16 May Butterick 4735
Since my last post, I experienced my first true sewing disaster of the year with this Vogue pattern.
(View A)
……….a beautiful piece of silk I purchased from Mood,
gaping armholes, hours of redoing to no avail……..
it’s painful to write about it.
To console myself, I turned to what I know how to do;
ruffles and wraps……….. in hot pink
After completing the refashioned Lily skirt, I was equally divided on whether aqua or pink would be the better choice for a top. I like both.
I made the top from an old Butterick pattern which I have sewn before. 
I prefer ruffles to flounces and sashes to ties, and the changes came easily since I was familiar with the pattern.
The sash is over 6 feet long for a double wrap around the waist plus a generous bow. Made of a heavier linen, the top has body and needed no lining. It’s cool and will be perfect for the upcoming h o t & h u m i d South Carolina summer weather.
I admit it’s time to put up the ruffler for a while and move on to new sewing projects. Even I’m getting tired of so many ruffles – but it’s also difficult to move on after my recent failure.
I’ll be out-of-town and away from my sewing machine for a few days which might be just what I need 🙂
Best wishes to all and more soon.
Meg
Posted at 20:37h, 16 MayWah! We feel your pain! I just had a disaster with one of our beautiful Lycra brocades. Total operator error on my part. Sigh. These things happen. Keep sewing.
Meg@mood
Posted at 20:38h, 16 MayOops, my Mood log-in name failed to appear above.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:02h, 17 MayHi Meg! Fortunately I was working with a muslin collar so maybe I have enough silk left for a one yard wonder. Many thanks for writing 🙂
Rita
Posted at 15:47h, 17 MayAnd I just wadded up a piece (2 actually) of linen knit, a la Eileen Fisher, after trying to construct a neckline 5 different times! I’m tempted to buy the Eileen Fisher shirt I was trying to emulate just to see how the hell their neckline didn’t look like a piece of cooked spaghetti.
Sew-4-Fun
Posted at 21:05h, 16 MayBeautiful top! I too feel your pain with the silk. :(( It happens to all of us, more often than I care to admit.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:59h, 17 MayMany thanks for the nice comment! I’ve learned so much from your blog and love all of the pretty tops and blouses you make 🙂
Carol
Posted at 22:07h, 16 MaySorry to hear that, but you recovered well…love the pink and ruffles!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:58h, 17 MayThanks for writing, Carol! I really do love the pink top and there’s nothing I can do about the silk. Sharing it with readers was the best thing I could do to move on 🙂
CherryPix
Posted at 22:43h, 16 MayOh pooh. How annoying. I recently did something similar with some nice stretch denim….wasted on a maxi jeans skirt from last Nov BurdaStyle ….I’ve put it out of my sight…but am plotting to take it all apart and try again….enjoy your mini break!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:56h, 17 MayMany thanks, Cherry! I guess it happens to everyone. 😉
RoseOK
Posted at 23:42h, 16 MayI always make a “muslin” before I cut into my good stuff. It is a good way to use up your “what was I thinking fabric” or you can use something you like but it’s from Joann’s mark down section. So if it comes out good the first time, you have a great top if not, you haven’t ruined your expensive fabric. I try to have my “muslin” fabric similiar to what the “real” fabric is. I am the “muslin” queen.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:55h, 17 MayHi Rose,
Boy did I make a muslin – even with thread traced stitching lines! I thought I had fixed the gaping armholes on the muslin only to find them worse on the silk……………….. I would never consider cutting silk without one. Oh well, some things just don’t work out. Many thanks for writing 🙂
sue
Posted at 04:20h, 17 MaySooo pretty! Sorry about the wadder ;(
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:53h, 17 MayThanks, Sue! It happens……. just hate it when it happens with silk, but I’ll be fine 🙂
sewnforever
Posted at 05:56h, 17 MayI’ve been following your blog and enjoy it immensely – you have almost inspired me to follow suit . . . almost! This last post made me smile wrily. I have a run of things I am really pleased with and say to myself, “Why would I pay ££££ for a garment when I can make it for ££? ” And there is no doubt about it the more I make the better the results until all of a sudden, for no obvious reason, I hit a what I have learned are called in the US, a Wadder! This unhappy garment can be from the cheapest/most expensive fabric, a rush to finish at 3am or a careful hours of labour project – nothing will save it. I have learned to quit before I go mad – your trip away sounds very well timed – in my experience, after an enforced break the next thing you make will work fine!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:50h, 17 MayThank you so much for this encouraging comment! My decision to make my clothes for a year rather than buy has been one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself for many, many reasons. When the year is up beautiful clothes will still be hanging on the store racks should I choose to buy. I’m realizing how much I’ve gained and how little I’ve missed 🙂
Marlene
Posted at 07:50h, 17 MayI have returned to sewing from a 10 year hiatus and I have been obsessing over the many sewing blogs I have discovered….what fun! You are super adorable and I love all the things you make. Thank you for being one of my inspirations! Love the skirt and top!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:48h, 18 MayMany thanks for this lovely comment, Marlene! I took an extremely long sewing hiatus myself and have truly enjoyed “being back at the machine”. I hope your return to sewing is satisfying and resulting in lots of great new clothes!
Cissie Wellons
Posted at 09:21h, 17 MaySo sorry about your “wadder”, but with all the sewing you’ve been doing, you actually lucky not to have encountered one before! I always try to get them out of my sight as soon as possible to avoid hours of needless angst and regret! You made a super recovery with the wonderful pink top! Sometimes that is the best antidote for disaster — do something you KNOW will turn out well.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:50h, 18 MayThanks, Cissie! That’s great advice and I believe I’ll do just that 🙂
Irene
Posted at 09:30h, 17 MaySo sad to read about your “unsuccess”. It happens. Your pink blouse, though, looks wonderful! I do so admire bright colours on others – just don’t seem to “see” them on me.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:52h, 18 MayHi Irene.
Thanks so much for writing! Pink has always been one of my favorite colors….. all shades 🙂
Peggy
Posted at 09:43h, 17 MayOh, I hate it when a pattern doesn’t work out! But your new pink top is fantastic and it looks great with the Lilly skirt!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:52h, 18 MayThanks so much, Peggy! ……. and I do love the last two dresses you’ve made. 🙂
June
Posted at 12:15h, 17 MayOof! Ouch! So sorry! 🙁 Your new pink top looks great, though!
I have a recent wadder myself, I know how much it stinks. I too went straight to a no-fail project (strung beads on memory wire to make a bracelet) to feel better about it all.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:54h, 18 MayI know these things happen, and just hate it when it happens to me. If I knew where I went wrong I’d feel better but I just can’t figure it out! Thanks for writing 🙂
Elaine
Posted at 12:48h, 18 MayLove the pink ruffled wrap top. It is a very flattering style on you. I thought of you as I was walking through the local Kohl’s (not Neiman Marcus!) yesterday and I just kept on walking. School is out today and I hope to do some sewing this summer. Sorry about the Mood silk, but I’m betting we haven’t seen the last of that yet.