Sew Bossy - a disaster saved only by my partner in crime!

You've all heard of the genius initiative that is Sew Bossy, right? In case you've been living under a rock, it's the chance to buddy up with a blogger you admire and send each other a complete project kit (pattern, fabric, lining and notions) by mail. When the beautiful and multi-talented Kat of Petticoats and Peplums asked me to buddy up with her all the way from Australia, I said 'of course' as I've long admired her adorable makes and delicious-looking baked goodies.

Kat certainly delivered the goods with a cute 1960s-inspired Kwik Sew pattern along with some lovely lilac fabric and white notions to match. I was excited to make up something in a solid colour (I'm usually a sucker for prints) and you just can't go wrong with an awesome collar!


Alas, complete and avoidable disaster struck. I totally messed up and despite having already apologised to Kat profusely, I still feel I've let her and Sew Bossy down! My troubles are a combination of cramming too much in and getting cocky. Life is really busy at the moment, but I hate missing out on sewing fun, so I thought I'd be clever and skip the muslin. I've gotten away without making muslins for my last 7 makes, with only minor alterations needed, but I went one step further this time. I stupidly cut two sizes down (cutting one size down is normal for me and then I always end up taking bits in)...BIG MISTAKE!!! It obviously came out way too small and no amount of clawing back seam allowances and attempting to add extra panels worked. I butchered this good and proper and I feel ashamed for being so brazen on a collaborative project like this. I'm so sorry Kat - I hope you can forgive me and I hope I haven't just alienated an entire sewing community that may have wanted to share challenges with me in the future!

This would be a pretty depressing post if Kat hadn't agreed to me featuring her divine make instead. I sent over Butterick reproduction 5748 and a really unique Mediterranean-print cotton lawn, as well as some cotton lawn lining and a yellow, vintage zip.
And once again, Kat delivered the goods! I think you'll agree that she's done both pattern and fabric justice, she's taken as much care over the inside of the dress as she has the outside and she looks simply stunning! I'm so glad one of us pulled it out of the bag at least! Please pop over to Kat's blog for more pictures and details about the making of her dress.





As for me, I'm still mortified about how badly I messed up, but I'm grateful to Kat for being so understanding about my momentary bout of madness! It doesn't help either that Heather - one of Sew Bossy's masterminds - has paired me with Anna from paunnet in her fantasy draft pick. I'd love to oblige, but not sure I dare take the risk of disappointing any more people :o(

Have you taken part in Sew Bossy? How did you get on?

50 comments:

  1. Awww don't be too hard on yourself. I did this end of last year. I had this gorgeous vintage fabric and I went to make a 60s pattern. I cut it to my size because it was A-line and I thought it would be fine. No, too small. The more I worked on it, it frayed....oh I shudder to think of the massacre it became. Hope you feel better about it soon. xx

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    1. Oh dear...double whammy with the vintage fabric! Thanks for making me feel better!xx

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  2. Oh Marie! I'm so sorry things went so bad for you. But honestly I think we have all been there at one time or another. Sewing disasters happen to the best of us. I'm not disappointed in you at all! I would always be up for taking part in challenges with you so don't feel like you have alienated anyone :)

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    1. Thanks so much Kat, really appreciate your positive and forgiving attitude!

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  3. Please don't feel bad - if anything it makes me enjoy your blog even more as its nice to know your human!! Your so talented its gets a little intimidating when u see so many clever people making such beautiful things so it actually makes it easier to start sole thing if you know clever talentedeople make mistakes too!!

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    1. Aaaw, thanks so much Caroline! I try to be as honest as possible on here and will always share my mistakes/disasters as it's part of learning and evolving I guess!

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  4. You poor thing!!! I just did the same thing on my Deer and Doe Chardon skirt, everything I make is always too big so I decided to go a couple of sizes down and it is too frickin' small!! Nope, no muslin, beautiful fabric that I was really looking forward to wearing. I feel your pain :(

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  5. Ah, I think we've all had some sewing regrets- mine sadly involved both Cynthia Rowley and Anna Sui- it was a lot of ladies to disappoint, but we try again, right? I love the Sew Bossy Initiative!!

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    1. Yes, we certainly do pick ourselves up and try again ;o)

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  6. Oh, Marie. Please don't be so mean to yourself! We are all human, and we all get scissor-happy sometimes. I bet you can save it if you lock it away for a month or two and forget about the upset of it all. Calm eyes see things very differently xxx

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    1. Thanks so much Tania, you're very kind and wise!

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  7. Oh no! such a shame, what a cute pattern :-)
    Thanks for sharing your foibles
    xx

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  8. You're in good company... I fitted a shift dress toile standing up. This made my final make fine for standing up but useless for breathing deeply or sitting down!

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    1. Oh no, how annoying for you! That's totally the kind of thing that I would do too!

