TOP 5 of 2014: Top 5 misses

Earlier in the week I posted the hits of 2014 yesterday and now here are the misses. Enjoy!

  

1. Sigma - Bad Fit
I love the idea of this dress. The denim, the rolled up sleeves. I really love it, but the fit is just awful. I have worn it out once and I even fixed the misalignment of the waistband, but it is just too big in the bodice and under the arms and sits aawkwardly.  I haven't returned to this pattern, although perhaps I could drop a size and it might be better.

2. Victor Chambray - Bad Stitching
Despite loving the chambray on chambray styling of the photos, I have just never worn this top. I find the topstitching to be poorly executed.  It is destined for the scrap heap. I haven't returned to this pattern either. To fix it I would need to add a bit of length and work out how to attach the collar better. And maybe hide that topstitching in a patterned fabric!

3. Never worn dresses
Another Republique du Chiffon make,  I do love the Robe Monique dress, I just have never worn the dress.  It definitely feels too big (I should have made the size down - yes the same old problem) and also I just never found an opportunity to wear it. Will I ever wear it? We'll see.

I've also never worn this Saiph tunic. No reason either, just no occasion and my other dresses always seem more me. I did love doing this challenge though with Emma!

4. Chandeliers Dress - Wrong Pattern

Oh now this was a massive disappointment. This Tessuti fabric is so luxurious that I can't believe I made such a mess of it.  If I could work out a way to refashion  it in a way that I would actually wear I would.... and one day I will because the fabric is too good to waste. Poor pattern choice (for a stretch not a silk) and probably the placement isn't quite right.  I didn't buy quite enough fabric and it sits too tight across my bottom!  Aaah, my face says it all... although looking at this now it probably isn't so bad...

5. Pont des Arts Culottes - SHOCKING pattern placement!

I had a little pattern placement problem with my dungafores, but nothing prepared me for the worst of all the pattern placement fails. These Girl Friday culottes never saw the light of day, I couldn't even bring myself to photograph them on me.  They won't either because I have since cut them up for a refashion when we return from holidays. The fabric is an absolute delight though and I haven't given up on it.  I bought it from Designer Fabrics Australia and as you can see from the photos on her page, it is a wonderful symmetrical print of, what I think are, locks. I had envisioned a fabulous pair of Pont des Arts culottes, although the story of the locks becoming a symbol of danger rather than love in the linked article should have warned me.  

Front of culottes - closed they aren't such a problem

The locks are very big, bigger than I expected so was faced with a cutting dilemma. Stubbornly I never deviated from the culottes idea, but got scared when faced with these gigantic locks and the symmetry of the fabric. I should have just embraced it, but on the sides, I completely chickened out with the symmetry and cut so that the locks didn't line up. I really like this effect, on the sides, but didn't continue with it at the front or back and stoically went with symmetry.  Mmm, I should have stuck with a consistent print plan!   They don't look that bad do they...oh yes they do.  I forgot to take a picture of the front 'opened up', but just look at the back.  Mmm. Yes, those blue 'arrows' are pointing right to my bottom and what are those pink locks doing there?

..And when the back pleat opens up, which it naturally will....  What. Is. That?  

Yep, pretty awkward.

What were your biggest fails this year? Bad sewing, bad fabric choice or was it like me and a really awkward pattern placement!?