Eight-plus days and counting, friends, and, despite my capricious leanings, I’m still at work.  I have cut out Butterick 5354, and McCall’s 6126 is on the cutting table.  These are both pretty simple patterns . . . well, that’s what I’m telling myself anyway.  B5354 has four pattern pieces and M6126 has five, so, fingers crossed, I can get these done before Friday.

After Friday, I can start the muslin of Simplicity 2614.  Now, will I get to a finished version of S2614 by next Tuesday?  No, we don’t ask questions such as these.  We just make lists, live free, and die hard.

Whatever happens, I did more sewing in July than I’ve done in a long time.  I’ve also got my eye on the Lined Jacket Contest.  But, shhhhhhh, don’t tell anyone.

Bad things happen to diligent sewers. What makes this injury worse than others is that–well, other than not having any neosporin–once again, I was working on McCall’s 6318 in vain (and, no, this does not count towards the contest–whatevs).

It’s sad because I can see the potential in it.  I can tell that it’s the right pattern for my shape, but it always comes down to fit for me.  Although last time I screwed up on the sewing.  Then again, had I not, I’d probably have had a fit issue on my hands then too.

Regardless, I have successfully created an abomination.  Congratulate me!

The bust is too loose (who’d ‘ve thunk it) and the midsection is WAY too tight–laughably tight.  I do like the color though.  Unfortunately that won’t make up for the monstrosity that is the fit.

Look?  See!  Wrong.  That’s an invisible zipper, by the way.  Oh, you can see it? It’s not invisible?  Interesting.

My iron was so peeved that I involved him in this process that he repeatedly shut off automatically.  When I insisted he turn back on, he took his revenge.  I can’t blame him.

I’m going to give this pattern one last try after the contest, then I’m packing it up for The Sewing Machine Project.  You have to know when to say when.

Well . . . before I get to what that is, let’s preface this. Today’s subject is pattern number three, Simplicity 2451, on my Blasted Bloody List. It’s tragic that I won’t be making a wearable garment out of this pattern–you know, because of the contest and all.  But I didn’t enter the contest to win it anyway; I entered it so that I would be compelled to sew something, and, you know, mission accomplished.

Anyhoo, it was a weekday Fourth of July–no one wants to get all fireworks excited just to return home to set out work clothes for the next day.  So while others braved the crowds, I stayed home, watched the History Channel’s American Revolutionary War documentary series, and sewed.

Things were looking pretty good, no seams had to be ripped, the skirt was coming together rather quickly, and it seemed like these militia men might prove themselves useful to Daniel Morgan.  Then, the hour of reckoning arrived: it was time to try on the muslin.

I was pleased with myself and my skirt as I admired it in the mirror.  Awesome yoke, awesomer pleats, then I did my little turn on the catwalk, and–eeeeek, pleats un-awesomed!  Sitting there, right at my crotch in all of its glory, was my umm . . . well, my lady bulge.  I have a lady bulge.

Actually, this explains a lot.  You can’t live my life, kicking ass and taking names, without having a nice-sized general leading the way.  Really, it’s the modern gal’s most efficient tool.  Displaying your pink package is the easiest–nay, the only way to properly git ‘er done.

As I tuck in my goods and go about my day, behold my first patternreview.com uhhh . . . pattern review.  You’re welcome ahead of time.

Okay, minus the wrinkles, right?

But then, what’s that there?

Yeaaah . . . it’s my junk. Helloooooo, junk!

 
Pattern Description: Misses’ skirt sewing patterns, each in two lengths. Easy to Sew Collection.

Pattern Sizing: 12 – 20. Pretty sure I sewed the 20, which may have been tempting fate on my part.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes.  I sewed view C and it looked just like the pattern envelope, minus my wrinkles and raw edge hem.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, but I glazed over the details. I felt some of the explanations weren’t as straightforward as they could have been, but no harm no foul.  

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked the pleating at the front of the skirt.  I did not like how the skirt looked on me when I wasn’t standing still.  If I were a mannequin, I’d have already sewn a final draft.

Fabric Used: Cotton muslin.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I made no alterations although there’s a possibility that I could have sewn a smaller size and made the back darts larger? Even now, days after the fact, I’m not sure.  

Would you sew it again? Not for myself, but this was a quick project so I might sew it for a friend.

Would you recommend it to others? Yes, even if the pattern doesn’t work out it’s a nice confidence builder.

Conclusion: This pattern was really well drafted and really easy to sew, but it definitely wasn’t a good fit for me.  I’m not sure if I sewed the wrong size or needed to make an adjustment(s).  And I didn’t love the style enough to fiddle around with it.  Maybe next lifetime.

It’s a shame that The Pattern Stash Contest is starting on such a sour note for me, but here we are, July 1.  So . . . I give you The Blasted, Bloody List:

1.   2.

3.      4.

This is an ambitious endeavor for me, a gal who can’t even consistently blog once a week, but whatevs. Shoot for the moon, right?  I’m going to start with Simplicity 2451 because I don’t feel like cutting knits right now (Butterick 5354 and McCall’s 6126 will be in jersey) and I’m not interested in doing a FBA (I’m looking at you Simplicity 2614).  Anyhoo, off to sew.

I’ve had my ice cream, so I think I’m ready to talk about this now.  I give you McCall’s 6318.  A nice, easy pattern that is extremely well drafted.  So, you ask, what is the problem?  Other than this pattern being out of print (well, that’s more of a your problem deal), the problem is me.  I’m the problem.

I was so elated by how quickly the muslin for this dress came together that I rushed the construction of the actual dress.  And the rushing lead to this:

Awesome Muslin (right front)

WTF Version (left front)

How did I go from awesome to WTF?  Easy . . . EASY.  I mismarked or ignored the pattern markings and reinforced and clipped the wrong corner.  It’s a shame that I’ve tainted such a lovely pattern with my tomfoolery.  So now the remnant fabric I was going to use is going to be the lining and the lining fabric (a similarly colored broadcloth) will be the dress.  I’m not happy about this, but it is what it is. 

What makes matters worse is that I–for the first time–successfully completed a FBA.  How did I nail the hard part but screw up the easy part?  Hubris!  I flapped my wax wings too close to the sun, friends.  That’s all I have to say about this.