Sunday, March 23, 2008

"Make It Work!" Sunday

Happy Easter Everyone!

Yes, I did wear the suit to church today. I finished it enough to "make it work" and wearable, but it wasn't finished with all the detailing that I wanted. In my opinion, the jacket needs another 3-4 hours of effort before it is "perfect"!

I decided to go with the top and skirt instead of the dress after making my daughter's skirt ~ thinking that it would be quicker and I would end up with more versatile pieces...I think I sewed them so quickly that I am not happy with the final outcome. There is still some more work to be done to all of the pieces to bring them up to the level I desire.

I guess I should have cried "uncle" but I R-E-A-L-L-Y wanted to wear the suit today! *LOL* Okay, so let's start with a picture...then I will tell you everything that isn't finished or went wrong and what I'm going to do about it!



First the jacket:
1. Needs covered buttons and covered snaps added to the jacket fronts so that the jacket will close. I decided to leave these off about 10:00 pm last night.

2. Needs sleeve linings. Those sleeves only have organza in them but no sleeve linings. I jettisoned that part about 1:00 am this morning. So I will remove the hand stitching at the hem and add the sleeves by machine stitching them to the hem and then hand stitching into the jacket lining. Since I never took my jacket off, no one noticed.

The top:
I originally had a bowtie on the top. Yes, took all the time necessary to cut, stitch and add a bow-tie to the Sewing Workshop Mission Tank. The idea worked but the top looked horrible with the jacket. So then I had to remove the bowtie, however, the neckline was a little wonky due to way I cut it to add the tie. I wore it with the wonky neckline today but I will have to fix it. I think I'm going to add some pleats to the top front and a bias binding to the neckline so that it will stop slipping off my shoulders and down into the jacket sleeves.

The skirt:
It will never be worn with this jacket again. I wanted a sleeker look but started to panic at 8:30 pm last night when I realized that I hadn't started a bottom piece yet. I quickly constructed a TNT 4-gore skirt and wore it this morning. However, I don't really like this combo so I will NEVER wear the two pieces together again. I have a vanilla medium weight silk twill that will make a wonderful straight skirt for this outfit. I will use that, take my time and make a well-fitted, lined straight skirt that will add some ooommph to this outfit.

All in all I met my goal but if I was graded on my sewing techniques I would probably get a C+. On Project Runway I would not be eliminated but I wouldn't have won the challenge either. Though I don't think Jesus cared much...I mean I was clean, clothed and attended service with a pure heart so I guess that's what mattered most! *LOL*

Once the corrections are made to the pieces, I will give a full review of the process because I did do some interesting things during construction. And the jacket does have some great details that I would like to share.

On the PR reviews, one of the final questions is, "Would you make this garment again?" And my answer is I honestly don't know! I think the deadline definitely affected so much of the process, and the best thing I re-learned from this...Don't sew on a deadline because you just don't do your best work! *LOL*

Finally, one shot of the family ~ my daughters, my sister & my niece and nephew:



I hope you had a wonderful day with your family too!

31 comments:

  1. What a beautiful family. I'm glad you're cutting a slimmer skirt. I love, love, love this blue on you. Would you call it Robin's Egg Blue?

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  2. Beautiful family! You look great! I love this shade on you!!!

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  3. Carolyn, I was all set to hit you upside the head...then I got to the bottom and saw your family pic and tears filled my eyes and I forgot why I wanted to slap you upside the head.
    It's all about family. Hugs, my friend.
    meanwhile, the tears are subsiding and I'm remembering why...
    Just like a knitter or sewist - the first thing you want to tell is What Is Wrong with said garments.
    But I thoroughly agree. Deadline sewing sucks. Big time.
    So go back and fix it all then come tell us about it.

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  4. The color looks fabulous on you! Great looking family!

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  5. You certainly "made it work" given your time constraints and I don't think anyone noticed the things you mentioned wanting add or change about your outfit. "You may leave the runway!"

    Great family picture!

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  6. I agree Carolyn, this is a most wonderful, flattering color on you and a lovely photo. I enjoyed seeing your family photo too, you have a beautiful family. I love your positive sewing energy that jumps off the page! You are such an inspiration to me. Not having looked at my sewing machine since fall because of all the home renovations, the only reason I can pack a suitcase for Tuesday is because of your inspiring me to SWAQP!

