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| I love this sweetheart neckline |
Although the end result is a dress that I'm unlikely to ever wear, I have learned so much from the whole process so I'm actually quite pleased to have gone through with it. In no order of importance, I've learned:
- To check what stitch the machine is set to before sewing. It was set to zig-zag, I popped in a quilting foot for 1/4" seam allowance and hit the pedal. Of course I smashed up the needle very dramatically, the machine made a very grumpy sound and I felt very very silly (but also v lucky - I remembered Tilly's accident with the broken needle). I'll be much more careful next time.
- Flip flops are not suitable footwear for sewing machine driving.
- French seams - who knew they were so easy? I love love love them.
- I am no good at cutting (see further below).
- In future, I must read the instructions, look at pattern pieces, check the instructions again. I think I over-estimate my ability to follow instructions, which is not good for a beginner. At some stages, I spent quite a lot of time with the old seam ripper, undoing very silly mistakes.
- Adding length to the bodice means adding length to the back facing. It didn't even occur to me that I should do this until the dress was finished! Also, next time I must remember to make a similar adjustment to the placing of the ties - I didn't adjust them, and so they now sit 1.5" too high.
- Pick a nice fabric.
- Wash-off fabric markers do not always wash off.
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| hurrah for french seams! |
The problem
As I mentioned, I had some problem with cutting the pattern pieces. I traced the pieces (using Swedish tracing paper) and pinned those pieces to the fabric. So far, so good. But when it came to actually cutting out the pieces, it went a bit wrong. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't cut accurately. I have a silly dining table, totally unsuited to any craft work, so laid everything out on the floor and I used pretty decent tailors' shears. But still I ended up with inaccurately cut pieces, which made it difficult when putting together the garment. help please! Am I doing something wrong? Would I be better off using a rotary cutter instead of shears/scissors? Should I trace the pieces onto the fabric directly using carbon paper? Or is it just a case of practice makes perfect?
Any advice is most gratefully received.
So, what's next on the sewing list? A couple of tops, perhaps. Methinks I'll start with this:
I fished it out of the Liberty clearance bin in the January sale, and there's only 1 metre's worth, so it will be the version without sleeves or collar. I might even have to use a contrast binding if I can't squeeze all the pieces on!
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| hurrah for spring! |
Have a lovely weekend & speak soon!
I trace the pattern pieces directly onto the fabric using pencil/chalk/washable marker, I found it a revelation in accurate cutting!
ReplyDeleteThat Liberty fabric is lovely too, can't wait to see the finished piece. :)
Cx
Gorgeous Liberty fabric. Gorgeous dress, too - are you sure you won't wear it? I love the fabric. I used to cut out on the floor with scissors, but found it far too inaccurate in the end. Now I use a rotary cutter and self healing mat on our dining table, and that is much more accurate as the fabric lies flat, instead of having to be lifted for the scissor blade to go beneath.
ReplyDeleteI love love love that fabric for the crepe dress! It looks much neater than my first attempt at sewing.
ReplyDeleteThe only advise I have for cutting is to make sure your scissors are sharp. Which is a bit of a obvious statement.
Steph x
It's beautiful Shivani - you must make an occasion to show it off! I haven't even started my Crepe yet, but think I need to make a muslin for the top. I love the Liberty fabric - super sweet. Cutting out - I have just got given a rotary cutter & am adapting to that thanks to Karen's rave reviews.
ReplyDeleteOh your dress is sooooo pretty! Great work!
ReplyDeleteWith cutting I've found sharp scissors & loads of pins (I go a little pin crazy). 'Fit for Real People' suggest pinning from the outside in- does that make sense? So the pointy bit of the needle is pointing towards the centre of the cut out.
But again your dress is so wonderful!
Hello Shivani, your dress seems to be beautiful, you should definitely wear it -and show us^^! About the cutting problems, 1) I use weights instead of pins to keep my pattern pieces flat, 2) I do trace them on the fabric and 3) I use good shears!
ReplyDeleteHello, for a starter you are making a lot of progress! I think you are so lucky to live in Londen, you can go to Liberty whenever you want!!!! I loooove this shop.
ReplyDeleteFor the cutting, when i use a cut out pattern, I never cut out the pattern pieces, I always copy them on patternpaper. If you want to make the garment in an another size this is still possible. Allways pin your patternpieces on the fabric with care, its better to use to much pins than to little. Use a ruler to draw the seamlines on the fabric (I use a triangle ruler and follow the stripes for the widt of the seames). If you don't like chalc, you can use a leftover of of a piece of soap (verry thin).
Allways put your lefthand on te patternpiece and cut with the siccors flat on the table. Offcourse it is a matter of practice, but when you do it like this there isn't much that can go wrong. Good luck!