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  9. You didn't fail your partner because you sent her some awesome stuff!! Her dress is beautiful, so you should be proud that you contributed to the exchange and made someone's wardrobe very happy. And at least you can still try the Kwik Sew pattern again, which I'm sure she'd appreciate. There is no such thing as being alienated by the sewing community -- I mean, we're all kinda obsessed with you, isn't it clear? ;)

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    1. Aaaaw, thanks Andrea! You've made me feel so warm and fuzzy inside and optimistic about tackling the pattern again ;o)

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  10. I'm so sorry, but you know, these things happen all the time, but not everybody is brave enough to blog about it ;) I had some major failures that I was too ashamed to share with the world. At least you've learned something!

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    1. Yes, I certainly have learned a lesson!

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  11. Ohh man what a shame:( Kats is lovely as Always.. and you can always try the pattern with another fabric?:)

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    1. I will definitely try the pattern again for sure!

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  12. Oh no, Marie!! I'm so sorry! How heartbreaking! I hate when I do that sort of thing, but I can certainly say - we've all been there! And you did SUCH an amazing job picking out the pattern & fabric for Kat's dress. Truly, that fabric is just stunning... are those lemons and Dutch vases?? And have no fear about the sewing community, it's all love around here :)

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    1. Thanks Miss Sallie, you always know how to cheer me up! xx

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  13. Poor dear. It's stressful enough to fudge up your own ideas, let alone something someone thoughtfully sent you.It happens. Don't beat yourself up to much. If anything, I think you need another Sew Bossy just to work through your anxiety!

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    1. You're probably right...just get back on the horse Marie!

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  14. Aww man, that's no fun! I know we've all been there, though-- not every project is a success! Kat's dress is really beautiful, though. I'd still call this a successful collaboration!

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  15. Everyone makes mistakes! My goodness, you are so hard on yourself. Anyone who has ever sewn anything in their life has certainly done something like this before. I'm sure no one hates you or wants nothing more to do with you. You're only human, like the rest of us. And it's all going to turn out all right in the end!

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    1. Thank you...very wise words! I'm normally much nicer to myself when I mess up my own ideas, but this time I just felt so bad on Kat! But you've all proven so forgiving ;o)

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  16. I've been there. It's the worst feeling when nothing seems to save a project. I learned my lesson the hard way a few times and have started making muslins now. Buying pricier fabric has helped drill it into my head... I literally can't afford a mistake :).

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    1. Hehe, that's one way to force yourself to do things properly ;o)

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  17. I understand your heartbreak, I have done the same thing. Sometimes I get overconfident and my next project shows me I didn't know as much as I thought I did. It happens to all of us, and it has happened to me more times than I can to remember.

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    1. Oh dear...maybe we'll learn one day ;o)

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  18. Sad day. Ugh. I hate when those mistakes happen. Hopefully you can use the fabric for something else. But you picked a great pattern and matching fabric for Kat's dress. It looks amazing!

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  19. Poor thing! It happens to us all! Maybe get a similar fabric and pattern and make it up again? Maybe even with Kat's approval for the new pattern/fabric? I currently have the pattern pyramid and no one has commented on it that they want it. I also hate the idea of disappointing other bloggers.

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    1. That's a great idea, I'll pose it to Kat ;o) I've entered your giveaway...would love to help keep the pyramid going!

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  20. Think of it as just one more sewing experience! Just some extra sewing practice. Did you finish the dress? Could you give it to someone who will wear it and love it?

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    1. I totally ruined it in the end with all the unpicking and improvising I'm afraid :o( But I will give it a go in another fabric at some point for sure!

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  21. I feel your pain. I rushed through my last two makes, feeling like I was in the best sewing groove, and they are both such disasters! Sorry to hear that your Sew Bossy make was unwearable. At least there's one beautiful dress to celebrate out of the whole thing!

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    1. Sorry to hear that Amy, I guess we're all human! But yes, Kat's dress is soooo beautiful!

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  22. Oh no, that's no fun when it doesn't work. I don't make muslins either, but so far, touch wood, I've been lucky! Kat's dress though is stunning and I've told her so. Great choice of pattern and fabric on your part :-)

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    1. Thanks Nikki and long may your success continue!

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  23. Wait, how did I not know Kat was from Australia?! LOL Her dress is gorgeous and so well made! I love that print, too. What wonderful fabric!

    I'm so sorry that your make didn't work out, it's such a dance we play with doing or not doing a muslin. I know it's gotten me into trouble before too, yet I continue to not always do them. :P

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    1. Yep, she sure is ;o) Her dress is just stunning isn't it?!

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  24. I think all sewers have done it Marie. I have several boxes of UF0's and mistakes sitting on top of my wardrobes, everything goes in that I don't like is too small or is too badly made. I don't like to throw fabric away, and I know that eventually I will remake it all. Don't be so hard on yourself. I also feel that every make be it good or bad is a learning experience. Looking forward to your next seeing your next make.

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    1. Thank you for the wise words and advice!

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  25. It happens to everyone! I totally feel your pain - my dressmaker's dummy is wearing my Anise jacket at the moment as I sewed the lining sleeves in back to front, and didn't realise until I had finished the jacket. Yep, finished it. So I have to do a lot of unpicking. I'll get to it eventually.

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    1. Oh noooooo, poor you! I hope you fix it soon lady!!!

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