Sunday, November 22, 2009

Repeats and Redesigns

Some projects just wanna' give you grief from the beginning.  I hope this will not be one of those.  Last summer, I found this fabric on the grab table at a sewing meeting.  It's a brushed cotton, but it is so lush it looks like velveteen.  Drapable.  It's a very dark olive green/black print on a white background.


It's a large print, large repeat.   I decided to make an old TNT blouse pattern from it, thinking there was plenty.  That was wrong thinking  my first challenge.  I wanted the print to not only be centered vertically, but horizontally as well, so I treated it as a horizontal stripe. 

Had I changed the pattern to have a separate front facing instead of cut-on facings, I would have been more successful in trying to match all the pieces.  But those cut-on facings take up a lot of fabric.  I know that.  I was in denial.

So that the print would match horizontally around the body, I rotated the bust dart to the underarm.
Original pattern
Cut out bust dart

         Original dart closed and new dart rotated to underarm.

All was well.  Until I started to cut the sleeves.  In order to cut the print so that the sleeves/body stayed horizontally matched, I had to cut the sleeve vertically in the center, add seam allowances and make it a 2-piece sleeve.
I also had to shorten the sleeve to 3/4 length and add a cuff.

The pieces are all cut out.  As I worked on it, I wondered why I'm going through all this aggravation for a blouse.  Although I like the fabric, it's not not the most fabulous I've owned, and it was free, after all.  I just don't want to be defeated by a piece of fabric.

And sew I go on.  I win.  But --what price glory?

14 Talk to me:

KID, MD said...

You tell that fabric, Gwen!! It is going to make a pretty blouse.

Ann Made Studio said...

You won, it's worth it :)

Linda T said...

We all need a big challenge sometimes! Gald you won!

Vernon Fashion Studio

Linda L said...

It is a pretty fabric. Like you sometimes I just can't let the fabric or for that matter the pattern win.

Julia said...

Well, a nice blouse is worth the effort, I guess. I hope you enjoy wearing it. Free, or not, the fabric is really pretty. You are very meticulous so I'm not surprised you took the time and effort to do this the right way.

Fran said...

I love your fabric -- you'll be glad you persevered.

Rose said...

Congrats on winning! I really like the fabric.

Michelle said...

You show that fabric who's boss!! You'll be so happy when you are done!

Trudy said...

Good for you. You didn't let that fabric get the best of you.

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving.

Gretchen the Household Deity said...

Oh man, I know the feeling. It's like once you've committed to the project, it must go forward even if you don't even like it anymore and it's a huge pain to get it to work.

Faye Lewis said...

It was fun trying the twist band after I got over the fear. Now I want to make another one.

ClaireOKC said...

You know I love doing this sort of thing cause it obviously couture - but not screamingly so. People who are in the know realize all the effort taken to do this and will remark. Take note, cause they are really sew-intelligentsia!!!!

kanishk said...

e all need a big challenge sometimes! Gald you won!

Work from home India

Post a Comment