The Worst Thing I've Ever Made

It's not really the worst thing I've ever made, but that's how I'm feeling about it right now. 

I made Alex a shirt.  I wanted something I could put together quickly that didn't require me to do anything especially fancy.  I used Butterick 3475.  I've made Alex shirts before, but this pattern was for just boys instead of for both genders.  This made the fit more "manly".  With the previous shirts I've made they were tighter in the body because they needed to look good on a little girl as well as a boy, but this one has a looser body.  I really liked the pattern and I can forsee making it again this summer. 

The problems were with me.  The shirt has standard hemming on the sleeves, but after doing one I realized I wanted to hem the sleeves like Simplicity 3856 with a pintuck.  I had already done the first one with a tight stitch and ripping it out was a huge pain.  However, I persevered and after taking longer than it should have I finished it. 

The second, much larger in my opinion, mistake was the buttonholes.  First of all, before we get to my error, I want to say that my machine has a one step buttonhole.  I remembered having issues with my buttonholes, but didn't remember why.  I did one on test fabric.  It looked fabulous.  Confidant I then moved on the the actual shirt.  I marked where they were supposed to go and started.  It just kept sewing the same section over and over not making a buttonhole at all!  I thought maybe it was a fluke and tried again with another while I tried to push and pull it to make it move along the fabric.  Still a disaster.  And then I had TWO not a buttonholes to seam rip.  Buttonholes are not the most fun thing to take out (especially ones that have been messed up this way) and it took me a while.  Then I tried again.  This time I made a buttonhole that I had forced along, but it was slanted and looked a little funky.  I started to get really frustrated.  It was about this time I just so happened to push on the push plate that I had pushed when I made the first buttonhole and had, mistakenly, believed would stay pushed.  It seems that was the magic word.  Nothing in the directions mentioned that this plate had to re-pushed every time you make a buttonhole.  With this new found knowledge I was finally able to make actual buttonholes.  Relieved and tired I finished them up and sewed the buttons on.  I was so proud of my work....

 
till the boy put it on and I realized they were not only too far over, but they were on a diagonal.  The pocket also isn't the prettiest thing I've ever seen.

My son likes it though.  He picked this fabric out himself from the clearance at Hancock Fabric.  I think it only cost me a dollar or two.  The buttons were Wal-mart cheapos.  So, even with my mistakes, it's a keeper. 

To make it up to him I also stitched up some super quick super easy cheater pillows.

I actually stuffed the long one with a pillow form I found a Joann's that fit the dimensions.  He's in love.

More Baby Gifts and Simplicty Sew Along Skirt

Looking at my previous posts I realized I haven't updated in a month!  How did that happen?!  So I guess this is more of a monthly round up kinda post.  This month I made three things.  Two for tiny people and one selfish sewing project.

First up is a baby bib.  Last month I had made a bib for a baby shower I attended using Simplicity 2924.  Although I wasn't completely happy with it a friend at the shower thought it was pretty awesome and asked if I could make one for her little guy.  I had reviewed in my head what I had done wrong with the first one so I was more than happy to make another.  She's a little rock n' roll so I asked her if it would be cool to make it in a non-baby kinda pattern just for a little fun.  She's into zombie and skulls and has stuff for her kids in that style.  I really like the way it turned out!

Next up is a project I had actually anticipated making for previously mentioned baby shower, but ran out of time.  It's an infant pillow from Simplicity 2389.  I found out that the Wal-mart by my house has a row of pre-cut yards of fabric (and another Wal-mart around here still has an actual fabric department!).  Which means they also have clearance of said fabrics.  I picked up 2 yards of this pre-quilted pink check for $3!

I had felt already in my stash for the face.  The face took me a while.  I can still see the mistakes, but from afar it looks pretty cute.

Lastly, I have the skirt I made for Simplicity's Sew Along on Facebook.  I didn't contribute a lot, but I did read what others were saying and finished the project on Memorial Day.  I discussed it in my previous post.

I really like this skirt.  It's extremely spring-y, it twirls, and it has pockets!  It's got a side lapped zipper which took me a little fidgeting to get right.  After I had it hemmed (where I accidentally cut into the fabric instead the excess, oops) I put it on and realized I had accidentally sewed the lapped over part shut and had to emergency seam rip to get it on.

However, after I put it on I realized I really don't see any of the mistakes.  It still needs a hook and eye above the zipper, but I've already worn it twice without it so I'm not super concerned.  I will definitely use this pattern again.  Originally I had bought ribbon for the waist and pockets, but after putting it on one of the pockets I didn't like the way it looked so off it came.  I was unsure of the size.  In real life I'm a 16/18, but measurements said 22.  I made a 20 and crossed my fingers.  It's actually slightly big in the waist, but that's fine with me.  This makes me believe that I may be able to get away with a 20 for the Simplicity 2562 pants.