An ode to failed projects

I decided that it was time to write an ode to failed projects, or at least admit I do in fact have failed projects. We all do know that social media only shows people's best sides, that's only natural, you want to show your best side to the world - I get that, because I do it, everyone does it!

I also have been feeling than in a lot of sewing blogs have post after post of amazing projects all finished beautifully with amazing photos. I'm a person that's generally pretty grounded, I tend not to compare myself with others, but I feel like all this "perfection" is really bumming me out.

This was my latest project and it was a complete failure

Last weekend was a long weekend and I had ever intention of finishing off a project, a new dress with a cute cat print. I didn't finish the dress though, because every single part of this project went wrong and it was a complete nightmare and I finally gave up when Rich asked if I was still working on the same dress. He wasn't being rude or hurtful, he's actually got a fairly good handle on how quickly I can sew and cross stitch because he's pretty crafty himself. He made me realise I'd been working on this project WAY too long and it was time to let it go.

Mia tried to help me with the dress, but even she couldn't save it from disaster

The thing is, sometimes projects go wrong - whether it's a sewing project, art work, cake or something else entirely. However most people don't admit to their failures on social media - blogs, facebook, instagram or whatever - we only really want to show the best of our life.

But, sometimes everything goes to hell and I would never advocate in wallowing in sadness and failure, I think its good to admit sometimes everything does go wrong and that's ok.

This is my dress, its a total failure - an adorable failure, but a failure nonetheless! I redid the waist casing in this thing three times and I reset one of the sleeves SEVEN times and it's still wonky and generally awful. This is a dress I will never wear, the whole thing is a hot mess and a total failure.

It's totally ok its a failure too, to start with I was pretty upset about the whole thing as I had spent a LOT of time on this project. However, now I've had time to reflect I'm ok with the failure because we all make mistakes and its good to actually admit that to the big wide world.

I've had some good advice from some sewing friends as to what to do next to lift my spirits (make a simple pattern or a tried and true pattern is the consensus) and I've also heard from a couple of friends who have actual formal training in dressmaking/design that the same thing has happened to them too a number of times. I'm just a home sewing hack, so if people with real training and skills makes mistakes, its totally ok for me to make mistakes too.

I have now cut out the fabric for a top in a very easy pattern and a dress in a very tried and true pattern, I'm going  to try and sew them up over the weekend and re-built some of my sewing confidence.

I hope you all are having a great week, and don't forget, its actually totally ok to make mistakes. Any adorable failures you'd like to share?

Blue Sunday Top

In my last post you would have seem my brand new top - until now unnamed and unblogged.

I have decided to call this wee top the "blue Sunday" top - because its blue and the first day I wore it was a Sunday. I'm extremely imaginative. 

I have to admit, this top almost didn't come into existance - I bought this fabric some time ago at fabric a brac and I was certain it needed to be a top. When the Sewaholic Belcarra Blouse was released, I was sure it was the perfect pattern for the fabric.

But it turned out I didn't really have enough fabric for the blouse, but I thought to hell with it, I'm going to make it work! Seen as the blouse is quite loose fitting I made a size smaller, cut a WHOLE lot of the length off and didn't make the binding. So its not EXACTLY a Belcarra - but its my version and I think it works. 

I DO really want to make this blouse again and next time actually make more of a billowy kind of top. But I love this one for what it is.

Earlier today Rich and I took a walk in central park and it was WINDY - I was brave enough to take my jacket and cardi off for a couple of photos (but only JUST brave enough). Turns out I hated both of the full length photos anyways.

Its the end of March now and very much feeling like winter rather than Autumn. Don't let the clear blue skies fool you, we nearly got blown away walking to the park.

 Here's evidence you should never doubt the strength of the wind in Wellington. I think this happened during a big storm we had last winter.

We saw this walking home and it made me smile - no doubt it used to say something like "Thank You for slowing down" and the rest of the sign has gone AWOL. But I like it just how it is.

Indie Sewing Pattern Month (Better late than never)

So way back in June a couple of my friends from the Wellington Sewing Bloggers Network, Kat and Mel hosted an indie pattern sew along. I have to be honest, if I am going to splash out and by a new pattern rather than a second hand one I much prefer to buy an indie pattern as its good to support small industry and to be honest, many indie patterns are much more to my tastes that the big pattern companies.

So I did have EVERY intention of joining in on the indie pattern sew-a-long I even bought this pattern and this one, but then something happened - I lost my sewjo. It seemed everything I made turned out crap to the stage I didn't want to make anything to wear ever again. But with some loving words from my girls the the WSBN I decided it was time to give sewing another go (I mean I have spent too much time and money to quit now).

Instead of buying one of Christine Haynes dress patterns (which I will try another time) I decided to make a Renfrew top from sewaholic. 

I think I need to take a moment to give a big thank you to Penny from Dresses & Me for opening an New Zealand based online pattern store that sells indie patterns! There have been patterns I've wanted to try in the past but the expense of having them posted had put me off buying them altogether.

Also Penny is really lovely so if you're going to buy indie patterns you should buy them from Penny - you can find her shop here

Here's my first ever Renfrew top - I made a size too big I think, but I can still make it work. This photo isn't so great as its taken after work in our apartment - I can't wait until its daylight savings time again and we actually have light after work to take photos.

I do really like the Renfrew pattern, but next time I will make a few adjustments - make a size smaller, shorten the sleeves (you can't really see it in the picture, put the cuffs reach my knuckles) and also shorten it so I don't have to tuck it in. But I don't HATE this top, it's a miracle. Maybe I don't suck at sewing after all?