Michelle, ma belle... tres bien ensemble
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Michelle ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble,

Tres bien ensemble

Make it Work!

3/1/2012

3 Comments

 
My inner dialogue while I'm sewing resounds in the voice of Tim Gunn. And, "Make it Work" was the phrase in loop for this (last) month. I know today is March, but this skirt was totally done in February. I just decided to spare you artificially lit, late night photos in turn for day-late posting.  I'm allowing myself  flexibility this month, because I'm amazed I sewed anything at all. My attempts were...a spiraling cyclone of disaster. 
Picture
Originally, I planned to sew Vogue 5347 view B.  I had the perfect piece of rayon herring bone fabric stashed ready for it! But, when I spread my fabric out ready to place my pattern pieces, I noticed a repeating water/oil stain down the CENTER! Obviously, some idiot at the fabric store had used the fabric bolt as a cup holder, and the perpetrator penetrated multiple layers. The lighting in the store was crappy enough to disguise the  imperfection; I wouldn't have wasted money on something I knew to be damaged goods. But, in natural light, there was no hiding it. 

Feeling I had nothing to lose, I stain treated and washed the fabric. No luck. 

Then, the bargaining started. I decided I could live without sleeves and a couple inches of skirt length, which made it possible to creatively position all my pieces. I felt like I had regained some ground, in the battle, but I was pretty exhausted and frustrated from the effort, so I shoved the dress to the side until Sunday (Feb 26) evening. I grabbed some stashed lining fabric to finish cutting. I underestimated the yardage readily available. Not enough fabric.  
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I briefly considered sewing the dress without a lining, but abandoned that idea immediately. I didn't have enough of an allowance for French seams, and I just can't bring myself to sew an unlined garment. (I know it's bound to happen... especially with spring/summer dresses beckoning... for now, I maintain my firm stance). I also considered making a trip to the store after work Monday to buy more lining. But, that majorly gouged the little time I had given myself to sew. 

Instead, I turned to my UFO pile and pulled out a project I knew I would have time to fix/finish.
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This skirt and the linen blend fabric I chose to make it with are like oil and vinegar. The fabric loves to crease, but hates pleating. Really, almost nothing about this skirt really lit my fire. Still, I knew I wanted to stick with it and turn something out. I'd procrastinated myself into a corner needed to feel like I'd followed through. I decided to top stitch my pleats down from the waist band- 8 inches.  Then, I hand stitched a SUPER WIDE hem to help give some weight towards gravity. Ultimately, I think I'll be much happier ripping and turning this into A-line skirt rather than leaving it the way it is.

This month, I'm on somebody else's deadline, so I'm not messing around... hopefully... probably not.  
3 Comments
Erin link
3/4/2012 08:12:02 am

Sometimes our projects just don't want to be what we want them to, like they have a mind of their own. Way to stick with it though. I think the skirt turned out well!

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Aubrey link
3/5/2012 05:17:48 am

Darling blog! Thanks for stopping by. Love the cycling while knitting idea. I need to get on to something like that myself :)

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Carla link
3/5/2012 08:17:01 am

Sorry to hear the troubles with the first sewing project! YIKES!! I've had that happen to me, and I was so close to puling my hair out.
The skirt you have is adorable, and I can see it as an a-line skirt.

(anddd I got distracted as I saw 'Mad Men', and 'Challenge'. Investigation time.)

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