Readers, I’m making this dress, from Simplicity 2648.
I decided to make the sleeveless version with the round neck (like the drawing on the bottom left) but with the little fake belt with the buckle at the front (like the drawing in the middle). Having altered my pattern for an ‘Amazing Fit’ and cut out my fabric I was pretty excited and all set to go. I sewed the bodice front to the side fronts, made the darts in the bodice back, sewed the back to the front at the shoulders and side seams, checked the fit – great, and then serged all seams. Then I noticed some pieces sitting on the table, yep, the belt pieces!Now any reasonably experienced sewist will probably know that sewing the belt pieces to the bodice front is the FIRST thing I should have done, before sewing the front to the side fronts. Actually, I did know this myself because I had, at some point in the last week or two, read the instructions and, thank you Simplicity, they couldn’t have been clearer. It’s just that I never bothered to look at them again when it came to actually sewing the thing and I FORGOT the belt pieces.
I hate to unpick a serged seam but I would have done it if it hadn’t been for the fact that my cotton pique fabric, lovely as it is, ravels a lot and, because it was a curved princess seam, I had serged it right next to the seam stitching. I feared that an attempt to take it apart would end in disaster.
So, alas, no little belt with a nice buckle. I really wanted that little belt. Instead it’s going to have to be the tab with the two buttons (like in the main photo on the pattern). Fortunately sewing and attaching that tab is the last thing you have to do. So, now I’m off to buy some buttons!
In the meantime, have you ever forgotten a crucial sewing step – please tell me that I’m not the only one?!
Have I?? I can't even begin to count the times! Let it marinate another day or so. You might be able to think of something else to attach instead.
ReplyDeleteThat hardly counts as a mistake compared with my Doh! moments. Simplicity 2648 is my favourite pattern. I've made it several times and I don't plan to stop. I always make the v-neck version, with or without the little sleeves. It can look casual, office or 'dressed up' depending on the fabric and amount of ease. I can't wait to see yours.
ReplyDeleteOOOh! I can't wait to see the finished dress. This pattern has been in my stash for a while and I think I will sew it this fall.
ReplyDeleteI forget steps ALL the time! Sigh.
You are certainly not the only one. I've had similar experiences with sewing on belt loops. And like you hate picking open the seam to insert them. Most of the time I realize the error before serging the seam closed. But I have gotten as far as attaching the lining all the way around before noticing no loops. So you are not along. It happens.
ReplyDeleteC
Of course! We all do that. I know how frustrating it is. Sorry it happened to you.
ReplyDeleteTrudy
www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
Guilty over here ... how many times you might ask? Too many to count and yes, it is frustrating especially when you have serged the seams. Sorry this happened to you but look forward to seeing the finished dress. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI am so guilty of this! It comforts me to find that experienced sewers can make mistakes . . . Wow! Unpicking a serged seam seems, distressing - I hate unpicking regular seams.
ReplyDeleteYou are so not the only one!! Thankfully this one wasn't structurally critical, although that belt is darn cute. Can't wait to see the finished article!
ReplyDeleteConstantly! In fact, I made a mistake very similar to your not long ago. I think even the most experienced of sewists screw up from time to time. At least that's what I tell myself...
ReplyDeleteAh man, that sucks. :( I'm sure the dress will still be gorgeous though. I haven't yet had this problem, but this is mostly due to still being a beginner and basically being attached at the hip to the instructions at all times. Heh.
ReplyDeleteAww, that's too bad--but yes, of course, those kinds of things happen to all of us. I bet it will be a wonderful dress all the same!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that. My mistake is with reading TOO much into the instructions, not omitting them altogether. For example, I bought all my supplies for a cute dress I was sewing for my daughter, which included putting in a zipper for the first time. I started sewing it, and realized I did not have this "zipper tape" the instructions kept referring to.
ReplyDeleteSo, I went to Joann's and had two women helping me to look all over the store for this "zipper tape (which we could not find)." I finally gave up, came home, and had an Ah-ha moment when I realized that the "tape" was the strips on either side of the zipper I had already purchased!! LOL! Duh! A simple beginner's mistake = )
I hope you at least laughed, and it made you feel better about your own faux pas.
Oooh that stinks! At least it wasn't a catastrophic error and the dress can still be made. My aunt told me that a friend cut a huge hole in the back of a skirt when serging, completely runing it. Because of that story, I'm always so careful when serging with the cutter down.
ReplyDeleteI have this pattern, so I'm excited to see what yours looks like. I'm thinking it may be a rival to "the perfect dress", McCalls 5753.
Oh, I can't wait to see your dress. I have this pattern and like how it is printed for different bust sizes. So sorry to hear of the front belt mis-hap. But this has certainly happened to me! Very frustrating indeed. I hope you like your final version with the tabs and buttons. I think it will be a good look!
ReplyDeleteFrustrating but we all sew like a bull at a gate from time to time. I bought this pattern recently to make in red.
ReplyDeleteI have this pattern too and can't wait to make it. Looking froward to seeing your version (with or without the buckle).
ReplyDeleteYou are preaching to the choir! And my it's a pretty large choir! LOL! Sorry for the frustrations, they just always seem to happen some way or another. I know your innovative genius will kick into gear and you'll find a way to work this out. Either way my bet is that your dress will be stunning as usual (smile)!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I know that feeling! I do that all the time! Can't wait to see the finished dress!
ReplyDeleteI hate it when I do that, which is often. I will mentally sew a piece, and yet somehow when I'm actually doing it my forethought doesn't, um, come to the fore.
ReplyDeleteOh no that sounds very familiar...!
ReplyDeleteI think the tab with buttons is still very cute, so at least you still end up with a great dress.
And you could always whip up another one, since you now have a stray buckle to find a use for!
Oh no! You're definitely not the only one... hehe... I've done the same thing... it's so much work to go back and fix. I always so things backwards... like right side to wrong side when it's supposed to be right side to right side.
ReplyDeleteI hate picking out stitches so often my projects involve "style decisions" that are actually guide more by my laziness and inability to read instructions. Your finished project looks wonderful, and I actually really like the button tab dealy. I have this pattern in my queue and you have gotten me excited about sewing it.
ReplyDeleteHi, I just bought this pattern and am anxious to do my first version of it after seeing your post. I will be doing sleeveless v-neck.
ReplyDeletewahoo.
Beth Worrill