This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience

This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (Full Version)

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Toppingfrmbottom -> This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/7/2010 7:46:43 PM)
I'm attempting to sew a wrap around top for myself. Should be very simple hem it on all fours, two hems on the side being big enough to put buttons and button holes into, and sew on some straps. First attempt something went wrong and the fabric would no longer fit me, we start again, and it takes me like 2-3 hours to hem and pin the hem, since I have to carefully measure, and make it right, that was pain staking, we get to the point we can progress and I don't know exactly how I am supposed to do the straps and button holes. So I decide a test project is in order, and in short form whip up a little doll dress for my moms doll, but I messed up. I put the straps for the dress on either end of the dress, and now if I button the dress, like I plan on doing, the straps are in the wrong location. My patience is sapped, I am tired and my back hurts, I'll try again another time. On the bright side, I discovered the way i did it could make a neat wall hanger. And the test fabric was free, my mom gave it to me. But I think I'll be lucky to survive this project with my sanity, if to much more confuses me , takes forever, or goes wrong lol.

CalifChick -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/8/2010 1:55:38 AM)
What do you mean by "wraparound" top? Do you mean something like a button-down shirt where, if all the buttons were undone, it would open out mostly flat? Or do you mean one that overlaps itself, usually in the front, and then buttons closed, with one or two buttons near the top at the two points of overlap? I think you might want to rethink either of those ideas. Wrap tops that button closed do not fit well on curvy women. They work best on people with straighter bodies - slim women without a lot of bewbage or children (toddlers are adorable in these). You may wish, instead, to do something like this: http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/pillowcase-to-nightie-with-no-pattern

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/8/2010 2:11:20 AM)
It's a length of fabric and you wrap it around you, and then you take up the slack in the back, until it fits like you want it to, and then you put buttons in the back and button it down the back. You ever seen those terry cloth swim suit cover ups that go around your bust and velcro shut in the front, like a sleeve? It's sorty of like that but it closes in the back. Well, I am sure there's a name out there for the type of top I am sewing, but I don't know what they'd be called, so I call them wrap tops, since to find out what size you want you just wrap a length of fabric around you from the front to the back an then put a seam in for buttons and one for holes and button it down the back. It may not look that good on me it's true, but I wanted to go with the idea, since this is the first time in a long time I had any interest in making clothing, and if it don't look good on me, no harm no fowl, the fabric was given to me by my mom, and I got to excercise my sewing skills. I just wish it wouldn't tax my patience and sanity so much, but next time I do a mock up, hopefully the house will be quiet and I w*on't have two hours of the foot ball induction to the hall of fame, yapping in my ear, which helped greatly to erode my patience and my nerves.

LadyHibiscus -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/8/2010 2:43:18 PM)
Cali is on the right track... I think the problem you are having is that you need to start with the BIGGEST measurement, then do a band around the top to gather in the extra fabric. Also, try cutting on the BIAS, but still using extra fabric, it will give you ease when you sit, but DON'T scale back on the measurments, bias fabric stuck to curves is NOT pretty!

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/9/2010 9:44:29 AM)
It fitting me isn't the problem, with this piece of fabric. It only didn't fit me the last time cause we cut it wrong, and there wasn't enough fabric left to fix it. This one it was like a good 3 yards an we were more careful lol. I don't know quite how I am supposed to do the button holes or make the straps. I mean I kind of know, it should be easy, in theory you cut material for a strap, sew the straps, and then place them between the pieces of fabric that the side seam meeting top of material makes and sew it down.. but in practice, not theory, I am not so sure now that'd work. And the side seam probably does not go far enough over that, that'd work, since I don't need the straps on the end of the fabric, I need it more where your bra strap when wearing one would sit, because, other than helping to keep the top on, I want straps to hide my bra straps some. Since i think bra straps sticking out of your :tube top" for lack of better word, is tacky. quote: ORIGINAL: LadyHibiscus Cali is on the right track... I think the problem you are having is that you need to start with the BIGGEST measurement, then do a band around the top to gather in the extra fabric. Also, try cutting on the BIAS, but still using extra fabric, it will give you ease when you sit, but DON'T scale back on the measurements, bias fabric stuck to curves is NOT pretty!

sirsholly -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/9/2010 10:58:54 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Toppingfrmbottom It's a length of fabric and you wrap it around you, and then you take up the slack in the back, until it fits like you want it to, and then you put buttons in the back and button it down the back. . quote: You may wish, instead, to do something like this: http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/pillowcase-to-nightie-with-no-pattern i would go with this as well. Two straight pieces of fabric with straps at the top and possibly a loose elastic band at the bottom. Much easier than the wrap-around style you are making, and much less bulk from excess fabric and button holes. But as said before, cut on the bias or it will not hang properly.

