Which is not to say that I've abandoned the idea. This pile is all intended to end up in my closet:
There is a pair of jeans, a pair of black twill pants, a skirt, a cardigan, three other tops, and a possible scarf in this pile. Of course, it's all just potential at this point. I haven't actually done anything. I've just been collecting fabric and ideas. I've been reading and watching Cindy and Sunni and Steph.
Honestly, I'm a little scared to get started.
What if I can't make things fit me? What if I don't like the look of something after it's all done? What if I flub things up because I'm following a contemporary pattern that doesn't recommend the ideal seam finish or include recommendations for lining (or underlining) something?
I know the solution here is to just get started. I know (in my head, not so much with experience) about tissue-fitting and muslins. But I'm still nervous.
But if I don't get started soon, more of my wardrobe is going to look like these shoes:
And we can't have that, now, can we?
Well, when I get stuck like this I either throw out a challenge hoping my sewing friends will pick it up and that will get ME motivated, or I ask my sewing die what I should sew next. I think I might have already sent you the pdf for making your own sewing die? If not, say the word.
ReplyDeleteRealistically, I used to expect about a 50-50 ratio of happy wearable garment to complete wadder, but my success rate has gone up considerably lately. I've been paying much more attention to fabric weight and drape and matching that to the patterns and to my idea of what I really want out of a garment. That's been the biggest step forward for me after getting Fit for Real People and learning to sew with the right size pattern and make the necessary adjustments. Finally, I always check patternreview.com to see how a pattern looks on real bodies before I make a decision. I've been saved many times by a quick trip there before cutting.
It also helps to have either a live sewing buddy or a dress form so you can make adjustments as you go.
Good luck! Can't wait to see the things you make for you!
Thanks for the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm SO in the same boat - with a stack of fabric just waiting to be made into something! But life keeps getting in the way and it's easier to quilt or crochet or make something for Hazel. I keep not buying clothes because I'm meant to be sewing them, but I don't sew and I don't buy and I'm looking distinctly frumpy with a long summer stretching before me! Maybe we could encourage each other with some sort of semi-sew along?
ReplyDeleteI'm game for some sort of semi-sew along, although I haven't a clue how to pull that off. And the timing... I can't really imagine starting anything serious until after the holidays. I'm about to head into candy making mode and that will take up pretty much all the time I have in December. Too bad one can't sew and stir boiling sugar at the same time... or perhaps it's actually good that I know better than to try that! If we don't start getting serious about our clothing to-do piles until January, does that put you too far into summer to be worth it?
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