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| half an alma |
do you ever do something one way, get super frustrated and think "there must be a better way!" - that is me and darts. dastardly darts! so, while working on the back piece of the blouse, i was starting at the top pointy end of the dart and trying to sew straight down to the other pointy end of the dart. and it was just not going well. not cool. so when i got to the darts on the front of the blouse i decided to try sewing from the middle of the dart down to one point and then again from the middle of the dart to the other point. Bingo! much nicer. and then i had the genius idea to look in one of those books i checked out from the library. surely there was something in there about sewing darts. D'oh! right there in a book it says to start sewing the dart from the middle out instead of starting at the point! and i read the book, but i guess i forgot that bit. oops. so my front darts are nicer than my back darts. but they're in. and i stay stitched correctly this time! and then i joined the shoulder seams. and then i tried it on… and… it fits!!! (so far!)
so i'm very optimistic about it and wish i could be working on it right now. hopefully i'll make more progress tonight. but my books are due back to the library. they let me renew them twice already. and now they want them back. so i'll return them, and then wait a few days and go back and check them out, ha ha!! actually i'll see if they have a few different sewing books this time. fingers crossed for some good ones!
here's my other unfinished (abandoned) project…
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| a small percentage of a tent dress |
that's my tent dress. it's going to have to wait its turn until the alma is done.
have you been frustrated while working on something and thought "there must be a better way!" …and then later you find out that there's an easy fix.
Good going on the Alma blouse! I know what you mean about time. Sewing is completely on hold for me while I do this course and even then I'm struggling to do all the homework I want. But don't stress about it. This is your hobby for fun. If you stress about it you won't enjoy it. I think I have now found my favourite way of marking darts. I get so over tailors tacks! The other thing I've learned is don't back stitch at the end. Tie the threads in a knot. Less bulk there will make them sit better.
ReplyDeleteYay, that's what i did on the darts on the front of the blouse - i tied the threads in a knot! Much cleaner. Oh, i totally forgot i was going to post this other tip i read when i went back to the book - they suggest placing a narrow line of masking tape along the dart line to serve as a guide while sewing (just remove it quickly after your done, so you don't get a sticky residue) - sounds like something worth trying next time.
DeleteAlthough sometimes i get a little frustrated, i try to roll with it. You're right, i'm sewing because it's fun. It's more of a stress-reliever than a stress-maker.
Nice work on the Alma blouse! Though I must admit to being intrigued by the ol' tent dress... Can't wait to see the finished product!
ReplyDeleteThanks, it's coming along, slowly but surely (or maybe not-so-surely? ha)!
DeleteIt looks like your Alma is coming along well. I definitely find that sometimes I need to stop and have another go at it in the morning (or a few days later, as the case may be.) Sewing isn't just following instructions, it is thinking things through and it is a lot of frustration. It took me quite a while to leave darts until last : they are more difficult that way but you can actually use them to shape the garment to your body.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about that - but it makes sense to leave the darts to the end. (Well except for the bust darts, i'd still need to do those before the side seams…) I'll have to give that a go on my next make. I wish I had another set of arms to help fit the darts behind my back! Do you curve your darts or make them diamond shaped? I just got a book about fitting, so i'm excited to give that a read.
Deleteusually i make them diamond shape. And you are right: there are darts that must be made during the construction. But waist darts - those at a waist band or through the waist like on a dress- can be left for last. And that allows you a lot more play in fitting the garment.
DeleteGreat work on the Alma -you'll get there in the end. I have every sympathy when it comes to time - I'm going back to Uni in September so my sewing time is going to shrink even more from the small amount of time I already have once the course kicks in!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine trying to fit in sewing in between classes and assignments! I'm sure you'll balance it wonderfully, just don't cut out sleep! What are you studying?
DeleteI can't imagine sewing and studying either. But more power to you!
DeleteI also know what you mean about time. It's a struggle for me with family demands and grad school. I also like the thrill of starting projects so it's a battle for squeezing in extra time to finish old projects. Your Alma looks good so far..
ReplyDeleteThanks! Wow, grad school and family demands, and still finding time for projects! I'm impressed!
DeleteI love the prints you chose for both projects - I especially love the leaf motif on your Alma!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was on maternity leave (and Baby E was more interested in playing with her brother than hanging out with me), I could whip out a project a day. Now that I'm back at work? I think I'll be lucky to get one thing done per week.
I felt the same way about princess seams and absolutely loathed them. I kept trying to sew them normally and later found out that I needed to clip the edges first (I'd been doing that last) and pin the pieces together. SO much easier!
Thanks! I wish i could get one thing done per week, more like one thing per month!!! ha ha. I'll have to try out that tip!
DeleteI hear you, I'm lucky if I can motivate to sew ONE weeknight after work...or on a weekend.... it's difficult! But having supportive blogging friends helps :)
ReplyDeleteI'm also starting back to sewing class tonight, so i'll have some dedicated time with no distractions, which will be good! Now if only i could also keep up with the blogging… blogging class? ha ha. happy sewing!!
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