- You Will Make “Not-So-Smart” Choices – I chose a VERY simple pattern to work with, one I had sewn before. Good idea, right? Well, why on this green earth would I choose to work with a chevron pattern at a time such as this? I know very well that working with stripes, plaids, or any design that requires matching at the seams should not be attempted during times of fatigue because mistakes are inevitable.
- You Will Work Harder, not Smarter – My next mistake was attempting to cut this dress on the fold. Going against everything I know about cutting this type of printed fabric, I went forward, trying to match the chevron design on top and bottom. Hahaha! I know you’re laughing by now. Go ahead–it’s quite comical. After getting all three pieces cut out, I went to the machine and sewed up the sides, without even paying attention to the patterns. I actually relied on my cutting. The more I type this, the more ridiculous it sounds. I tried it on before attaching the straps and gasped. There wasn’t a single matching pattern at the seams–as if I didn’t expect that to happen. I wasn’t giving up though. I decided to just make it with a solid knit, but while I was looking for the knit, I became rebellious and decided, “No, I will not be defeated by this chevron pattern. I WILL make the dress with this fabric and conquer the chevron!!! Sooo, I pulled out more of the fabric (I purchased a lot of it) and began the cutting process all over again, the right way this time, and completed the dress. But that’s not the end. I also will have to go back and open up one of the side seams to create a slit because the width below the knees isn’t wide enough for comfortable walking. That was a cutting error on my part during the lengthening process. So, in the end, this dress, that should have taken about an hour from cutting to final hem, actually took several hours, and now a future alteration.
- You Will Settle for Less Than Your Best – My final mistake was thinking I would be okay with the fact that my second dress had two chevrons at the same spot, on each side, which did not match up perfectly. I know very well that when my patterns don’t match up it will bother me, to no end. However, when I saw the trouble spots on both sides, I thought to myself, “Naaahhh, it’s not that bad. It’s just gonna be a house dress anyway.” When I put the dress on and wore it to the store, I kept thinking about those darn chevrons. So, I decided that I would either fix the trouble spots or just leave it alone. I opted for the latter.
Now, the next time you consider turning on your sewing machine to make something beautiful when you’re really tired, think twice about it. Learn from my mistake, get a good night of sleep, then slay that project the next day. I still like my dress, and my husband loves it, but it was a mess of a project.
About the Dress
This is a very easy, beginner friendly, pattern. It only requires three pieces and can be sewn together in a very short amount of time (about an hour, depending on your skill level). I lengthened the dress to make it a maxi. I’ve made the shorter version before and liked it, so I thought a maxi would be nice. I picked up this gorgeous chevron knit from the Michael Levine Loft during the Mimi G Style Conference last month in Los Angeles. It was only $3.00/pound, so it cost pennies to make this dress.
Create the Look
- Pattern = New Look 6178 (View A – lengthened)
- Fabric = ITY Knit (Michael Levine Loft)
- Crochet Hand Bag = Made by Me
Thanks for stopping by!
Remember: When you live in your DESIGN, it is from there that God SHINES!
Anita
All Photos Courtesy of CEMO!
Gorgeous. I always stray from chevron, but don’t know why. There hasn’t been a dress I’ve seen in chevron print that I don’t love! Even stranger, I love the process and detailed attention required with pattern matching…. Next on my shopping list is a chevron print, that’s all there is to it!! Lol
I would not have known that was a flaw if you hadn’t pointed it out. It just looks like the design in the fabric to me. I love that dress.
The dress is beautiful. I also liked through crocheted bag.
Anita, with the way you look in that dress i don’t think you have to worry about anyone looking for flaws. You look radiant!! As long as your husband liked it that is all that matters.
Penny
I love it and I actually love how those chevrons meet at the sides too! I need to go to the Loft soon. It’s fun to poke around there.
I saw the flaw but, I had to really look for it. You are like me because you want things to turn out perfect and when it doesn’t you are walking around thinking that everyone notices these little flaws. But in all truth they don’t notice at all. Sometimes I point out mistakes that I have made and people tell me that they don’t see anything wrong.Lol! Not only that but have you looked at the clothes in the stores? Some clothes look like they didn’t even try to attempt to match up. Believe me when people see you in that dress all they are going to think is how beautiful it looks on you. As always everything you make looks good on you.Glad you are finally done moving.
Anita this aint nothing but the TRUTH!!! I have experienced EVERYTHING you have stated here, because I often find myself sewing well into the wee hours of the morning. My best work has always happened when I was rested and alert. My most frustrating and disappointing projects have occurred when I was tired, rushing or just flat out impatient! Glad to know that I’m not the only one that has gone through it. I ADORE your dress and I just pinned the pattern!
Yes, thanks for sharing your thoughts on sewing when tired and for pointing out the mistakes – although there not noticeable at all. I’ve made the same mistake before and I learned to never to sew when tired. If i may add, one should never sew unless you have the time, energy, in the “right” mood to do so. Looking forward to more dress, and skirt tutorials! Thanks for being Awesome!
You sound like a perfectionist! I love it! Now I know I’m following a good blog, because all of the details you talked about really make or break a garment! I actually love the error at the side seams, but in a chevron garment it does throw things off (which is why my lazy behind has never sewn a chevron garment). Major thanks for sharing this with us despite your misgivings, because you look beautiful in this dress and the fabric is amazing.
