Ugh, sorry ladies. I was so hoping that I’d have the final piece of the spring sewing challenge done over the weekend. But things did not pan out well at all: it’s still sitting in pieces on my sewing machine.
I wanted to modify the pattern to make it longer on my torso, so I could wear it tucked into skirts and with pants. I figured that taking off the waistband and leaving it to fall straight would give a nice shape, and be a relatively easy change. I gaily cut out my white rayon and started to get it all together.
Plain white rayon shows up absolutely every mistake! I had to unpick and redo all the pleats because they were slightly out of kilter. It was then that I realised I’d cut the wrong side off the button placket. This means that it buttons up from right to left, instead of left to right. Frustrating, but I felt it wouldn’t be too big a deal, as long as everything still sat right.
This is where my real pain point is. The pleats are sitting off-centre and my darts were totally lopsided. Honestly, it was kind of funny how wacky my chest looked with pleats going one way and darts the other!
The issue is the cutting out, rather than the modification. At some point the material must have shifted, because one side of the blouse the pattern piece is a slightly different shape. That means even following all the pattern marks, it will not line up with the other side. Another reminder (if you needed it) to be extra vigilant with slippery fabrics.
Oh the frustration! Two days of sewing and unpicking and I don’t think I can salvage it. Luckily I ordered extra fabric, so I’m hoping it’s enough to cut out again. The sleeve and collar pieces seem fine, so there’s that much to the good.
I’m sorry that this is taking so long everyone. Mostly because I was really looking forward to having another sweet Bonnie Blouse to wear. But we soldier on. I’ll see if some careful, cake-assisted cutting on Sunday can resurrect this poor shirt.