FelineFae -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/9/2010 11:03:07 AM)
i can offer no help, only sympathy. <~~ i have botched many a sewing project.[&:]

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/9/2010 11:42:18 AM)
fortunately it's not botched yet, but thank you for the sympathies:) they are appreciated! [:)] quote: ORIGINAL: FelineFae i can offer no help, only sympathy. <~~ i have botched many a sewing project.[&:]

ShaharThorne -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/9/2010 12:43:58 PM)
And folks wonder why I refuse to sew...I know better...LOL! Lizard is learning to sew from a seamtress in Austin (one of our neighbors) and she is using my machine. She makes her own clothes for cosplay saves money since she cannot order on ebay...hehehe

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/9/2010 1:00:51 PM)
It can be very fun and exciting to make your own clothing, and it certainly opens up a whole world available to you that wouldn't be if you were limited to off the shelf. I just normally don't care to make my own stuff. To complicated for me, or I just don't have the patience.

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/9/2010 1:16:38 PM)
Holly I don't know what the "bias is" It's been many years since I took lessons and what I usually sew is very simple stitch turn and finish. quote: ORIGINAL: sirsholly Much easier than the wrap-around style you are making, and much less bulk from excess fabric and button holes. But as said before, cut on the bias or it will not hang properly.

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/9/2010 7:30:52 PM)
Cali, this is very close to what I was looking to make. Ignore allthe buttons and the bows an stuff, just look at the shape, and it's exactly what I was going for. http://www.onestopplus.com/clothing/Cami-Tunic.aspx?PfId=192392&DeptId=21575&ProductTypeId=1

Cherylmazana -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/9/2010 7:47:59 PM)
If you want anything like that cami top you have shown you will need a pattern if you are inexperienced. Although that cami looks simple the pattern pieces will be shaped in such a way they fit the body and then sewn together, an experienced seamstress would know how to make a pattern out of your own clothes but you don’t seem to me to be experienced. Unless you know exactly what you are doing wrapping a piece of material around yourself and pulling it tight won’t work. Have you thought of looking for a pattern they are not that expensive to buy and they show you exactly where to put the buttonholes and the straps. Cheryl

TreasureKY -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/9/2010 8:20:19 PM)
TFB, when making something without a pattern, you're going to need to help from someone who can pin the straps in the back where they need to be. You can determine how far apart they should be in the front by measuring across your chest... kinda where the ends of your pigtails are in your photo. Sew the straps to the front then put the top on and have someone else gather the back up to where you'd like it and then pin the straps into the right place on the back side. I'm not sure I understand exactly what your looking to do in the back with the buttons, but I'd never recommend a novice to attempt buttonholes. I get the feeling that you're looking for something like the drawing at the bottom. If so, I'd suggest you go with ties sewed into the side seams until you've gotten a bit more experience with buttonholes. Just keep in mind that if you make the top very, very loose, you're going to have excess material between the straps in the back and your straps are going to fall down constantly. [image]local://upfiles/416509/C912C10D46A6471B97F91394A73B07E4.gif[/image]

