Makers Review 2018 - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

 Lots of good, not much bad and ugly.

So what did I make in 2018?
I made 33 different items

Crochet
The Eastern Jewels Blanket - just finished

Art, Felt and other crafts
Several needle felted brooches
Lots of printmaking
A self-portrait and 70+ pieces for my exhibition

Sewing -
1 1/2 quilts - haven't finished the 2nd one.
11 Dresses
11 Tops
3 jackets/ waistcoats
1 skirt
3 jeans/ trousers
2 pairs of undies

That's quite a lot of stuff, of these things about 10 were made for others.

First up, the bad and ugly. These were the fails of my year.

I made a Gingham cami top from a Burda style magazine pattern. Nothing really wrong with it. I just didn't feel comfy in it. It's not really me - Never worn.

Secondly was the ruffle dress I made. I really liked the pattern and the fit was fine. I think I chose the wrong fabric for this make. I used a polyester slinky jersey for the dress and it looked fine, but I decided that the colour was not quite me and I really don't do well in polyester. I'd love to make this again, but in a darker fabric and not a synthetic, something I can team with boots and tights. - gifted to a friend

The third was a brown cropped Jacket that I embroidered. I didn't make this. It had been sat in my wardrobe for a couple of years and I just hadn't worn it. I thought if I embroidered it I'd actually wear it, but it just didn't seem to look right with any of my other clothes so despite loving this I gifted it.

What about the Good?

These were the successful makes of the year. Some I've worn a lot, others not so much, but I do love them.

Most worn: Pigs Might Fly dress. My hubby bought me the fabric for Christmas last year and I made the dress in January. I've worn it all year.

Surprisingly successful make, Ikea Fabric Culottes.  A friend gave me a boatload of fabric including a panel of Ikea fabric. so I made the culottes and wore them all summer. Going to make more.

Love but not worn much: The Sew Over It Eve dress in Royal Blue and my Franken pattern shift dress. I love both of these and need to wear them more.

Successful Refashions: First up was my wedding dress, which I refashioned for our 25th Anniversary. I've worn it a couple of times since and I think it will get some wear over the summer.

Secondly: Refashioned Cambie. I made the Cambie a couple of years ago from some Ikea fabric and found the bodice just didn't suit me, so I made a new front bodice with some spare fabric and used the existing back of the dress. I wear this a lot for work.

Best pattern: The Assembly Line Hoodie Dress - I've made two and I wear them a lot - so comfy, I'm planning a summer version without the hood.

Finally, I made Ginger jeans. the fit is pretty good for a first pair, but the fabric is not the best quality. However, they get plenty of wear. I'm wearing them right now.

So what have I learnt about sewing? I want to make more for others. I'll be making a prom dress, wedding dress and another shirt for my hubby this year, and more besides. I also realised I hate ditsy florals - fine for lining, but really not into it. Big bold abstract flowers are fine, but chintzy style stuff is not me. I do love spots, I love big prints and unusual designs. I love plain fabrics. I love the feel of natural fibres on my skin and I wear cardigans with everything so I really should learn to knit.

Long shift dress - Gertie/ burdastyle frankenpattern

I started this dress way back in September 2017. I had big plans, big, big plans and they came to nought.
I was going to make the surplice dress from Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book. I made two muslin's of the bodice and wasn't happy with the fit of either.
Then I tried the Wiggle dress from Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing, most of this fit ok, but I just don't think it was right for the fabric I had.
So my Solution - Franken Pattern - two tried and true patterns merged together.
I used Burdastyle Seamed dress 08/2012#120 for the bodice and the Pencil Skirt from Gertie's new book for better sewing.

My fabric is a floral woven cotton with just a bit of stretch and I have some white Tana lawn for the lining.

I assembled the front and back panels for the dress in both the shell fabric and lining and then put in the invisible zip.

Not a bad job at all. The next step was to sew the dress and facing together at the neck edge and then understitch. This gives a great finish and prevents the lining from peeking out. I sewed the armholes using the burrito method. This is my go-to way of sewing an all in one facing or lining. It's always worth cutting the lining a few mm narrower than the shoulders to allow the fabric to roll under. It also gives an opportunity to adjust the fit at the side seams too.

That's what I did next - sewing up the side seams, just on the dress fabric initially as I needed to check the fit. It's a good job I did as I needed to take in quite a bit at the waist and grading out to the hip. I pinned the dress and marked the new seamlines in chalk. I also pegged the skirt about 5cm at the hem.

Then Nothing!

I

Did

Nothing

For

Two

Months.

This dress had been thrown over the back of a chair for two months. Granted I've been busy, I hadn't blogged in that time, or even done much sewing. I'd fallen out of love with the dress, didn't like the fabric, couldn't be bothered with it.

Then after Christmas (yes  - that's when I finished it!) I had a couple of spare hours, the right colour thread in the machine and decided to sew up the alterations. I'm so glad I did. As soon as the side seams had been adjusted the dress looked so much better on and I like it again.

I even took the time to hand stitch the hem!

This make hasn't ben worm yet as I haven't had the occasion to wear it, but I did finally get my hubby to take photos for me last week - so I can post it at last. I'm hoping to wear it to a party in a couple of weeks.

Have you ever taken so long to make something that you've changed your mind frequently about it?