Well, it’s done. Just over six yards of cloth – washed, ironed and ready to be cut into bits. And, this is also when I realize that I may just be full of crap. Look at this lovely stuff:
No, really – LOOK.
It’s sitting there, on the kitchen table, waiting patiently to be sliced and pieced and hemmed and otherwise expertly manipulated into one of Sara’s lovely kimono jackets. I’ve a cutting diagram, some basic assembly instructions and a set of insides that’ve gone to water. I’m running smack into my biggest and most stifling problem – fear of failure. Fear of ruining this lovely and (only slightly flawed in one little place that I’m sure won’t show if I’m smart) really quite good Cloth. I can make more. It didn’t take long, I have more yarn, and I’ll need to do another because those stripes aren’t symmetrical anyway. But honestly, I’m absolutely paralyzed right now. And why? Because I’m just not very good at sewing. I know how to run the machine, I can sew a straight line and zig-zag with the best of them. I can even do rolled hems. But! It’s the garment construction that I’m simply not proficient at, and that’s what’s causing me so much angst.
I’ve been mentally pieceing the garment all morning – right down to which seam should have the selvedge and which the raw, and how can I incorporate a French Seam in the center back without adding too much weight (or maybe I should just overcast stitch and not worry so damned much) or ruining the drape. But really? It’s my first jacket. If I even manage to put it together at all I should be happy. Worrying about drape and such is madness at this point. I’m being very “Sundance” about this and I need to simply get over it and start cutting. And sewing. Because if I do, I’d have a garment to wear to Guild tonight – and that’d be a whole other version of pain.
Bringing the fabric might be easier.
Turn your brain off. Seriously, that’s what I do. You have NO idea (yes, you do) how hard it was for me to cut into Sara Lamb’s scraps to make the bags for the SOAR auction a couple of years ago – I was SO anxious!
Get your head into as calm a spot as possible, think through what you’re doing so you can ward off any mistakes, and – cut. You’ll make many more kimonos, with any luck, so this one is just a sample.
Simple. Weave more fabric.
Then maybe yet more.
Once you have a pile, it’s no longer precious.
And one of the many will certainly stick put as “expendable” for a first cut.
Other answer is to cut first, think later. Once you have made one, you will have ideas on how to improve it. Also, the back seam? is it not a selvedge? If you have a cut edge, put that toward the sleeve edge?
I chose to put the cut edge in the center as I don’t plan to fully tack down the sides and then I can just leave the selvedge be.
Interestingly, the front is shorter than the back – by an inch or so; I’m sure that’s my error and not the pattern. I’ll figure that out on the next one.
Pleats are up next – boy, are they ever needed! I’m just sorting where they need to lie in order for the stripes to not go away completely. Anyway, I’m doing ok so far. Best of all, it’s survived a seam ripper. I think that makes it Cloth.
Well, I’m doing it. Cut the pieces, the back is sewn up and I’ve cut the for the neck opening and zig-zaged the ends.
Two mistakes already behind me – 37″ != 30″ (first sleeve cutting mistake, but I’ve plenty of fabric) and I forgot to zig-zag the back cut edge before I tacked it down when finishing the neck opening.
That said, I think I want to top-stitch the back seam anyway to give it more strength and that’ll also solve the problem of the cut edge (somewhat). Amazingly, the few skills I did manage to acquire in the failed sewing class from two summers ago are serving me well. I’ve also found a *great* beginner sewing reference (http://sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/1052-sewing-basics-resource-guide-sponsored-by-moda-fabrics). Yeah, it’s a sample. So far, so good.
Hey, you’ve made cuts! Good for you!
And this answers my question as to whether Ms. Lamb is involved here – she is! She is!
Also, and before I forget, that’s some very nice-looking cloth there (or it will be when it’s washed). Oh, that reminds me – did you wash it before you cut it? Shrinkage of cotton and all that?
Oh my yes – I washed *and* ironed it before cutting. FWIW, I do that with commercial fabric as well. Wash and iron before cutting.
It’s sewn up to and including the collar band. I need to add pleats since it’s HUGE and I’ve learned a bunch. Me and the seam ripper are buds. :-)
Pics tomorrow if I’m brave enough.
Front shorter than the back: if you have not gone too far already: cut the back neck opening a bit further down the back: I use 1″, but your neck placement may be further back than mine.
You can cut the neckline even up to the point where you put on the band: and after, if you want to take off the band and re-do. The sleeve seams and pleats will just be slightly forward: better than an uneven hem.