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/10/2010 9:01:46 AM)
Cherylmazana I used to be semi experienced in clothing making, since when I was a child I made my own clothing, I made coolots* basically they're a shorts* mini skirts, that were not so mini, they came down to my knees and boat neck blouses, and nighties, I could do hair ties too, and I even started a summer dress before I quit sewing lessons, though I admit it's been years and yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaars since I made anything clothing wise lol. Wraping fabric around me an then putting in the seams It seemed to work on on the attempt I made for my moms doll, with the exception of putting the straps in the wrong place lol. And it's working ok so far with the fabric for me, I don't know how good it'd look, since I haven't seen myself in the finished product yet, and seen how it moves an stuff, so maybe it's not working, and I am just not able to tell yet. I can't find any patterns in stores in real life that carry plus size patterns, my top size is a 30- 34 which equals to a size 4 x to 5 x. All the patterns in store stop at a xl, which is only a size 16 top. A pattern though would help me get the hang of doing it in muscle memory, not just in theory though and that would be helpful, though I don't want to buy the material to make a top that won't fit me. I need to practice button holes and the placements though, because I'm not sure my moms machine does button holes big enough for the buttons I got. Button holes and getting them right are one of the most important parts because you can't undo a goof on button holes, like other parts of the project. quote: ORIGINAL: Cherylmazana If you want anything like that cami top you have shown you will need a pattern if you are inexperienced. Although that cami looks simple the pattern pieces will be shaped in such a way they fit the body and then sewn together, an experienced seamstress would know how to make a pattern out of your own clothes but you don’t seem to me to be experienced. Unless you know exactly what you are doing wrapping a piece of material around yourself and pulling it tight won’t work. Have you thought of looking for a pattern they are not that expensive to buy and they show you exactly where to put the buttonholes and the straps. Cheryl

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/10/2010 9:06:27 AM)
Treasure, yes, my mom will help me put the straps in:) The buttons in the back will close the top. Just like buttons down the front of a button down dress do. Button holes seem pretty easy, if you have a machine with a button hole stitch, you sew the button hole stitch, then you cut the button hole up the middle with sharp sizzers, being careful not to cut entirely through the top of the stitch right? Course knowing that in theory isn't always as easy as in practice huh? Yes, that is what I am looking for, but the hem on the bottom will be strait not wavy. quote: ORIGINAL: TreasureKY TFB, when making something without a pattern, you're going to need to help from someone who can pin the straps in the back where they need to be. I'm not sure I understand exactly what your looking to do in the back with the buttons, but I'd never recommend a novice to attempt buttonholes. [image]local://upfiles/416509/C912C10D46A6471B97F91394A73B07E4.gif[/image]

TreasureKY -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/10/2010 2:42:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Toppingfrmbottom Button holes seem pretty easy, if you have a machine with a button hole stitch, you sew the button hole stitch, then you cut the button hole up the middle with sharp sizzers, being careful not to cut entirely through the top of the stitch right? Course knowing that in theory isn't always as easy as in practice huh? lol... You're right. In theory it is pretty easy. Successfully doing isn't always easy. I'd recommend you take some scraps of fabric and practice a few buttonholes first. Good luck!

subwaythru -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/10/2010 6:40:47 PM)
I am so codependent that this project is giving me an involuntary facial tic along with my sympathetic loss of sanity. You are not alone. Others share in your hair torn out by the roots and that one last jangling nerve. Last evening, after hours of pleasurable initial toil on a gruelingly geometric and monochromatic Celtic cross-stitch pattern, I discovered with heart-sinking dismay the fact that I had omitted one single stitch, which threw off the entire project. I am a grown-up now. I handle things in a grown-up way. With steady hands, I severed the finished work first crosswise, then lengthwise, and then after this quartering, I spent a considerable, and may I add, satisfactory, time cutting the fabric into bits as tiny as I could make them. Then, under cover of darkness, I crept outdoors and buried the remains with the softly and malevolently uttered curse, ending in "....and the horse you rode in on."

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/12/2010 6:16:37 PM)
Thank you Treasure, yes, we have an abundance of fabric I can scrap test of thankfully, so this test it and practice it need comes at a great time. quote: ORIGINAL: TreasureKY lol... You're right. In theory it is pretty easy. Successfully doing isn't always easy. I'd recommend you take some scraps of fabric and practice a few buttonholes first. Good luck!

Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: This sewing project is trying to steal my sanity! And it's already stole my patience (8/12/2010 6:23:01 PM)
I found a little girls dress pattern, it's exactly like the top I am trying to make, except it's a dress not a top, and I can use the pattern and the experince from that to know how to place and sew my straps properly!

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