It never shows and usually looks flat when you wear it. I didn't mention that - but it's true. I always forget stuff and realise later. I hope you can try it and it works for you.
Thank you so much! I'm trying to get more concise with being helpful in sharing the things that I sew. Trying to bring more value for those that watch. This helps me a lot!
Total bummer re: the Vogue pattern skirt, Jen! 😞 I'm very skeptical about patterns that only have cartoon drawings on the cover and not a snapshot of a model wearing the garment, especially as I've gotten older. Pattern cover drawings, I'm come to realize, are all fantasy vs. reality with respects to the look of finished garment. I agree with Christine - the cartoon model has a 10" waist. Once upon a time, I had a model's figure (5'9" and 123 lbs.) and could make any garment straight out of the pattern envelope without adjustments of any kind. This was during the years of one-size-per-envelope patterns. Cartoon drawings didn't seem so unrealistic back then (1970's). Now, after having children, beyond the 60 milestone birthday, and much weight gain, photos on pattern envelopes are now imperative instead of cartoon drawings. I like your suggestion for putting elastic in the back of static waistbands. Your suggestion re: holding up the pattern to check the length before cutting is brilliant also. I agree with you re: interfacing under the pocket flap for stability. 🥰
I honestly think it would look better on you if the skirt hem was longer AND a nice navy fabric with a little more drape. Thanks for sharing your experience!
A drapey Challis might sew up more nicely. Stephanie canada vintage resaler on you tube will tell you that reprints are generally Not the same as the originals and not worth it.
Wow, that's a lot of fabric at the hem. I just made a skirt. And I hate the Elastic in the front. So I think I'm going to pull it out and just put it in the back and tack it down on the sides and see if that helps. Have fun at your sewing expo.
I like the waistband tip. I use the elastic when I’m taking in pants for me and my son, but never thought to do it with my new makes. It makes total sense tho!
Oh Jen, it's true - Vogue is like a rogue 16 year old boy on a 3rd date - they'll say whatever they can to get what they want. 😢 As for this skirt in particular, what if you took the waistband off and inverted the center pleat so that you have a wide flat pleat down the center (front & back)? Having made this skirt before, I know that a softer fabric with a little more drape encourages the skirt to hang in a more flattering way, but the pockets are reprehensible and deserve nothing less than a really hot iron and half a bottle of fabric glue. On a less 'ranty' note, your incredibly deep hem brought back such fond memories of the dresss my grandmother used to make for me. She always put deep *deep* hems in my skirts, in part because she could let them down as I grew, but also because it created a "weighted hem that hangs better." Thank you for your closing each visit. I am frequently astonished at how the card or verse you read is so spot on - exactly what I needed to hear in that moment.
What a wonderful memory. And you have me laughing my head off! I'm glad to hear you made the skirt - the comments here keep saying it needs a stiffer, heavier fabric. Nope, not as far as I can see, I'm with you!
Check the depth - because these pockets really are fabulous. They just need to be deeper. And that is such a pretty dress - I've seen Sean @kittenishbehaviour do it several times.
Such a shame about the skirt Jen 😢, I thought the fabric was perfect. I was measuring Ollie's waist the other day and it was 21", that is the same size waist my Mum had when she got married!! How on earth did they have such tiny waists back then? 😂 The tiny pockets would have been just decorative, it wouldn't have been 'lady like' to have hands in pockets like we do now 😂. Can't believe I am missing the Expo by a week, hope you have an amazing meet up like last year ❤ xxx
Jen, your skirt is beautiful, and I'm sorry you didn't like it, but I understand. It has to feel good on you. Could you tack down the pocket flaps? Might help the floppies. This skirt might be better in a soft drapey fabric. Viscose maybe? ❤
I'm not sure about 100% viscose, because although the pleats and general skirt portion would drape beautifully, I think the pockets would be floppy. Maybe if you interfaced them they'd be ok. Not sure - but it's a thought!
Good Morning, Jen!! Enjoyed your video this morning, and it was refreshing to see a sort of ‘failed’ make, because (!) it gives me courage to. Go ahead and ‘try’ a pattern to see if it’s really what I want on my body!!! The other thing I wanted to mention to you is, have your come across the videos by Tailor Nourish….? He is from another country, don’t know where but, his videos are visual only! No speaking, but with his hand illustrations and so understandable that speaking is not necessary! And, he is a PERFECTIONIST”! And, when he does a procedure, it’s so clear and easy to understand that it looks as if anyone can sew!!! Granted someone of it may be a little elementary (sewing-wise) but he also shows some fantastic short-cuts to do them with! I’m always amazed at the ease he has with sewing. I’m not saying that you, as an accomplished sewing would enjoy him, but you could find some of his tips usually. Just got through watching one of his latest, and thought I’d pass it on to you. Love ya! Wish I could join you guys at the upcoming expo, but alas, a bit too far for that little adventure, BUT-I do have a friend that is a snow bird and she keeps asking me “When are you coming down??” Perhaps I could incorporate that venture with the expo in the future! ? Who knows!!! Keep up the good work with your videos!!! ❤❤❤
Hey Kathleen! Good morning - I watched one of the videos and they are so satisfying. Like those people who organize their fridge. I think Tailor must work in the garment industry either still or previously, because he makes it look so easy. Those kind of videos are a guilty pleasure for me because I can watch them all day long. Great for inspiration. Definitely include the Expo for your next trip! That would be great!
Too bad about the skirt but there are lots of other patterns! So true about checking length - I have sometimes thought I didn't have enough fabric to cut something out, managed to squeeze it all in and then discovered I needed to cut length off anyway from the hem or the sleeves! Could have saved myself worry...
