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...