..about sewing? There’s a few things on my list right now. And they’re all manifested within this dress (literally, figuratively?).
Since losing approximately 20% of my body weight (and counting, though I don’t know if it’s such a good thing anymore and I should probably try to curb it before I fall into eating disorder territory), things that I’ve sewn for myself even a few months ago no longer fit me.
For example, this damn insect-printed dress. I bought this fabric from a local favourite, East Coast Fabrics, a few years ago and had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it. I do this thing where I spend months or years agonising over the right way to use a piece of fabric because I don’t want to waste it and on Instagram I see people sewing the same two-dart bodice variation out of priceless vintage fabric and that also bothers me even though it’s none of my business. Does anyone else get that feeling or am I just insane?
Then I go ahead and make a totally boring princess seam bodice, how’s that for irony? Anyways, I digress. Enough was enough and I really felt like sewing something simple, and tried and true.
I grabbed a favourite, McCalls 7083, out of the drawer and couldn’t resist trying that version with the gorgeous scallops. I was so happy with how the fit was coming along, everything was finished nicely on the inside, my hand-picked lapped zip was on point (despite logistical issues with the piping), and then I finished the dress and realise somehow it no longer fit right. I’m posing strategically in these photos but the fit is very loose from the bust down and that bothers me because I don’t want to gain weight again but I just want it to fit me! It does not help at all that it’s a cheap and nasty quilting fabric. I’m on a roll.
I know that my favourite ready-to-wear fashion pieces in my closet generally share one similarity and that is the stretchiness of the fabric. Everything I like is made from cotton sateen, and all the fabric I seem to like in stores is, well, not.
Fabric designers, can you stop with the floral sateens already? Yeah we get it, florals are nice, but how about something original now? Fruity prints, animal prints, umbrella prints, novelty prints, anything; I’m drowning in florals over in Spotlight already!
What else bugs me? Insufficient range of zippers and notions available locally, and at such ludicrous prices too. Would you believe they didn’t have a zip that matched this dress, nor thread? That’s why you can see the zipper plain as day, because it was harvested out of an old turquoise dress by my mother. I can’t tell if I really hate it or it adds charm, it’s somewhere in the middle, I think. I also had to hand-pick the zipper because the thread didn’t match. And because I hand-picked it, the pattern matching is ever so slightly off. That bugs me to no end.
And my last bugbear, insufficient yardage. I am the queen of skimping on fabric and making something work regardless but this time around, the dress is a bit short. I don’t mind it thankfully but it’s happened before and REALLY bothered me, so you’d think I’d learn my lesson already.. but I never do. Its one redeeming feature? At least it’s got pockets.
What’s been bugging you lately? Here’s some weenie dogs to cheer you up.
6 Comments
I like your dress! But I get your frustrations – sometimes it’s also just good to vent. Don’t be too hard on yourself about the fitting. I’m making the B6413 with your sewalong and I tried ages to get the right fabric; there’s just too much floral fabric out in the world!
Thanks Maggie! :) You get so close and personal with your own projects and you tend to forget that other people don’t see the issues the same way you do. I do still love it despite the issues anyways ;)
I’m so excited to hear that you’re working on the B6413 with the sewalong! (I had a deep, dark fear that nobody would participate and I would be doing it for nobody, haha) I hope I get to see your work when you’re done :D
If you’re on the wrong side of twenty, I hit it, jumped over, and fell off years ago! Love my summer dresses that length. Don’t be too critical of yourself.? Your dress maybe a bit loose, but then you have breathing room. RTW certainly doesn’t fit right everywhere and we still put it on! Be proud of what you created!♥️
Aww haha!! Thanks Anita :) It’s hard not to be critical of your own projects I guess. I feel like I’m always apologising over fit issues nowadays..
That dress is not too short Imho. I think it suits a young playful feel.
Thank you! I guess I worry about being on the wrong side of 20 to wear dresses above the knees.. that’s a very matronly thing to say, isn’t it?