gained then lost my sewing confidence :(

toile · 10-13-2008, 11:46 PM

I think I shared that I have owned my machine for many years........ but patterns and my brain just don't mesh..... LOL.
I then discovered that youcanmakethis site and the free tutorials online.

I was making cute things and felt content finally...... then I tried a new thing.
It was so complicated, not clear, and I accidentally turned a rectangle the wrong way.....In doing so, I now have a tiny 2t dress with a 6t neck

Does anyone use that company?
Should I stick with certain things and avoid others?
I can't seem to evolve as a sewer.
I always struggled with directions on maps and sewing so much reminds me of that!
I read every direction like 10 times but still this one little part/error ruined the whole shirt.
When this happens I get so frustrated I dont sew for like 6 months.....

**santoria** · 10-14-2008, 01:09 AM

I have good moments and bad moments. never completely confident and I find that when I get too confident I make bigger mistakes.

I've never heard of that company.

I love patterns, its the instructions that go with them that bug the heck out of me.

**Moor** · 10-14-2008, 07:32 AM

I hardly ever use a store bought pattern. Or free ones online.

I make my own. I look at something, then try and figure out a way to make it myself.
I get too confused from the wording on the patterns and the sequence that they want you to do things.

**PennyWise** · 10-14-2008, 07:39 AM

Don't worry....it just takes practice!

**Dancing Lotus** · 10-14-2008, 08:23 AM

Well I get confident and then I try to do something beyond my skills..

I don't let it bother me, you got to try new things to learn new things. Patterns are difficult for me, it don't always understand them but I don't let that stop me.

**Ceashels** · 10-14-2008, 08:28 AM

practice is a big part of it. I made 3 practice dresses before trying my wedding dress with the expensive fabric. (It was a simple 10 piece pattern.) I have taken apart many seams when i realize 3 steps later that OOPS I did that wrong. LOL. Its all good, we learn with each project. Don't be discouraged.

**Momto2Boyz** · 10-14-2008, 08:29 AM

I think we've all had sewing disasters! I know I certainly have! Don't let it frustrate you, just dust yourself off and try again!

I'm not a pattern person. I don't use them and never have. If it is something that I know I will want to re-create, then I make my own pattern as I go. I just get too frustrated with them, it is easier to measure people myself and make adjustments!

**Lady_V** · 10-14-2008, 08:44 AM

I just sewed 'door snakes' and realized I had the fold-over in the wrong spot and ended up with something more like a straw because I sewed the wrong side

I refused to pull 36" of stitches, so I remade it.

At first I was so ticked off ... mostly at myself... because I couldn't manage to sew a darn snake! I got over it...

One candy bar later, I remade it and actually went in search of other material because I -wanted- to sew!

Pull out some scrap material. Sew a straight line. Then go crazy on it... sew all over the place! Don't follow the seam allowances, just sew, front, back, circles, whatever...

Pull the material out. Look around. Realize that the world did not stop spinning. Find something you want to make.

As far as what to avoid-- anything you don't really want to make in the first place. Try this site, it has easy to follow patterns. Before you actually make it, just look at the finished object and see if you can figure out how it's made before looking at the pattern

http://sewing.about.com/od/freeproje...teneasiest.htm

**PrairieRose** · 10-14-2008, 09:02 AM

Aawww, don't let it get ya down. Get right back on that horse and make something simple.... . It really is the way you learn.... . You'll get past this

**nuisance26** · 10-14-2008, 09:13 AM

~I've made my share of mistakes too, sometimes because of stupid directions. Usually I cast aside the project before I have an anxiety attack and plan to spend time with it and a seam ripper while watching a favorite movie or show. Sometimes the answer to a sewing dilemma comes to me days or weeks later and I'm able to return to the project with enthusiasm. The more experienced I get the more I realize that I should plan for mistakes. That way I don't get as emotionally involved and perfectionist about it.~

**perSue** · 10-14-2008, 09:16 AM

Aww! Don't beat yourself up over one thing.
We ALL make mistakes... I've had to rip out an entire dress... but that's because I followed a pattern.

To this day I do NOT follow patterns... but I just make whateve I "see" in my mind.

What I do if i see something online i like... I read the pattern... if it's not clear, I look for others like it and think about how I'd go about making it easiest... sometimes those directions simply are too much work... and I can make something WAY easier than how those directions are.

Just don't beat yourself up... it happens. Get a seam ripper and fix it and you'll be extra proud because you figured out how to do it on your own!

toile · 10-14-2008, 01:01 PM

Thanks yall!
I think I am upset for 2 reasons:

1.the directions were to cut the fabric at an angle, so I can't rip a seam out etc..
or glue the fabric back LOL

2.It was Heather Baily Fabric $$$

I guess the lesson always, is to make stuff on cheapo fabric first.

The cut that was confusing turned a size 6 shirt into a size 2 baby shirt....
The rest of the parts are size 6 so basically I own a pile of Heather Baily scarps LOL......

The shirt looked so easy that I just went to the fancy stuff.
Thanks again and yall are right.
You just have to keep at it and not let the wasted material bother me too much.
Thanks so much

**nuisance26** · 10-14-2008, 05:40 PM

~Would it be possible to layer a 2T shirt under the finished project? I was just thinking about those weird turtleneck scarf things that aren't full shirts but are meant to look like full shirts. Could you attach an undershirt and cut away the excess material?~

toile · 10-14-2008, 05:47 PM

Well the thing is my daughter needed the 4-6 size.
We don't have any size 2 kids

And all the correct, rest pieces are cut for size 6 as well.
It's the round neck shirt/dress at youcanmakethis.com

I like to make knock off Matil@da Ja@ne clothing.
The thing is ...if I can get this shirt down.
Its the basis for many things at PortaBallaPixie as well.
I notice all of these wardrobes are very basic then you add a twists as you make each one.

So far I have made the skirts, the peasant tops, dresses.
I will soon make the Kno@t dress.
The round kneck top will open so many new options for me.

Sorry for all the @ but I hear that these 2 designers don't like knock offs so I didn't want to flaunt my copy catting