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  7. Everyone looks so lovely! I love Easter finery. Even if you're not happy with it, you did finish and wear a suit so that is a good thing!!!
    Marguerite

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  8. Showing the family love on Easter!

    Congratulations!

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  9. If you hadn't spilled the beans, I never would've guessed your Easter suit was anything but perfect and complete. You look wonderful. Your family looks beautiful and happy.

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  10. Carolyn, You look great in this, and it will be even better when you're completely happy with it. It's nice to have it wearable and perfect-looking to the uninitiated, even if you have more you'd like to do to it. A straight skirt sounds good, and in a coordinating color it should be even more stylish. Beautiful family too, of course!

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  11. I couldn't wait to check this morning to see your Easter outfit and my initial thought was "wow she did it". You look great and the unfinished things you mentioned are certainly not noticable. You know about them though, so when you get everything fixed/finished I hope you really enjoy wearing these pieces. Also this is a lovely family picture.

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  12. I think the suit worked beautifully! How wonderful to be a member of such a lovely and loving family too!

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  13. Ditto Debbie. If you haven't said, I would have never guessed this isn't a perfect outfit. It looks beautiful on you and I loved your family picture so much! I miss my family so bad and they are scattered all over the place.. :(

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  14. This is a beautiful fabric for you and I think you'll be even happier with the straighter skirt. I'm glad you were able to "make it work"! Great family shot. The two little ones in the front are SO cute!

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  15. What a gorgeous family! You don't have to tell me about deadline sewing, either. It really is the most unpleasant way to sew that I can think of! Regardless, you look marvelous and I can't wait to see the details of the jacket.

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  16. What a beautiful color on you! Your family is lovely. I think you did a great job with the time you had.

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  17. Great looking suit and agree the color looks good on you. Like others said - if you hadn't mentioned it I wouldn't have known something was wrong. Luvin' the family pic.

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  18. Hey Ms Caroline.... I think you looked very cute! I have a couple of questions for you... If you had to give a %, how much of your closet consist of things you made, opposed to RTW? And whats TNT? You refer to it a lot in your posts and i've made up my on definition for it. whic i know is NOT right lol

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  19. I think you looked great. I don't like sewing under pressure either. Looks like you and your family had a very happy Easter.

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  20. Congratulations for meeting the deadline! It does look great on you but no doubt will look even better when you "finish".

    Great family shot, and your daughter looks very happy in her new skirt too!

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  21. I love that blue on you and really like the re-interpreted jacket with the retro inseam pockets. I can see you'd like a straighter skirt. You can always refashion if you want a matching suit, but I like the contrast idea.

    Best of all is the photo of your beautiful family. Inquiring minds want to know, did you make the pretty boucle suit in addition to the darling dotted skirt on your darling daughter?

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  22. Well it looks great on you! You look great in it! You and your family look happy and cheerful!

    I hate deadlines too, they take away half the fun of making a garment.

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  23. You look great in your deadline outfit. I've been following your progress for the past five days as I was on my own deadline for Easter. (If she can do it, I can do it!) Stopped in to check things on Friday and couldn't believe that you stopped to blog about your progress! LOL!! And then on Sunday morning you added a skirt and a blog about the skirt! Wow, you're my blogging hero!

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  24. Beautiful suit, even more beautiful family! Looks like you had a truly blessed Easter!

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  25. That color is gorgeous on you and your family is lovely. I'm excited to see your "fixes" to an already great looking suit!

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  26. Happy Easter! What a lovely family you have. Your suit looks great looking forward to the jacket details. g

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  27. Your family looks so nice and your suit is very pretty. I love your color choice. Can't wait to see what another 3 to 4 hours will do for that jacket.

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  28. You look grrrrrreat in your outfit! What a lovely family picture..

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  29. Gorgeous family and picture of all of you. But, tell me what possessed you to sew this beautiful fabric on such a short deadline!? You can't possibly have had nothing to wear with all the beautiful clothing you've made in the last year.

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  30. I didn't vote for that combination but think it was the right choice and it looks great on you. Am anxious to see how it looks with the straight skirt. How wonderful to be styling and with the family too!

    J

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  31. Why to we sewist want to point out all the flaws? I do it. I need to learn to accept the compliments. Your outfit looks great, I didn't see the flaws or the shortcuts. The family photo was great, looks like it was a great Easter! I think I said it before but I love, love, the fabric color.

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