sewing

lessons learnt

15 Comments
Vogue 8750
click to go to pattern

Okay. Let’s look at this one last time, shall we?

Remember this, this, and more recently the petersham post here?

After several years of working (mostly not working) on this, I still think it’s a good pattern.

Just not in the fabric I chose. And there’s a huge learning curve in that “NOT.”

As I got into the pattern, which has some weird pieces that prove interesting for fit, I discovered that precise seam widths were vital. (ugh!) A fraction off in some places and it’s seam ripper time.

see any top stitching?
thought not.

But even more important was the concept of those side pieces. Definitely bias effect going on, which should affect what fabric gets used, and its pattern.

Blithely ignorant, I lost a lot of the skirt’s character, as all the interesting top stitched detail  became invisible on this patterned fabric.

Although I thought the weight of the cotton would be good (it’s okay), it turned out the ravelling has been horrendous. Something I didn’t discover until I’d washed it a few times, which I did over the past 2 years.

see all the straggling ends? don’t believe that using pinking shears on a cotton will handle any ravelling… just sayin’

But lest we get discouraged, there have been positives: Learning about petersham ribbon from Hila’s post and actually using it for a waistband has been a huge plus. (Suspect it will influence most future skirts.)

The other huge plus has been realising, then acknowledging my mistake in using fabric I do not like. (An early on-line purchase so I didn’t touch it beforehand.)

HUGE lesson learnt: Don’t even think about using up fabrics you don’t want to touch… even for a toile.

Below are assorted photos from the recent finishing. However, if you’re looking for sassy photos of me wearing this . . . 😱   Shock! Horror!

Do you ever see sassy piccies of me??  Lol!   Will admit to laundering it again, giving it a good press, and trying it on. It fits loosely, as I made a straight 16 I think, and am not about to alter it.

The petersham waist works really well for me (hate waistbands) as it sits at the waist (or would if I fitted it properly) and doesn’t annoy. Because of the weird side pieces there’s a good fit at the hip, particularly when seated.

Would I make it again? “Never say never.”  Maybe. . . . but with better fabric.

😊  Have a grand weekend, Lovelies!

15 thoughts on “lessons learnt”

  1. That pattern taunts me! I love the style lines, but the version I made in lightweight denim with the fullness just didn’t work. You’re making me think about trying this one again. It really has great design “bones” and I love your petersham idea!

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    1. I keep wondering about doing the longer version in rayon/viscose! And wondering how yours turned out. So HUGE Thank You for writing your experience.
      Yep. Great phrases for this one: haunting & good design bones.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Lol, you sound very jolly in and amongst all them learning curves. Wonder if those learning curves were too helped by the petersham 🤣🤣?? And yay to away with the pins!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I think you should give us a twirl tho….💃🏻

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    1. Glad the post wasn’t depressing ’cause thinking about that skirt sure depressed me! Pencil skirts don’t twirl too good unless a pencil’s doing the twirling! Lol! 😂

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  4. So, just to clarify, you’re saying the petersham ribbon works as a facing? So you don’t have to cut a curved facing out of the fabric? If that’s what you’re saying, I will go out and look for some because that would be useful. You could post a pic that’s not sassy, couldn’t you? I mean, I don’t think sassy is a requirement …..

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    1. Yes, petersham acts as the facing.
      No, you don’t cut a curved facing.
      Just be sure that you’re getting real petersham, and not grosgrain!
      Real petersham has teensy scalloped edges because it wraps back & forth (that’s why & how it curves nicely).
      Grosgrain is linear – each line ends at the edge. No curves, in more ways than one. 😉 Hope this helps!
      Finding someone to take any photos is very problematic just now… sorry.

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        1. Okay, sorry to have made assumptions. Up here anyone with any kind of cell phone plan, no matter how minimal, can get a new phone every 2 years for free.

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