Distraction leading to mismatched pastry lines...
Despite that I am delighted with the top in the last post because I'm so excited about wearing the lovely fabric, that top should not really be here. The only reason that it is, is because the fabric that I'd actually chosen ended up being miscut.
I'd been saving this beautiful Anna Maria Horner Pastry Line dobby spot voile to make into something really special, because it's one of my all-time favourite fabrics. It's now been discontinued and the new version doesn't have the little dobby spots woven into the material...it's still lovely, but slightly less precious. Unfortunately, the day that I chose to cut my pattern pieces was a Bad Day when I was thinking about Other Things. This meant that while I remembered to centre things nicely, I failed to centre in the same way for each pattern piece. I centred the front of the top with the middle of a blue stripe and the back of the top with the middle of a white stripe. The upshot of this being that anyone taller than 5ft1" would see some horrific mismatching going on at the shoulder seam.
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| The sight of this makes me feel slightly unwell. |
However, the top that I went on to make saved this from being a truly dire thing, and subsequently I don't feel entirely traumatised by having to turn it into quilt fodder.
And on an even cheerier note, I'd like to welcome my newest advertiser, The Sewing Directory (for future reference, you can find all advertisers near the top right hand corner). If you aren't already familiar with The Sewing Directory, then do click through as you can find out all about the stitch-related courses, classes and events going on in your local area, as well as finding news, reviews and competitions relating to all things fabric on a wider level. Hurrah!
Florence x
oh dear, sorry to hear about the shoulder bit. But it will still be a pretty blouse. The fabric is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThis pale blue fabric is really REALLY LOVELY and to me (& my unexperienced eye) there is no problem with the shoulder seam, please wear it, it is such a lovely thing!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure no one else will notice unless you have truly critical friends - I can only suggest epaulets or letting your hair flow over your shoulders!
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame. Still we all get distracted - I picked up the wrong brush this morning, because I was still thinking about what the man from the garage had just said on the phone, and put a blue line on a white shelf. Rude words were uttered. It's a pity as it's such lovely fabric, but I know what you mean about hiding a quilty secret - you'd know it was there!
ReplyDeleteAw, that's a shame, although I'm sure the vast majority of people would not notice - I know I wouldn't. In fact now you've mentioned it I'm going to take particular notice if shoulder seams ever match up on bought clothes because I can't imagine they would.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, when I read the title of your post I thought it was going to be about baking!
Florence, we've all done this at least a time or two. If I'm lucky (when this has happened to me) I have enough extra fabric to re-cut one of the pieces before stitching. Sorry it happened with such treasured fabric! I could also say, "You're the only one who'll notice," but I know that just doesn't fly with a meticulous seamstress.
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating, I hate it when I do things like that (especially to treasured fabrics). How about taking the back off and making it out of a different fabric? A coordinating print or a plain colour like mustard would be nice and you could trim the sleeves or hem to tie it all in.
ReplyDeleteEmbroider an applique to the front that says "My shoulder seams are mismatched." You can wear it, no guilty secrets, and people will think it's funny. Well, I would. But I also would climb to the top of a sand dune specifically to fulfill my waving at the family fantasy :)
ReplyDeleteI do think you should wear it anyway--I don't think anyone will notice.
FLORENCE! Please don't cut this up for patchwork - at least not until you've worn it many many times, had zillions of compliments, and then accidentally got blackcurrant jam or something down the front of it on one of those lovely seaside family picnics. At least 9.5 out of 10 people won't think to notice mismatched stripes at the otherwise impeccable shoulder seams, and you can have a little chuckle about it with the half-person who does. I'm no stranger to perfectionism, so I understand your annoyance, but you shouldn't deprive yourself of the pleasure of wearing that lovely fabric - the mismatching is such a minor flaw! Stern words over. x
ReplyDeleteBefore reading, the picture struck me and I thought- what a pretty fabric! How disappointing that the new voile doesn't have the dots. I actually don't think the shoulder seam matters. It's still gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI saved a whole lot of that voile (it is rather scrumptious), but found that I absolutely LOATHED sewing with it (I think I was fooled by everyone saying it was like cotton lawn to sew with). I had a monster destash and bought more Liberty :)
ReplyDeleteIf I were you I would put some decoration on the shoulder seam to cover it up. After all the work it would be a pity to cut it up. I also made a similar mistake last week...I cut up the center front of a dress in two. So now I have seam through the middle. It was only a muslin but I got annoyed anyway
ReplyDeleteI've always believed there are no mistakes - just design features ;-) You definitely could get away with them as is - but if you're not happy then cover up seam with ruffles, bows or even just wide strips - would look a bit like a yoke.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about the miscut. Annoyingly I did the same this on a dress at the beginning of Feb and don't have enough to recut the pieces so it has been banished to the unfinished project pile.
ReplyDeleteFunny though, I've been saving up that exact same fabric in the same color until I find the perfect pattern for it.
Florence, get a grip. Have you seen some of the clothes in even the quite expensive shops recently? Okay, if the stripes were horizontal on one piece and vertical on the other, you may have an issue, but I really think the irritation with the non-matching will fade. Wear the top.
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel any better, you should have seen the flat macaroons I made my family eat the other day....
Little Blue Mouse - I think I might do the same now too...
ReplyDeleteKitschy Coo - That's a good idea, but, perhaps it was my poor choice of fabric, but the piece I laid over it just now to experiment gave it a slightly 'cowboyish' look with the non-matching front and back...I'm unsure if that's just me being odd though. Very possibly.
Ali and Nina, you have made me howl with laughter with your stern words!
Overall consensus (barr Jane, who is alike in so many ways so her, other than that she can get to a postbox more quickly) seems to be that I should wear the top...which has come as a surprise and is making me reconsider. I think I would only ever think of wearing it with a cardigan over it to cover this...but you've certainly made the stripey secret feel as though it may not make me feel as though I am carrying a lead weight around on my shoulders...more one of Ali's flattened macaroons...which could even be quite a nice thing!
x
This pale blue fabric is such a very nice and looks very much fantastic, looks amazing, really I like it very much.
ReplyDeleteI've read through the comments and I must say that I have the best solution yet: give it to me. I'll proudly wear the heck out of it until the fabric itself disintegrates. It's the least I could do for such a nice blog buddy.
ReplyDeletethat is so sad, but I'm sure you will design a truely stunning quilt around this beautiful voile one day!
ReplyDeletepost free classifeds, on this network friends you will get good viewers
ReplyDeleteI agree with the consensus above, it's FINE! And a darn sight lovelier than the things most people wear so you should be less of a silly and wear it :)
ReplyDelete