I Didn't Cut It Right

Arrggghh....

I was so sure that I did this right and very carefully. But I ended up having the front piece of an adult onepiece project I've been working on shorter than the back piece! How terrible is that?

So I checked where the problem is. If you're not familiar with Japanese pattern that comes with a book, it's like this: it's 3-5 multisized patterns drafted all in the same large paper and another 3-5 multisized patterns drafted in the other side of the large paper. So it looks like crazy. Of course, tracing from this pattern is doable but you must do it with patience, precision, and carefulness. I think I have done so with extra cautions but I still end up feeling stupid like now.

My case is this. I traced all and the only pattern pieces that belong to the project (judging by the number) I am working on. I also traced and then cut a mysterious looking pattern, not knowing whose part of the garment it was. But I continued anyway with cutting the fabric.

Lesson 1: NEVER CUT YOUR FABRIC USING YOUR PATTERN IN HANDS UNLESS YOU ARE 100% SURE ABOUT YOUR PATTERN PIECES.

OK, all were nicely cut, I loved myself. I moved on with sewing, that is to attach the front piece of main body to the back piece and here where I screamed out of despair: I had the front piece shorter than the back piece. As you might guess, the mysterious looking pattern piece is the elongation of the front pattern (can I use the word 'elongation' here?). I should have attached them first to cut the front piece.

I got so reluctant to continue my project, thinking what I could do to repair the damage. I could actually be creative with the uncut piece; pintuck it to add accent to the garment or something else. But I'm too broken-hearted now, so I don't know...

Cut It Right

I finally got the chance to cut my very first adult garment project. Maann, did I take a long way just to get here. I am a beginner sewer so I take my time and take every step a little too carefully. Maybe it's also because of the book I'm reading. I use as reference a book titled Sewing Recipe, a Japanese basic sewing guide--not that I can read Japanese. However, the pictures in the book are very clear that I braved my heart to purchase the book, convinced that I can always guess and/or look up for similar method or technique in English sewing blogs.

Anyway, I have been meaning to sew a one-piece from this book. I did the preliminary steps that are tracing the pattern and tracing the pattern carefully. I did the tracing--Japanese way--using a tutorial posted in label-free. After cutting all the pattern pieces, I transfered the pattern onto my fabric using 2-ways carbon paper. (Back in my home country, carbon paper has only one side.) I put the carbon paper inside the folded fabric (a back piece) then traced the seam lines onto the fabric. Interesting. Now I have two identical pattern in form of freezer paper and cut out fabric. I love this.

I have learned from past experiences--2 bags and 2 tops for my 11 m.o. baby (I haven't been a long time sewer)--that precision pays. It saves so much time and energy. I am still learning how to keep my straight sticth goes straight along the (imaginary) seam allowance. As a result, I rip at least 3 times after each seam and/or the end product sizes a bit too little than the intended. That is why, now that I am taking the courage to move on with bigger sized project such as an adult one-piece, I take the time to transfer the seam lines onto my fabric. I just can't trust myself with imaginary seam allowance. (I am not sure if transfering the pattern onto fabric is a standard measure in sewing or if long time sewers know by heart where to put their seam allowance.) In fact, I work veery slowly, like 3 weeks for tracing the pattern alone. There's this cutie in the house who always wants me for herself, so...