Sunday, March 20, 2011

A Series of Unfortunate (Sewing) Events

This is the face of someone who wants to bash their sewing machine.
Also, Me Made March Day 20: McCalls 5241 cardi warp again.

Let's just say things haven't quite been working out for me in the sewing room this week. I fully expected to have a finished project to blog about this weekend, but alas- that is not the case. In fact, I think I did more damage today by trying to finish something than if I had not sewn at all.  


This is what my sewing room currently looks like.   I did cover those giant blocks of furniture foam- and they look terrible.  I'm working on plan b.  I think it may be best to leave upholstery jobs to the professionals. 

I bet you're thinking that this looks nice. 
Let's zoom in a little.

I guess I don't know my own strength.  I actually have the dullest seam ripper in the world.  I'm amazed that it tore through the end stitches. 

And last but not least, I bought the most beautiful pale aqua eyelet to make a spring dress.  I also bought a bright red and bright orange cotton lawn for a lining.   I couldn't decide between the two.  Then, I threw them all in the wash together like an idiot.
I'm not ready to give up on the eyelet yet.  I think I may try to over dye it a deeper turquoise.  I'm hoping it will cover up the red and orange stains.  Does anyone know if this will work?  Or have any other suggestions?


In Me Made March news:
Day fourteen: Striped Simplicity 2865 again.

Day fifteen: Knit Kasia
My shoes are now two different colors because I spilled ceramic glaze on one.

Day sixteen: A fleece coat I've never written about, McCalls 5714.   I made it a long time ago, early on in my sewing adventures.  I wear it often, though the interfacing I used feels like cardboard.

Day seventeen: Me made pj pants
I caught a delightful 24 hour bug, I'm sure from a kid at school, and stayed home from work.   And, no, I did not feel like taking a photo of myself.

Day eighteen:  My pintuck tunic, Simplicity 2365

  
Day nineteen: Simplicity 3833 made from a double knit.
This was the first public outing for this dress even though I made it a while back.  I didn't realize how much I liked it.


Wishing everyone a great week!

16 comments:

  1. Sewing can be a complete pain!

    When I bought my machine a few years back, the sales lady gave me a button hole lesson - and told me to put a pin through the end of the button hole directly before the row of stitches (does that make sense?). Then rip upward toward the pin - the pin will stop you tearing through the stitches. It has always worked a treat for me.

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  2. GREAT tip, Rachel. I will definitely try that in the future.

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  3. I agree about your Simplicity 3833, I love it! I would wear that all the time. :)

    Sorry about the sewing mishaps, I've had tons. It's always incredibly frustrating. I do like your idea about the giant blocks of furniture foam. My husband and I recently saw something like that, I think, in a model home. It was set up like a movie room with a huge plush couch against the wall with the huge "cushions" on the floor in front, upholstered in the same material. It looked awesome! Don't give up on that idea!

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  4. The simplicity 3833 is SO fantastic! Sorry about the crummy karma. It sucks. Good luck with the eyelet--it is so pretty.

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  5. Oh that sucks! Boo! I don't even want to talk about the buttonholes on the jacket I just finished...UGLY! Fortunately they don't really show when worn... I'm gearing up for my first pillow cover (a similar looking foam block)... So wish me well!

    I'm sure you can do something to save that fabric... It's so pretty! :)

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  6. Also, a thought: can you slip a tiny piece of fusible inside the button placket to mend the rip? Or stitch it very carefully with a matching thread?

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  7. I can recommend Rachel's tip, that's what I do and it works well. vanessa

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  8. I don't remember learning much in home ec at school, but my teacher did teach me to use the seam ripper from one end of the buttonhole to the middle, take it out, then go from the other end to the middle.

    Hope things get better for you.

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  9. I'd try to bleach the cotton first to get rid of the stains and then overdye it again with the color of choice. Otherwisee I'd fear the stains to turn out a different color than the rest of the fabric again.

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  10. aw man! your sewing mishaps sound like mine. hang in there! your me made march is going well so far.

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  11. Sorry to hear about all your sewing woes. Some projects just don't go to plan. On a positive note, your MMM is going well. I think your 'glazed' shoes match your skirt fantastically.

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  12. I love that fleece coat! Looks great on you, I would gladly wear it :)

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  13. Oh no! Definitely know what that frustration feels like.

    But its great to see your me made wares, very flattering!

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  14. Oh my goodness, you are adorable! I'm loving your blog and style.

    I know sewing can totally turn sour quickly. But it gets sweet just as quickly. Keep on sewing!

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  15. Thanks for all the encouraging comments and tips!

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  16. Oh dear!
    I do my buttonholes the same way that katherine h recommends above, from each end and stopping in the middle. Saves tears! (by that I mean tears from the eyes type of tears, not ripping fabric tears, although that equally applies of course.)
    Dying that pretty fabric is definitely worth a try!

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