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The worst, most crappy thing I’ve ever made!

December 5, 2013

A while back, I had a bit of a sewing disaster.  I made Simplicity 1610 in some pink flamingo jersey, and you know how the ‘Big 4’ always seem to come up big?  Well this turned out MASSIVE!  It was possibly the most unflattering thing I have ever sewn for myself.  I can hardly believe I am about to post this photo for you to see – but hopefully you can at least sympathise with me about how awful this dress looks – and laugh at my totally unimpressed face!

I think that look on my face says it all: EUGH!

I think that look on my face says it all: EUGH!

To make matters worse, I accidentally cut the front bodice with the print UPSIDE DOWN.  What a dick.

I took it in at the centre back, but it didn’t line up as nicely as before, and then I got seriously pissed off with it, and I felt a little bit destructive…so, I decided to chop the maxi skirt off – yes, waste all that fabric – to make it into a top instead.  And this is what I ended up with.

Upside down flamingo alert!

Upside down flamingo alert!

And despite the fact that the flamingos are upside down on my boobs, and despite the fact that it doesn’t quite match up nicely at the back, I do kind of like it now.

The back...with its mismatched centre back seam where I hurriedly took it in!

The back…with its mismatched centre back seam where I hurriedly took it in!

Here’s what I did with the bit of maxi dress skirt I chopped off: I made it into a very simple skirt for Little Tweedie – just did a fold-over waistband with some elastic inside, serged the bottom edge, and hey presto, a new skirt!

IMAG3676 IMAG3678

It isn’t very often that I produce such an epic sewing fail, and perhaps I should have thrown this away and never spoken of it again.  I actually can’t think of anything I have ever sewn that has turned out as shoddy!  Even when I’ve made things that don’t fit, such as my Burda Ruby Shorts and my Burda 7798 top, they are at least made nicely!

I’ll admit that I’m not used to sewing crappy things, and this whole project makes me feel stupid.  But even the first things I ever made were better than this and I suppose it doesn’t mean I’m crap at sewing just because I buggered this one dress up…does it?!

28 Comments
  1. December 5, 2013 2:03 pm

    I like the top better – definitely 🙂 This small mismatchings … not improtant. The idea of making skirt for your Little Tweedie is great.
    She is probably proud having a garment from the same fabric as mom 🙂

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 5, 2013 4:13 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

  2. December 5, 2013 2:59 pm

    I actually kind of like the upside down flamingos. It makes you look twice. 😉 And good save on making a skirt for the little one, she looks cute and happy with her new skirt! 🙂

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 5, 2013 4:14 pm

      All better than just binning the whole lot!

  3. December 5, 2013 3:06 pm

    hahaha this made me laugh! 🙂 Love the top variation though!

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 5, 2013 4:15 pm

      Glad my sour expression in the first photo is making people smile!

  4. Miriana permalink
    December 5, 2013 3:07 pm

    It’s not that awful. That’s a terrific scowl though.

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 5, 2013 4:16 pm

      It is! Not my most flattering photo but it does make me laugh!

  5. anne carter permalink
    December 5, 2013 3:10 pm

    Well rescued! Actually, on the photo, had you worn heels and been positive, smiled etc. the long dress could have looked okay. Our body language says a lot and as you obviously didn’t like it, that influenced our opinion. I wonder how many of us would have noticed the upside down print straightaway? I like it as a top and the back has lovely detail. Little Tweedie got a new skirt too so nothing wasted. Far from being crap at sewing you’ve re-designed and recycled!

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 5, 2013 4:19 pm

      You are probably right! I could have portrayed it in a more positive light but the grumpy photo was too funny not to use! The dress made me ‘feel’ yuk though so I’m glad I chopped it up!

  6. Carolyn permalink
    December 5, 2013 3:13 pm

    Haha, despite the sewing fail, you totally saved this project by putting the fabric to good use! That flamingo jersey is too good to waste, and the top and skirt are adorable. And that look on your face in the first photo is priceless. : )

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 5, 2013 4:21 pm

      The fabric definitely was too good to waste! I like the two unexpected garments that came out of this!

  7. December 5, 2013 9:35 pm

    I actually think the dress looked lovely – the top works beautifully in the fabric so possibly that’s a better match but you’re definitely being FAR too hard on yourself.

    Also we all have bad sewing days and I suspect your bad sewing day is still someone else’s best sewing day (I’m recalling having to cut myself out of a dress after a zip nemesis disaster) …

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 5, 2013 9:42 pm

      Oh dear! Thanks for the vote of confidence!

  8. December 5, 2013 11:13 pm

    Love the save, especially the back feature! But I have to say I too did not absolutely hate the maxi! And little Tweedie is a doll in a matching skirt!

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 6, 2013 8:42 am

      She does look cute in it! And yes, the back feature is what drew me to the pattern in the first place.

  9. December 6, 2013 5:42 am

    Good save! And I love your expression in the first photo!

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 6, 2013 8:43 am

      Haha! 🙂

  10. December 6, 2013 11:21 am

    Hahaha! Your face says it all in that first picture! I don’t think the dress is as bad as you think, but it is much nicer as a top. And your daughter is adorable.

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 6, 2013 2:24 pm

      Did you make this dress, Simplicity 1610? I seem to remember you making a lovely jersey maxi dress but can’t remember which one! Anyway, whichever it was, it was really lovely & looked far nicer than mine!

      • December 6, 2013 3:58 pm

        Thanks, it was the same pattern, but without the sleeves. I love mine but I think I had to take quite a bit out of the back.

  11. December 6, 2013 6:41 pm

    You know what? I think it’s really nice as a maxi dress! It’s definitely not a disaster, although pants to the upside down flamingoes. But if you wouldn’t wear it, then there’s no point in wasting all that fabric. I love the top, it’s much more wearable than a maxi dress, and the wee skirt is gorgeous.

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 7, 2013 8:45 am

      Thank you! Definitely more versatile as a top 🙂

  12. December 7, 2013 5:51 am

    Good save!! I LOVE that pink flamingo fabric and so glad you did not scrap it.

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      December 7, 2013 8:46 am

      I couldn’t have done that – I’m far too thrifty to waste it!

  13. January 8, 2014 5:30 am

    The fabric is amazing.

    • tabathatweedie permalink*
      January 8, 2014 9:33 am

      Yes, it is pretty cool!

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