Congrats on your new home 🙂
Anita,
You couldn’t tell until you pointed it out. Is there a possibility of doing a tutorial on pants (dress pants/slacks). Your tutorials are (dat bomb dot com). I do not like comparing seamstress, but you are just as detailed as Mimi G, and I believe that is what many of us beginners are looking for. Breaking the project down to were we can understand. Thank you for the tutorials and keep them coming.
You are on fire with this dress!
Hey Rochelle! Thanks for the compliment. I’m glad you like the tutorials, and yes, I will be doing tutorials on pants. Stay tuned.
It looks great. People who do not sew would not notice at all.
I love it. You look beautiful.
Congratulations on the new move.
I love it. Don’t make it a house dress b/c it looks great.
Thanks Mary! I’m not. I like it too.
I love this dress on you! It’s absolutely beautiful! I agree with the others here…your side seams are perfect they way there are, it’s a very interesting design element that really love! From mistakes come the best creativity!!
Thanks Myra! Yes, I’ve have some mistakes become great designs.
Hi Anita,
I give the dress 5*…it’s beautiful! It doesn’t look like a mistake at all….I have to agree with the other comment. It give the dress character!…looks like it was done intentionally. Love the crochet bag too! Will you be doing a tutorial on that!! that would be nice too! Since, I’m a beginner….I’ll stick with solid, going to get pattern today
Thanks Rene! Yeah, I’m wearing it anyway. I won’t be doing any crochet tutorials, only sewing.
I love the dress and the fabric is fabulous! I actually like the little pattern matching mistakes on each side. It gives the dress character.
I would love to see a tutorial on matching fabric patterns. I’ve forgotten a lot about sewing.
Thanks Sheila! A fabric pattern matching tutorial is in the future.
Love the dress. Despite you being tired, the dress still came out beautiful!!
Thanks Marilyn!
Still looks very PRETTY! Congratulations on your new home!
Thanks Dara!
Hey hey Miss Anita…congrats on your new home. Girllll, this dress is serious and I’m a newbie….lol. I am looking forward to getting back into sewing. I have most of the patterns from your YouTube videos…can’t wait…thanks for sharing and showing us how to do it.
Hey Lynette! Glad you like the tutorials. Welcome back to sewing! Have fun with it!
Nice as always…u really couldn’t tell until u pointed it out
Thanks Lawana!
GORGEOUS as always ! When I looked at the pics
I thought your pattern matching was and IS perfection!
Those side seams look intentional and trust me dahling,
when people see YOU in that gorgeous dress they are
not looking at the side seams! Lol
You have such amazing, classy style!
P. S. Where was I when you were buying THAT fabric
at ML????!!!!
Heeey Karen! LOL! You were probably holding on to that beautiful blue bamboo knit that you found in the main store, which I grabbed when you were done. I can’t wait to put my machine to work on that.
I am with everyone else. The design looks intentional and fabulous. That’s good “tired” work. Nice design.
Thanks Angela!
Now that was a fantastic and honest blog post! And sounds like something I would be doing… or maybe have done in relationship to many projects. How does that pattern look if your say not quite so perfect as you? Would it be better to choose a plain fabric or a floral? And as always you are just simply stunning!1
Hey Marie! It would be perfect if the points met (without gap) in the two trouble areas. A solid or all-over print would be much easier. Thank you, my friend!
WOWZA!!! (and I’m LMBO too, but only because I can hear you saying all that and laughing! haha) I sure like the way you did it, even though you say it did not match; it sure looks more interesting the way you did it! I’m making Project 1 and 4. HEY EVERYONE, let’s send pics to Anita of our finished projects (with permission if you want to be shown online) so we can let her know we are learning and doing!
Awwwww, thank you so much Julia! YEAH, y’all, show me, show me!
It’s beautiful!! Luv it!
GORGE-JUSS!!!! And with all that it looks amazing and you can match stripes on your worst day, way better than I can on my best day. So you’re still winning! It’s beautiful!
LOL! Thanks Art!
What you see as flaws, I see as nothing but beautiful! You look absolutely gorgeous in this dress!
Thanks Monica! I’m still gonna rock it!
I love the dress
Thanks Liz!
Those so called “trouble” areas look part of the fabric design and intentional. I’m the same way though, no one else will notice it accept you (lol)….I think it looks sensational Ms. Anita!
Hey Nola! Yeah, that’s what I tried to convince myself of too, but it still bothered me. LOL! You’re absolutely right, only the trained eye of a seamstress will notice.
Still looks amazing, had you not mentioned it I never would have guess something was wrong…love it!
Hello Anita,
I decided to get back into sewing after being away from it for a very long time, and thank goodness for internet I stumbled across your Learn to Sew videos on YouTube. Your lessons have inspired me to try the outfits you made in the lessons. I especially want to learn how to sew with the knit material as I have never sewn with that material before. I just read your newest blog Aug 3/16 & was wondering if you would have a tutorial on how to match patterns on material. I have always played it safe and used solid colours. Thank you for the great site.
Hi Cheryl! Welcome back to the sewing community! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the tutorials and are getting back into the groove of sewing. To answer your question, yes, I will probably do a future tutorials on matching patterns when cutting fabric.
Would you please do a tutorial on the crochet bags that you are sporting. I love them. Need something to do when I’m watching television with my new husband.