Sunday, April 25, 2010

Frustration........

noun:  "a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs, often accompanied by anxiety or depression."

This kind of sums up my sewing experiences this year (and late last year, now that I think about it).  Of the few items I have managed to make the only one I am truly pleased with and wear is the bathrobe!

In January I made two pairs of pants, from  two different patterns.  On initial wearing they weren't bad, on the next go round they both seemed baggy and ill fitting, possibly due to changes in my body from daily workouts.  Sure I am happy with the fruits of my workout labor......but it is playing havoc with my sewing labor.  Both pairs  now lie waiting to be altered.  They are winter wear, they can wait.

My second attempt to make B5331 ended in a UFO.  I'm not sure why, all that work with just the buttonholes to go and I just couldn't look at it anymore.  The color just didn't seem right, it was taking to long to finish, I just didn't want it anymore.

My second attempt at the capris from B3717 hasn't gone very well.  My first pair was made from 100% cotton and even though was prewashed shrank a little, but the fit was nice.   This version was made using a stretch twill, prewashed, plus a little extra added to the sideseams.  It turned out to look like jodhpurs, pooffy in the place I least need it! So I took the side seams in at the original seam.  They looked better but not great.  I don't know maybe I'm hypercritical or maybe the fabric wasn't right, it seemed right when I started out but got stretchier and heavier as time went on.  These capris now reside with B5331, in need of a waistband and hemming and I don't know what else to make them right.

The little short sleeve jacket I am making from S4182 is almost done, just sleeves and facings.  It's okay, fit isn't too bad although I don't like the gathered bodice in back but it's not horrible.  I'm just not loving it, maybe wrong fabric again or the style is too young for me, I just don't know.

I revisited a UFO from last April, S2896 .  I needed a dress for a party and thought that since I my body has shifted fat around, it might fit.  But no, apparently that only works with the pants I made, the dress was still a little snug and this time pooffy in the stomach......another place I can ill afford any pooffiness.  I finished the dress, but still had to go out and buy a new one, which looked great and fit great and only took about 1/2 hour of my life to find.

Here is my frustration, after all the hours and money spent on these items I'm not loving any of them except as I said my bathrobe.  I am on a very limited budget and thought I could make some nice garments at reasonable prices, but it's not turning out that way.  Working 2 jobs gives me limited sewing time and the time spent sewing has not resulted in much.  I'm thinking my money and time would be more well spent at a thrift store or Target!

I don't know, maybe I'm just tired, maybe I just need a break from sewing.  Maybe I enjoy the thought of sewing all my own garments, of picking out patterns and fabric....but not the actual process of sewing them all
I don't know I'm just frustrated!

2 comments:

  1. Hi Chris.I'm pretty sure we all have times like you're having when we question whether our sewing is worthwhile. Why don't you choose to sew something from a pattern you've really loved in the past and with fabric that you know suits you well. If you have one success, I'm sure you'll feel better about your sewing.
    We all have sewn stuff that just sits there and we wonder what we were thinking when we made them. Only yesterday, I put a cardi and tank set in the goodwill bag that I didn't even wear once but spent a lot of time on back in February. It bugged me and I thought if I just got rid of it I would just get over the wasted time and money I spent on it.
    Good luck on your next project.
    Diana

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  2. Thanks, Diana. I appreciate the pep talk. I know everyone hits a wall like this. I'm sure I will get over it. I am still struggling to finish the little jacket and have vowed not to start anything until it's done. Could be awhile!!!LOL

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