Friday, August 24, 2012

PROGRESS!

look ma, i traced a pattern!

don't try to adjust your monitor, you're seeing that clearly - it's progress! last night i traced the patten onto parchment paper - isn't that redundant, like saying "paper paper" or "queso cheese dip" or "atm machine" but that's what it said on the publix package, "parchment paper." 


compliments of the dictionary app on my computer


oh okay webster, so you're telling me that parchment can also be animal skin, not just paper. so i should call publix and rant "i expected this to be animal skin and i'm very disappointed! the package is clearly labeled 'parchment' but this is not what i expected." anyway, just trying to keep this educational. now you know. parchment is not just paper.

moving on. so i traced the pattern onto parchment paper, held it up to myself and decided that i needed to lengthen it. i'm tall. so i actually followed directions and cut on the line in the center and added 2 inches to the length in the middle, rather than just throwing 2 inches onto the bottom of the pattern.  taped it together and my tape Does Not Stick to parchment paper, booo. but it does stick to the hardwood floors! (no cutting table over here) so i taped the cut pattern pieces to the floor, spaced out the top and bottom pieces of the bodice by 2 inches and traced it onto another piece of parchment paper. but before i could re-do the second pattern piece, i ran out of parchment paper! so i found some tissue paper that we had received wedding gifts wrapped in and there ya go. 

then i pinned the pattern to my fabric and went about cutting it out. it was like a game of twister on the floor. "right hand on sleeve pattern piece." "left foot on pins." (ouch)



AKA "how flexible are you" or "let's get friendly and fall on top of each other"


oh i also left several inches available on the bottom of the sleeve, because i'm going for the 3/4 sleeve View B, but i'm not yet sure how long my sleeves should be. And I'm doing the neckline from View A. I may or may not make the belt. I have enough fabric left over, but i'm going to wait until i have the shirt mostly done to decide if it would look better belted or not.

*I did not really get a pin stuck in my left foot. I know you were probably concerned. 
**And i always won at twister (no, I am not that conceited, just more flexible than my oponents)

16 comments:

  1. I use the roll of kid's paper at Ikea. It's $5 for 100 ft. It looks like you're doing a goof job...can't wait to see the finished product.

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  2. I'll assume you meant "good," but I am a bit of a "goof!" We don't have an ikea, but I could probably buy online. I also read somewhere that medical exam paper works well and is available on amazon. But I'm definitely going to make more of an effort to trace patterns rather than cut the original, esp. nice patterns!

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  3. Yay!! I have to say tracing the pattern is my least favorite thing but I definitely do it if I know I'm gonna wanna make the pattern again and possibly in a different size. (cuz i know all those cupcakes are gonna stick to my ass eventually) I have been using freezer paper but I've seen people use tissue paper. Gonna give that a try sometime.

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    1. I spent so much time tracing and cutting that i didn't even start sewing at all the first night. Mmmmh, cupcakes!

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  4. Can't wait to see the finished product!!! xxx

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    1. Thanks!! I'll try to take nicer photos this time.

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  5. Your finished blouse is going to be lovely!

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  6. I use medical exam paper and it's a good, cheap alternative (much cheaper than parchment paper!). Easier to mark and cut up and tape as well. Your tracings look very professional!

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    1. Thanks! I will have to get some medical exam paper. Next time i go to the doctor i will bring a backpack and swipe some (kidding). My husband was sweet and saw that i used up the parchment paper, so he just bought me a new roll (or was he buying that for himself since he uses it for cooking? ha ha.)

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  7. Go you and the sleeves! I harbor a fear for sleeves - especially ones that go all the way around. They always pucker somewhere when I'm done with it. Can't wait to see the result!

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    1. Haha, I haven't gotten to the sleeves yet, but I just tried it on to check the fit and thought to myself, "hey this might look good as a sleeveless top." (like I was trying to convince myself that it's ok to wimp out and skip the sleeves!) "But, no, I've already cut the fabric out for the sleeves" - my frugal side won. "It would be wasteful not to put them in now!" Lesson learned: cut the fabric first before I have a chance to wimp out! haha

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  8. Re: parchment, the more you know, eh?!

    I don't have a cutting table either. I crawl around the floor and it is totally dignified, I swear! Can't wait to see next steps :)

    Sara, Road to the Heart

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    1. Floor Cutters Unite! I should make a blog button for that...

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  9. I really should start tracing patterns. I am always too impatient to get to sew that I just cut straight into the pattern. I have a cutting table but still prefer the floor!!!

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    1. It took more time to trace it, but i do like the idea of keeping the original intact (esp. since this wasn't a bargain bin pattern). While you're working on the floor, mind if i stop by and borrow your cutting table? haha

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