I'm an 80-year old woman wearing a carpet.
I even fully lined it before I decided to toss it. But at least I stopped before sewing on the sleeve bands, hemming it, or thinking about buttons.
I spent far too much time working, ripping, and reworking ideas to highlight the seaming.
Plain old triple-stitch topstitching with dark green thread disappeared (see princess seams in first photo above). Double strands of off-white upholstery thread showed up slightly better, but looked like basting. Riiiiip. Raw-edge strips of self-fabric showed fine but were going to ravel away to nothing, which I decided *after* I had sewn it all on. Riiiiiip.
I settled on black bias tubing couched on with a green double zigzag. While this is the best of the bunch and looks fine, I wish I hadn't bothered. In the end, nothing could save it.
It's just not me. I don't wear fabric like this. Maybe that's why it had been in the stash for so long?
I cut my losses and threw it out, never again to be tempted to "save" it.
Moving on.
ETA: After receiving 2 comments with suggestions for fixing it or coming back to it, please note: It's too late. It's gone. Outta here. I decided I didn't want to come back to it and I tossed it. Believe me, I know pretty well what I'll wear and what I won't. Besides, there are too many other things on my list that I want to sew. I'll never miss this jacket.
Man, I know how you feel! I've been there! BUT, honestly, I think if you just add some shaping on the sides at the waist, add the pockets on the front to create some visual interest, and maybe cuff the sleeves like the CWC jacket, you would be much happier. I think without the details, all you see is the fabric, not the shape/style of the jacket. With the perfect buttons, I think you would have a huge success and your time will not have been wasted at all, seriously!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sally.
ReplyDeleteJust let it age a bit and come back to it.
Shari in NM
Agh!! So, this happens to the best of us.
ReplyDeleteYep, some days it's just best to toss and forget----never to be thought about again! :->
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm home alone!
ReplyDeleteJust your title and subtitle...with your eyes included in the pic... and I knew where this was going, and then, slow me... as I continued reading, "She's NOT 80 years old"... one onethousand, two onethousand - horkling laughter!
I'm laughing with you, NOT at you!!!
Been there, done that! To call them wadders is an understatement! And after I pull one of those I'm always thinking I should be buying some proper muslin fabric, not this hopeful wearable stuff!
And good for you for knowing what you wear and why!
(Thanks for a good humour break this am!)
Brenda
I commend you for having the spine to just say "no". I would never have done that...No, I would have put MORE work in to it, never to wear it. That said, it didn't look bad at all from here, but of course you are the final arbiter of clothing for you. I enjoyed the chuckle from the title. The pattern morphing alone would have taken me 20+, but then, I'm the slowest, and most easily distracted sewer in the world!
ReplyDeleteThat is really too bad, the style of the jacket is really nice, but final say, you know what is and is not for you. Having said that however, from what I see it really doesn't look bad :) It looks comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI too am learning that you have to know when to hold them and know when to fold them. Sometime when I have a project that is just not turing out right I'll trudge right through to the end and still not be happy. Other times it will make it to the trash basket in my sewing room only to be pulled out later on and then put back in. After it's put back in I immediately take it to the trash receptical that is kept out by the curb and then that is that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a timely post! I'm getting ready to finally toss out a jacket that has been hanging in the sewing room closet for 2 years now. I kept thinking I could save it but if you can do it, I can do it! Moving on, indeed!
ReplyDelete~Bev
I have a petticoat that beat me. I was still considering ways to fix it when my husband burst into laughter looking at it. To the trash it went. I felt much better once I tossed it. Sometimes a garment that is still worth saving is better off in the trash just to save your sanity. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteYou showed that %$#*& jacket who's boss. Now you know- I mean it's not a TOTAL waste of time because you learned not to get fabric like that again.
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating. Thanks for being so honest and sharing the trial with us. Hobbies are suppose to be fun and enjoyable - when the project doesn't meet the criteria then it's time to move on! Yea you and thanks for the reminder. g
ReplyDeleteI agree - good to toss and take that pressure off your back. I did a similar thing with patterns not too long ago - my tastes have changed, not to mention that I know better which styles look good on my body and which don't. Easier all around to tune out the noise and draw of things we know we won't wear.
ReplyDeleteHate when that happens! But it happens to us all, sigh.
ReplyDeleteSo what's up next? Something comfy and pretty and warm for winter lounging? Something dressy & glamourous?
It's a shame because I love the fabric. I tossed a wadder of a jacket last week, too. And it was silk tweed! Nothing could save it. You're better off throwing away things that don't work, I say.
ReplyDeleteSilly grandma carpets. Ugh! I do like the final trim you decided on though. That worked well and looks nice. Keep that idea for another garment. Moving on.....I see Sunshine. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL - nope not you - and I'm not sure about that fabric in any garment - but it would have made a lovely area rug for in front of the kitchen sink (I don't mean that ugly - I just think it would have been a nice rug.)
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Patti
Dang. I hate it when that happens. When projects don't work, I try to look back on it as a learning experience, but dang it's annoying....
ReplyDeleteWhen I toss something, I make sure it gets outside--in the trash. Then, it. never. happened.
ReplyDeleteI like how it fit through the shoulders and bust. I LOVE the trim idea you did. Too bad it sucked so much time. Sometimes those learning processes are time consuming. Congrats on dumping it. I have such a hard time with that.
ReplyDeleteI've had many projects that had to be put out of their misery. Ya know what? Life goes on. (I'm sure you already knew that). On to the next project.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, that's the most difficult thing. To admit to yourself that no amount of tweaks, changes or alterations will change a garment and make it lovable.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for following through as much as you did, and making the best decision for YOU!
If nothing else, you got to play with highlighting seams, and have gained experience with that.
I wouldn't have commented if you didn't say it was gone, but the green did look kinda frumpy on you. Hell, you're younger than I am, and that's waaaayyyy too young to be frumpy!
ReplyDeleteYou saved the pattern though right? I thought the style looked good on you.
ReplyDeleteShe said:
ReplyDelete"I'm an 80-year old woman wearing a carpet."
I laughed so hard at this subtitle that tears streamed down my face.
Sorry about your project, think of it as a learning experience and thanks for the laugh.
If you hadn't said it just wasn't the type of fabric you wear, I would have made a few suggestion for fixing. But I have a few suggestions for avoiding this heartbreak. (1) Go through your stash now and seperate fabrics that you know you won't wear. Put these in a pile to be used for muslins. These are very good for muslins because you won't even be tempted to wear them (2) did you consider doing samplers of your planned embellishment? I too hate ripping and a sampler allows me to try out and PICK the best. Sometimes the best is not the best looking but the best to execute.
ReplyDeleteLove all you do and did feel your pain.