Jen, the pocket depth is just like pockets on ready to wear today! I don't like the skirt either. Pleats and pockets just seem a little much but the drawing is cute and misleading. Maybe you can salvage the fabric into something else. Hope you have a great tike at the sewing expo; maybe I will get down there next year.
Take out the pleats by stitching along the fold. Trim the hem to get rid of the extra bulk. As far as your linen blouse goes the gingham. was a good colour choice. I can see it looking cute with what we used to call pedal pushers. Trim the hem line. The pockets are a wonderful detail and would look great on a straight skirt.
@@TodayinJensSewingRoom or cigarette pants. Something slim on the bottom. The proportions are wrong and you need something to show off that cute scalloped hem. You want it to be the star of the show.
I thought about this a little bit and that pleat brings those Pockets too close together they need to be out farther on your hip. I would release that pleat and either make smaller ones or gather it. If there is too much fabric in there then I would cut some of it out of the middle and put a seam right up the middle. You don't get better at not making mistakes you get better at fixing them.😅 so I don't think it's a total loss but it's going to need some adjustment.
Excellent point about that pleat. I'm actually wondering at this point if I could just take out both the front and back pleats and use the additional fabric there to create a pair of cropped pants, like capris. Thinking about this.
I think the entire pocket should be. Interfaced, since the fold-down flap creates a bias edge. I would use a lightweight WOVEN interfacing, possibly non-fusible. (It’s a tailoring thing I learned in late 60s college tailoring classes. They hardly ever used fusibles then - if they even had them. Can’t remember when they took over.)
That skirt definitely was not you. I think the fabric was too heavy. While on vacation down here in Florida. I’m working on a muslin boot strap pants form. So far not too difficult but can be little confusing. Labeling, numbering, and making sure all marks are on really really helps. Did you ever do your bootstrap dress form?
Thank you for the review! I got Vogue 1863 for the blouse myself, the skirt didn't interest me, but maybe in a taffeta? another fabric choice with more structure?
Hi Jen! So nice to see you again. 😉. I agree with a few others that a drapier fabric might be better and I agree with you about pockets! They need to be functional.. will you remind me what dress pattern you used for your pink and white dress? It is so pretty, especially in person. Thanks for taking the time to meet up with me. I’m back up north in the rain & wind along with dropping temperatures. Enjoy the expo.😊
Hey there my friend! It was just wonderful to meet you. I wish you'd been able to get a word in edgewise with us - we tend to get going and just yak and yak and yak! Please make sure you text me when you come back and hopefully we can at least grab coffee. The pattern is Vogue 1694, Marcy Tilton, and as I look at it I wonder how it would behave in a pretty rayon. Hmm, might have to try that. Wind, rain, yikes! Come back! Come back! xox
I hope you have better luck than me! I was just replying to another comment about fabric choice - I think something with a bit of rayon or tencel in it would help. But definitely stabilize those pocket flaps!
The fabric used seems too stiff; maybe something with more fluid drape? I’ve heard others say the “reproduction patterns” don’t have same instructions and sometimes they are done wonky.
I checked and broadcloth was suggested on the envelope. The gingham I used actually has more drape than broadcloth. Who knows? I think in the end it was me - it just wasn't me.
What were the recommended fabrics on the back of the envelope? It seems your fabric needs to be drapier. And yes, those sketches off no real info at all.,
No, it's the right weight but probably should have more drape. Maybe if it were some kind of rayon/tencel/cotton/linen blend? Probably linen/rayon would work well. But you'd really have to givee the pocket flaps some stability if you used a more drapey fabric.
Do you not measure the pattern before you sew? First rule of sewing is measure, measure, measure. Saves a lot of headaches. Then make a muslin. The pattern also suggestts heavier fabric which could have been a better choice as it is supposed to be fuller and stiff. Too bad you had this experience. U am curious to see how the jacket will turn out. This would be beautiful with a pencil skirt in a heavy fabric like white linen.
Measure? What is that? A muslin? 1. I'm kidding, but are you? Are you kidding? Of course I measured. Several times! Skirts are far easier to adjust than bodices, so I didn't make a muslin this time. I do make muslins often, plus hold up the tissue to note the fit in case I do need to make adjustments. As for this specific pattern, I held up the tissue to gauge the length and was going to cut it about 6" shorter. However, I thought I might really like it longer, so instead I cut it to 2" shorter than the regular length. I also said "when I measure for the waistband," indicating that I measure for a waistband length not just this time but every time I make one. I am not a beginner, I've been sewing for 55 years, and Big 4 patterns no less. I am very impatient with indie designers who apparently have to hold your hand and explain everything - and this because I have not just been sewing since I was 9 years old, I also made wedding gowns (currently doing that) and owned my own sewing business doing formal wear. Asking "Do you not measure?" insults me because I specifically said in the video to measure before you make the pattern. 2. The pattern suggests several fabrics, including broadcloth. The gingham I used is softer and has more drape than broadcloth. Yes, I do know what broadcloth is and have several pieces of it in my fabric stash. Several people have suggested a softer fabric with even more drape. Others like you have suggested a stiffer fabric. The comments about the fabric I used are all over the place. 3. I'm not making the jacket, I bought the pattern for the skirt. And doing the jacket in white linen is a great suggestion, that indeed would be beautiful. 4. In the end, I think the design just didn't suit me. I don't know why no one has said that because it's so obvious and I even said that in the video. Revamping the skirt is a lost cause, I'll be remaking it into a pair of cropped pants. I'll also be noting on the pattern to deepen the pockets and shorten the length even more than I did. If I sound sharp and impatient in this reply, it's because I am both. I do not appreciate being asked questions that imply that I'm inept and know nothing about sewing. I can appreciate that you indeed do know about sewing, but please do not imply that I do not.
