Sewing failures

[St. Louis]

Oh, I think it's cute! You certainly put a lot of work into that.

Here are some photos of the Frumpiest Dress in the World. Now that I decided to tie the belt around the waist & ignore the buttonholes, it's not too horrible. I still wouldn't wear it in public. For some idiotic reason I thought the collar would look cute in bias, but the cheap fabric just stretched & the whole thing looks uneven. Even white rickrack and red piping couldn't save it. Still: I'm glad I didn't completely give up on it. This dress may be frumpy, but it's very comfortable for working around the house.

I did actually match the plaid at the center front, but for some reason it looks off kilter in this photo.

 

[Vera Godfrey]

I think it's cute!

 

[St. Louis]

Aw, thanks! It looks worse on me than on the dress form, b/c I'm not that skinny, but I'm way too old to start taking selfies. But thank you for the kind words!

 

[DonnaP]

I think it's adorable! I love the collar.

 

[St. Louis]

Aw, thanks!

Seriously, the dress looks awful on me, and it hangs as though it's been used to haul potatoes, but I appreciate the kind words.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I like it, too! lol But I understand. My "frumpy" dress on the second page looks great on my dress form, but horrid on me!

 

[DonnaP]

I do understand, I've made dresses that look cute in theory, awful on me. I just understand where you were going with the process

 

[cassylynn]

So I have a sewing/pattern question for you ladies and decided this may be the best thread to post in since I lost count of how many dresses & blouses I have made and they do not fit. Fail.

I know that modern patterns are printed based on a bust cup size of a 'B' and so if your not one of those lucky ladies to fit in the 'B' box then you have to alter the patterns. Do we know if vintage patterns are the same? I have not attempted to make any dresses/blouses from any of my vintage patterns due to this particular sizing issue, but I'm at the point where I would like to start fashioning my own clothing.

*if this post needs to be moved to another thread, please feel free to move me

 

[LizzieMaine]

Cup sizes weren't standardized until after the Era, so most vintage patterns are based on the bust measurement at its fullest part, not the bra size. Look carefully at the sizing chart on the pattern envelope and select a pattern based on your fullest chest measurement, and you should be OK.

Note that nearly all patterns before the 1950s are pre-cut to size: you buy a pattern which comes with all the pieces pre-cut in a specific size, not an all-sizes-on-one master sheet pattern like you get in modern patterns. If you're a 38 bust at the fullest measurement, for example, you'll want a pattern in Size 20 or Size 38, with Size 38 being a bit fuller in the top.

 

[cassylynn]

Thank you so much LizzieMaine! I knew about the pre-cut sizes and so made sure that the ones that I purchased were to my size but I just wanted to double check to make sure that cup sizes were not a factor. You are a wealth of knowledge and a lifesaver

 

[olive bleu]

Pardon the size of this pic ! i think its going to post HUGE! .. I made this dress in a cotton fabric, light pink with green and tan polka dots. The fabric was so cute, but i felt it was not a heavy enough weight and didn't like the way it hung on me. Also, the pastel colours were awful on me, i just fell in love with it on the bolt. It was terribly frumpy & after hanging in my closet for 2 years i gave it away to goodwill. Hopefully someone is out there loving it. Most of my failures unfortunately have to do with falling in love with unrealistic fabric.

 

[sheeplady]

I have the fabric problem too.

I had several issues because my coloring goes more with autumn jewel tones (rust, emerald green) and my daughter with bright colors (like turquoise or baby blue). A few matching dresses I made weren't so flattering on me, but she was just darling.

 

[ThankfulGirl]

I made the V*A New Look pattern - it was a free download printable pattern from one of their exhibitions and I made it in a lilac gingham. Wore it with petticoats and heel. I looked as if I was wearing fancy dress.
I made the pattern again, in a very expensive black wool crepe with a red silk taffeta lining, for my late OH's funeral. I still hated it. I'd wanted to look glamorous and I looked like a crinoline toilet roll holder.
Because I'm ridiculously tall, most bought patterns on me are about an inch too high in the waist. I know that now....

 

[LolitaHaze]

This quarantine has me finding a lot of old sewing failures! Both in the frumpy sense and the mistakes made as a baby sewist. I am taking the time to try to fix all these mistakes as much as I can and make them wearable because the outfits or fabrics themselves are worthy of being seen -- even if I am the reason they are awful.