How I lost my motivation to sew and why I cant get it right.

Hey Y'all
I've been gone for awhile and its been hard coming back. I have no motivation to sew and when I do conjure up the energy its been wadder, after failure, after poorly fitting garment, after disappointment after... well I think you get the point? I have not made a single wearable garment in months..


What happened?
I lost my mom on February 9th, she lived with my husband and I for 3 years as she battled lung cancer. I was with her when she passed in her bedroom in our home. It was by all accounts a peaceful transition but it has left me empty. I have been trying to get back to things that I enjoy (sewing being one of them) but all the things I enjoy include her..

                                                My mom and I Mothers Day 2014

She was my #1 critic of my garments. As a young adult and single mom she used to sew all her own and my older siblings clothing when they were younger. Sewing was something she learned to do as a child growing up in the country on a farm. It was not a hobby it was a necessity for survival such as learning to cook, and clean and milk cows and tend a garden.  She had no formal training just instruction from her mom, trial and error and the need to "make it work". Man I miss her!


Anyway, its been a long slow process getting back but I have made a few things, none of which makes me happy but I'll share anyway.


The first is New Look 6301 which I have made before but this time I wanted to extend the length and make a maxi.. What I got according to my husband was a "flowery house dress" Sigh... He was right. Its just not doing it for me so I have just been wearing it around the house. As a house dress its perfect, as a nice spring maxi ..  FAIL!

 

Not sure what that pouty lip action was about

Then I tried another dress McCalls 6959 This was a pretty simple dress only 7 pattern pieces. It was made with a very pretty cotton sateen from Jo Anns which I loved when I saw it on the rack but once it was made up it reminded me of motel curtains OR a grandmothers old outdated couch. FAIL!

Ok, So I figured third times a charm right!? So I commence to make up New Look 6735 I extended it in length by about 9 inches or so to make into a cardigan/duster. This was a snowed in day, quick sew for me but I should have spent my time doing something better because this came out looking like nothing more than a poorly made bathrobe. FAIL!

I have another couple garments I could share but I'm still contemplating how to make them work (I'll share either way later) .
Needless to say I've been very discouraged with the outcomes of most garments and even when I try to do something simple to get quick easy favorable results I have still only been getting a BIG FAT FAIL!

So I'm taking a breather, not for long just long enough to get my sewing legs back under me. In the meantime I have visited the library checked out a few sewing related books and have gotten into sewing knowledge, dress making basics and other things that I never took the time to study before I delved into sewing.

What is your go to thing to sew to get you out of your sewing rut?

I'm hoping to be back sewing soon. In the meantime I'm hoping you ladies are having much better success than me.
See ya later!
NaTisha

What I wore and Whats up Next: B5985

Hey Y'all
I must admit when I find a pattern that's pretty simple to put together, doesn't require a lot of pieces, time or fuss I seem to make it over and over and over again. If you get tons of compliments while wearing it that's always a plus!
One of those patterns for me is V1314. I absolutely love it. I've made this dress 3 times.

This one made in late 2013 and worn to my Company Xmas party in December 2013 and again to church this past Sunday. I LOVE ruching.

This one made in December of 2014 and worn out with the hubby for our Anniversary dinner

This one made in September 2013 worn to a friends "Fabulous and Forty" Party.
Can you tell I love this dress and cant make any promises that I wont make one in 2015..

NEXT UP!
In sticking with one of my 2015 Sewing goals to sew with more woven fabrics:
Currently on the cutting table is  Butterick 5985 View A. In a pretty blue shimmer cotton sateen


The model photo on the envelope is horrid( in my opinion), the line drawings are better but the lone 2 reviews I saw on PR gave me hope. Lets anticipate a success!

Happy Sewing!

2014 Top 10 in Review

Hey Y'all
Initially I was not going to do the typical year in review type post because well...if I did I would have to post more fails than success' and more waders than wearers so I decided instead I would just post my top 10 favorites from 2014 in no particular order.

#1.  V1314 and  #2. "faux fur" vest

#3.  V8825

#4. M6752

#5. M6886

 #6. NL6230

#7. M6844 (made this 3 times) 

 #8. S1524 (sew simple) my only pair of pants

#9. S1613 & M6654

#10. M5400

Taking a look back at 2014 I came up with a few 2015 Sewing goals for myself:

• Increase my use of woven fabrics for more tailored pieces and less knit pieces (although I love a good Ponte knit)  
• Take a chance at making pants (since I typically only make skirts and dresses) 
• Attempt buttons/buttonholes and fly front zippers(goes back to that pants goal above) 
• Still deciding if I need a fabric buying restriction goal. I'll get back to ya on that one

Question: When do you no longer consider yourself a newbie to the sewing community? I received my sewing machine in November of 2013 but didn't start cranking out garments until 2014 and by cranking them out, I mean in a snails pace kind of way. I guess I still consider myself new because there are so many techniques I still have not attempted. Perhaps, I'm just a slow learner or a scared learner? 

I'm curious.. How did you learn to sew and do you consider yourself a beginner, intermediate, or advanced sewer and why? 

Let me know, 
Happy Sewing!  

Hello All and Welcome 2015!

Hello Y'all and Welcome to my little piece of the blogisphere. I'm new to blogging (This is my 1st post).  I have been putting off starting a blog forever. I constantly stalk others' blogs and enjoy and have learned so much from so many wonderful people. I always talked myself out of blogging because I didn't think I had much to offer. However, I decided to do it anyway! New Year... New adventures!
This blog will consist of my adventures in sewing (and petitioning your help when I get stuck), pattern reviews, recreating inspirational ready to wear garments, possibly crafting, finding my fashion sense, and a bit of sporadic randomness here and there. That pretty much sounds like I have no idea what this blog will be about huh? If you said "uhhh Yeah!" Well you are correct.
Just hang with me and we'll figure this thing out together. I will leave you with pics of me on NYE before I was heading out to get my praise on!

 That shadow makes me look like I have a "ghost" twin or a whole lotta extra junk in the trunk. Which by the way I'm not opposed to, I need a little extra!

Happy 2015! I cant wait to get sewing.