I started work Sunday, cutting the fabric, which is probably my very least favorite part of sewing. Part of the problem is that I find it difficult to line things up, place things just so, cut without slippage, and match up plaids, stripes, or whatever. But my dislike for this part of the process comes mainly from fear. It is so final. Once those cuts are made, they can't be undone. And I might not have enough fabric to try again. If I mess this up, I think, everything will be ruined.
Well, this time I messed it up. I worked it all out, lined up my plaids, cut the pieces out, and even re-cut a piece I hadn't lined up properly the first time. And then, I realized I had forgotten to cut out the collar twice. I had the top, but not the bottom. And I didn't have a big enough scrap left to cut another piece. Oh, dear.
So I fretted (understatement of the year) for a few minutes, then I hopped in the car and went to the fabric store, hoping they still had an exact match for the little swatch I was carrying. They did not. Honestly, and I'm not proud to admit this, I felt like crying about it. But, while explaining my predicament to the girl at the cutting counter, I hatched a plan. And when I got home, I surveyed my remaining bits and pieces of fabric and decided to take a make-do-and-mend approach. It won't be perfect -- at least, it won't be quite "as instructed" -- but maybe no one will notice. And, hey, it'll still be a shirt. At worst, Adam can wear it to garden or work on projects, and that's still valuable.
So, I messed up. But guess what? Nothing was ruined. And piecing together my own little solution was definitely a source of satisfaction -- and maybe even a little bit fun.
4 comments:
I'm sure your husband will love the shirt!
Many times sewing has made me feel a screaming wail coming on too. (Alan used to ask me why I sew when I am cursing and stomping around about it).
I bet Adam's shirt will be much more interesting in an inventively excellent way, something the original pattern would not have achieved. The clothes I have come to like the best from sewing projects are the ones that had to be corrected after a cutting mistake.
Thanks for the encouragement, you guys! Now if only I kind find time to work on the darn shirt ever again. ;)
Glad it all worked out in the end. I hate cutting fabric too. Just last night I was cutting out a dress, when I cut to far into the armholes. (I maintain it was bad directions, not my fault!) So aggravating!
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