!

In the meantime, I made a beignet.  I had some black cord, and some faulty lining.  Those were ok.  But then I bought some buttons.

I bought cheaper buttons than the ones I really liked.  They go with the lining and they look like peacock feather eyes.  I quite liked them in the shop where I was as usual overcome with fabric loveliness and blind to the fact that I never wear blue, or green, or turquoise ...  As soon as I got home, I realised that I didn't really like the buttons ...

The lining cost £1.35/m because the print is faulty. OK for lining a panelled skirt
I sewed my Beignet in the knowledge that I had made a mistake with the buttons.  Now I don't know about you, but when I know that I dislike a detail of something, my heart goes out of the subject but I press on regardless because I've spent the money and I don't like to waste, but I don't take as much care, and then things go wrong, and I end up with a garment that not only is unwearable, but that isn't 'me' and that i'd never wear in a month of sundays ...

they're really nice ... just not 'me'
So .. there it is, my Beignet disaster.  A skirt which does't fit, which isn't made properly, which is bulky and heavy, and which has really horrible buttons :(

you cant see, but it's all wrong ..
I DO like the pattern though.  I am not sure cord is the best fabric - it makes a very heavy skirt with all those panels.  So I will make this again but with lighter fabric and better buttons.  Like these ones which I LOVE but which are triple the price of the ones I bought...

50p each .. alot when you need 12 buttons but not as much as a wasted project
What happens when you find yourself not liking your project?  Do you abandon for the sake of time and sanity?  Or do you press on and then end up with something you don't like?


14 comments:

Diana said...

Last time I bought buttons I paid 2 euros a piece. I think if the buttons are going to be such an important feature as they are on this skirt, I'd be willing to pay those 50p a piece to make it.

Kestrel said...

Hmm it's tough when you know you're not going to like something, your heart is never really in it to finish it. In the past I have tended to stash something away and then eventually recycle it or give it away. Such a shame after your hard work too.

Unknown said...

This has happened to me in the past but as a beginner at the time I thought it was a good learning experience and wasn't too frustrated. The Beignet is a lovely pattern but there's considerable amount of work involved so ending with something you don't like must be heartbreaking.

Isisjem said...

This is my experience of dressmaking fullstop. Over the years I've tried my hand at it and haven't once made anything I'd actually want to wear in public. I really really want to be able to make clothes and have decided to try again. But it is nerve racking when I'm not sure if it's down to beginner patterns being more simple than stylish or just my lack of skill.

snippa said...

I've just had my own dressmaking disaster too. I abandoned the dress when I realised it looked truly awful on me.

JuliaB said...

Diana - you are right about the buttons .. i was being stingy!!! I wont make the same mistake again, after all, £5ish for buttons isn't a huge amount in the scheme of things, and I only saved about £2!! silly me

JuliaB said...

Kestrel - yes a stupid shame :( My skirt is so bad tho, I don't think I can even give it to charity!!!

JuliaB said...

Suzy - yes it is a good idea to finish if you're a beginner... I kept thinking I would grow to like it .. but alas, I grew to hate it ... humph

JuliaB said...

IsisJem - don't worry, it will come to you .. have you tried Colette Patterns? I think they are really good, easy to follow, helpful .. .try with on e of those this time?

JuliaB said...

Snippa - I should have been as sensible and spent the time on my jacket which is going swimmingly well and which I really really like ..! oh well .. we live and learn.

snippa said...

There's lots of options when a project goes wrong. My daughter earned the nick-name "Thumper" after we watched her violent reaction to sewing machine frustration.

JuliaB said...

Snippa - I cant totally relate to your daughter and her thumping!!!

The Coffee Lady said...

I have a dress, just nearly finished, which looks like a sack. I'm still wavering between throwing it in a corner and chopping bits off it piece by piece.

SEWN said...

Ugh, I know exactly what you're talking about. I have a skirt I just can't finish because it's been a frustration from the start. I am stepping away from it for awhile to see if I can renew my interest later. Try that. It couldn't hurt.