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Saturday 30 April 2011

DRESSMAKING sister of the bride project is a disaster !

Some of you maybe aware that I set myself a challenge of making a special dress for myself when attending my youngest sisters wedding. I started with high hopes and dreams that other guests would be commenting "wow, you made that yourself!" It all started well, a seemly easy ish pattern with some beautiful fabric.

So the project began, my husband kindly took our son out so I could have the house to myself, in my excitement I put on some rousing loud music and started cutting the pattern. Mistake no. 1. I I had to tape bits of it back together and turn the music off! From very early on though it was obvious that it was not going well. The little ruffled bit in the middle didn't really ruffle very well.

That band doesn't fit with any other piece, and the skirt just wasn't going to fit properly with that weird looking top half.

Then look at the back, even with a zip in it was never going to join together! And all that extra skirt fabric, what was I going to do with that? So yes a total disaster. Dress is scrapped!

I felt somewhat sad, until I noticed that the fabric is so lovely and I was sure I could do something to make it into a pretty skirt maybe? Being inspired by Meg the Grand and her 80s refashion I am sure I could have a go. Plus what  a great opportunity to use my two new books that I have just purchased.

I still adore the fabric, I am going to put it aside for a little while and make plans for a pretty skirt instead. But what do do for an outfit for the wedding?

6 comments:

  1. Aww No! Such a shame!

    There's some really cool dressy dresses in Burda magazine this month and a month or two back they did a wedding feature where they did wedding dresses and guest dresses some of which I've seen on the site.

    Hope you make something lovely from that fabric, it would be a shame to waste it like you said.

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  2. Don't be too hard on yourself - we all have sewing disasters, and I find most often it happens when I have high expectations for the end result. I have much confidence that you will a) turn that fabric into something fabulous and b) you will make something else that is sensational for the wedding.

    Happy days ahead!!

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  3. So sorry about the dress. I know you feel so discouraged. Doesnt it seem like, when it is an important occasion ,this always happens? argh!!!
    Try not to be discouraged. The fabric is so pretty, I can just see a beautiful skirt coming from it..

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  4. Oh no it sucks when things don't turn out :( But it usually works out fine in the end.

    I've been looking at it from a salvageable point of view if your not too frustrated with it and still want to use the fabric. What if you re-did the ruffle bit and also maybe the midriff to tie it all in, in a different material like a purple satin ? Then depending on how much of your original material you have left add some side seams to the bodice so you can get the extra material you need in the back? As for the extra skirt fabric that might be as easy as taking in the back seam.
    But if you still feel frustrated with it, leave it for now and come back to it in a few weeks. Who knows you might find the perfect new fabric in London and be willing to give it another whirl! :)

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  5. Thankyou all, I don't feel to bad as I know I'm going to make a lovely skirt. We all know how hard it is when things go wrong but it is a learning curve. x x x

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  6. So sorry to read about the dress, but I know you are going to have a stunning skirt soon! Chin up, dear :) I look forward to your next creation!

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