The last time it happened, I chucked everything in a cupboard, never to see the light of day again. I can't do it this time as Lisa of the fabulous White Tree Fabric has generously given me the fabric and pattern and given me the chance to document the process.
I have sewn and unsewn seams, re-arranged my fabric and still ended up with a mess. Let's rewind and give you the back story.
In September, I wrote briefly of my amazement at being given a chance to sew an Issey Mayake pattern with some beautiful cotton lawn. As is usual with Issey Mayake patterns (I was an avid Mayake sewing fan in the early Eighties) an enthusiasm and origami mind processes are required.
Several cut rectangles later, I was ready. I was good, I read the sizes on the back of the envelope and cut it size 12-14. Then I got flu. Then I got flu again and before I knew it, it was Christmas. So over Christmas, with the aim of making the top for New Year's Eve, I got cracking.
The pattern is made up of 5 rectangles with a lot of spare fabric - I did end up using some of this, but I will explain that later!
The large rectangle has to be carefully marked and then cut down the middle between 2 points. Easy if you mark it correctly - I have been using Frixion pens recently, as the marks disappear when ironed (but always test - not everyone is happy using them) so this was a grab-your-ruler-and draw-that-line kind of moment. And this is where the origami fun begins. If you do not mark ALL the pattern markings onto your fabric, you are on a road to nowhere (hmm, I think that would make a great song title, don't you?).
Hmm, did that small rectangle really go there? This is supposed to be a size 12-14 but barely fit my 18 year old skinny-minny round the hips.
I grabbed the seam ripper and started again - fold left front across the....what? Put the zip where?
You really need either a live model to make this on or a tailor's dummy, so I bought myself a tailor's dummy (good excuse, huh?) as one daughter headed back to Uni and the other got her head down for A Levels.
Ooh, now this was better - I sewed the side panel in and then the side seam and......hang on, where does that bit go? The side pieces were too small to make a flattering side panel - too short on one side, not wide enough on the other. I even checked the pattern pieces for sizing, to make sure I had cut correctly - I had, so this was another mystery.
Needless to say, it all ended up back in pieces and draped on my tailor's dummy before my epiphany moment - but that is for next time!
