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!
Top 5 2014 #sewingtop5
  
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!?

17 comments:

  1. Ahahahahaha - those lock culottes! I think you win the (imaginary) prize for "Most Failed Project of 2014" Too bad - and I hope you can figure out a less lewd way to use the fabric some day! ;) The good news is that clearly you have so many clothes you do like that you don't have to wear these less favoured ones. That's a good thing over all! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, you do have some doozies! Looks like you've learned from them though. Refashioning sounds like a good plan for all that amazing fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lol! Those culottes are crazy funny! I really love the black dress and hope that you find somewhere to wear it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Absolutely loved reading these. I love your Saiph tunic though, such gorgeous fabric. Serious entertainment in those culottes!! Priceless!! 😂

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hope you can refashion/salvage that awesome padlock fabric. It's too pretty to leave in a scraps bucket!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh those lock culottes, I am totally laughing my ass off!!! Priceless. I can't stop chuckling. But really is it that obvious when worn? And I'm being sincere! On another note I love the chandelier fabric and sooooo hope you can salvage it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think the Misses recaps interest me even more than the Favourites... because whilst it's a no brainer that we all love what you make, but as there's never any follow up, we don't know what becomes a winner in reality :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh I did love the chandelier dress. Any chance you can lopp off the bottom and make it just a top? Your culottes! A tragedy indeed. Hope it made you laugh in the end.....

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm so glad it gave you a laugh. It went so wrong didn't it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I definitely need to refashion it somehow. The fabric is just so stunning. Oh the culottes.... just too funny!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Are you sure it's not better to keep the facade alive that all my makes are ok!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm not sure it's that obvious, but I just can't wear them.... just in case!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I will definitely try. I just adore the locks part of it... it's the symmetry that had me beat!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh, I hope I've learned from them... but let's see my misses next year !

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have to try but perhaps the fabric is tainted now!!
    Yes, I had a good many makes that I like so I can just laugh off these!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Made almost exactly the same mistake myself! Thanks for posting

    ReplyDelete