Saturday 14 June 2014

A stuffed up skirt and a sack-like dress





The skirt: Simplicity 2451

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. Here is a list of my transgressions:


I sewed up a skirt after discovering I'd bought the pattern in the wrong size, hoping that the sizing was generous and that a medium would fit me (it didn't).

I improvised, adding panels in an attempt to enlarge the skirt, only to find that it was now too large.

I hurriedly and shoddily cut it down and re-sewed it, resulting in a skirt that fits, but that is so poorly finished on the inside that I have to avert my eyes when putting it on.

I recklessly trimmed the hemline by eye and must now suffer the indignities of a crooked hem.

For these sins, I am truly sorry. Especially as I like this pattern, and the linen-rayon fabric I used, and think that it will look quite nice when I make version 2, using the correct pattern size and sewing exactly as instructed by the good folks at Simplicity. May I say in my defence, though, that I did use perfectly-matched thread, which made all my unpicking work that much more challenging.


The dress: Liesl + co Weekend Getaway dress 

I made the dress in a soft, almost slippery thin cotton from Darn Cheap Fabrics, which has a subtle check and, conveniently, a splotchy pattern resembling what my clothes often look like after attempting to drink coffee from a poorly-sealed Keep Cup on the way to work. I love fabrics that camouflage stains!


I figured there was a good chance this style would look stupid on me, as I'm short and lacking a waist, but I forged ahead anyway, just because. I was thinking that if it looked monumentally silly I'd just cut it down to blouse or tunic length and wear it that way. And maybe that's what I should do - because to my eye it looks kind of sack-like, especially from the back. And quite a lot from the front. And definitely from the side. Or is it just a little too long? It looks quite respectable with a long cardigan over it, but I'm on the fence when it comes to whether I can take that cardigan off. I keep thinking of that song from the 1950s:

You can't do the bop in the sack
You can't tell the front from the back
You can't do the bop in the sack
Take that crazy gown back!


I realise this is an appalling photo, but what do you think, readers? Sack, or satisfactory? Cut or keep?

10 comments:

  1. Oh Marisa, I loved your post! I have just finished 'sinning' a dress that is supposed to be made from lightweight fabrics, therefore I made it from corduroy... it kinda worked! Would the dress feel nicer with a belt? If it feels OK with a cardi. keep it, at least for now until you decide what you want to do with it. Sewing for grown up girls is so much more involved than for little ones, right?

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    1. Thanks Jenya :) I think that's probably what I'll do - keep it as is, wear it a couple of times, and if it feels too ridiculous I'll give it the chop and wear it as a blouse.

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  2. Firstly, you had me with the blog post title, there's no skipping past his one, it demanded to be read!
    The skirt tragedy is exactly the kind of thing I would do. I always seem to be the big end of the small or the small end of the big when it comes to which pattern size to buy. I was up late, unpicking a badly sewn hem that was perfectly coloured matched when this post popped into my feed! We could be twins!
    the skirt looks a lovely pattern though and you should definitely try again.
    Keep the dress, at least until the next stinking hot day and then tell me if a loose, floaty dress like that isn't the best thing ever when it hits 40. I love the fabric and it suits the pattern well. However, I genuinely don't know who this pattern would suit. For those with an hourglass shape, you won't see it cause it's not shaped enough in my opinion. If you are "thicker through the middle" then would you really want a dress that looks like it's designed for people with bigger tummies?...
    You must keep it cause my blouse and skirt have proven to actually be really useful for when you're feeling like letting out the undies elastic a bit but don't want to look tracksuit pants shabby. It's looking great styled for winter, keep trying it with the cardigan.

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  3. Oh yes, the sack might be good for those hot summer days - and sweat stains would just blend right in! Luckily I have enough of the fabric left to make some other ill-fitting garment out of it, when I'm feeling brave enough to risk failure again. In the meantime I feel I've partially redeemed myself by sewing up some kids' clothes and giving my unpicker a break...

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  4. On no, poor skirt. Even if it is scruffy on the inside it's nice outside. No one other than you will know. I actually rather like the dress. And I agree there is nothing better than big and floaty when it is super hot. Well done for sharing- sometimes it takes a lot of courage to post the makes that turn out less than perfect.

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    1. That's very kind of you to say so, Louise :)

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  5. I thought I wrote a comment but clearly I forgot to press publish, doh! Just wanted to say I am personally a fan of super comfy loose dresses, but you need to feel comfortable int it. Agree with the others, hold onto it for a little while and see if you end up wearing it?

    Also forgot to tell you earlier, my MIL didn't have any luck with your paper flowers, sorry :(

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    1. Alas, those paper flowers are elusive things. Many thanks to your MIL for looking, though.

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  6. "splotchy pattern resembling what my clothes often look like after attempting to drink coffee from a poorly-sealed Keep Cup on the way to work." - dying. I need more fabric like this in my life. I think I'd cut the dress down. With a nicely-fitted pair of jeans it would work.

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    1. Yes I'm all for stain-disguising fabrics! And I think you're right, I'll cut the dress down and wear it with skinny jeans.

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