Really enjoyed this video and can relate to so many things you said. Even though I have sewn for many years I still find myself sucked in by the latest garment trend even though it doesn't work for my body or my lifestyle. It's so hard to stop making clothes for the life you dream about having and concentrate on clothes that work for the life you actually have. My "dream life" clothes sit in my wardrobe and although I love them I rarely wear them. You have made me really consider how I can refashion them into becoming everyday wearable items. Thanks so much.
Thank you so much for your comment Katie. I sewed a lot of 'dream life' clothes at the beginning of my sewing journey too so it has definitely been a process to work out what I really want to reach for every day. Thank you so much for watching!
You said it, Amelia, we do sometimes have to learn the hard way. I personally do not buy synthetic fibres, I don't favour dropped shoulders, and I prefer styles that are reasonably fitted as opposed to "oversized" ones. I have now learned not to be seduced by the latest pattern releases, because I know what is more likely to make me feel like me. But it's all a learning process, and an immensely enjoyable one, so don't underestimate the pleasure of learning as you go along 😊
Thank you Mara. It has been a good experience in terms of learning more about what suits me, and, like you say, not to be seduced by new pattern releases! It is always hard to say goodbye to handmade pieces though!
Amelia you do what brings you happiness but the bright red and fuschia makes are best colours. I suspect if you looked into you’re going to be a true or clear spring. See Pinterest. The fuschia is especially gorgeous on you and brings out your lovely skin hair and eyes. I love viscose jersey!! Patterns to try if you like the style lines is the Macy top by Sinclair; the Fraser cardigan by Love Notions and any wrap top. Itch to stitch has a new pattern. Basically tops the waterfall around the body. I wouldn’t recommend a dress because viscose hides nothing and often require foundational undergarments to make it look nice which is a hassle 😀
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I do wonder if I am a Spring, but have never had my colours done. Thank you for the pattern suggestions too, I will definitely look at those!
I think its a great vlog. Over many many years of making I have come to recognise things that don’t work for me, but I still fall into the shinny new pattern trap, One thing I have really come to realise is fabric choice and synthetic content is one of them, I look at fibre content and if it has a larger percentage of synthetics then I don’t even consider it. I am the same over dropped shoulders and that slouchy look, it just doesn’t suit me and it never looks good on me. Making what makes us happy, to fit and feel great is what a hand made wardrobe is all about. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Thank you so much Debra! It is so hard to resist a shiny, new pattern isn't it! I so agree about making things that make you happy. And I am loving learning more about what patterns and fabrics work for me as I continue on my handmade wardrobe journey. Thanks for watching!
I agree with you about the viscose jersey. It feels so nice, light and stretchy, and drapes so nicely, and I thought the outfits looked great on me until I saw photographs of me wearing them and realized that they show EVERYTHING. All the lumps and bumps that I prefer hidden, yes, but the most mortifying was that it shows nipple bumps. And I noticed that they show on everyone wearing viscose jersey. So I don't like wearing it either.
Yes! Viscose jersey is so clingy! It has been so interesting to read that other people have the same issues with it - glad it isn't just me! Thanks for watching. 😊
Thank you Christine! I found it a really interesting exercise to see what these garments had in common, so that I can hopefully avoid sewing these features/fabrics in the future.
Learning what you don’t like to wear is such a big part of the sewing journey. I also don’t like wearing a drop shoulder or polyester fabrics. Now that I know that, I can be more selective with my pattern and fabric purchases. I never like pleated trousers on myself either, no matter how much I’m drawn to them when I see them on other people. Reminding myself if that fact has saved me from several pattern purchases this winter and spring.
Thank you, I totally agree. Going through these makes and working out specifically what I didn't like has been so helpful as I see new fabrics and patterns.
I really loved this video and your honesty. People were raving about French terry during the pandemic when I got into sewing again, but all my experiences of French terry have been horrible! I've tried different weights etc but I think it's just something I don't feel comfortable in. However I do have some to use up and this video was helpful in making me think before rushing into making. That purple colour really suits you, even if the pattern didn't work, I think you'll be able to modify it. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you so much Vivien, I am so glad you enjoyed the video. I do think it is important to be honest as not everything always works out as we hope! Thank you so much for watching.
Love this video! I'm so with you about learning through doing. Sometimes it's disappointing when we've put all the work into sewing to find that it's not the right thing. I fully agree about drop shoulders - raglan and set-in all the way! I love viscose jersey, but I mostly like it for tees and bodysuits that fit close to the body, otherwise they're just too heavy and drape too much. Thanks for sharing some real talk on how things actually work and don't work for you. So refreshing to hear about how things actually wear instead only the just-made hype that is most often seen here on youtube. Great stuff Amelia!
Thank you so much Bri, I am so glad you enjoyed the video. It is always hard to acknowledge when things don't work out as we hoped. I just thought it was important to show that we are all still learning and growing as we journey on with this lovely hobby of ours! Thanks so much for watching.
Thank you Mary! I really do love the pink bodysuit - I just don't feel confident wearing it, which is a shame! Thanks so much for your lovely comment. ❤
I love the red cord dress. I hope you keep it and try again. I made a purple cord dress this year and wear it all the time. I hate purple, lol. I understand when you don’t like the fit or color or fabric. I have a few polyester dresses and stiff cotton dresses I won’t wear because I dont like the fabric. I also have a dress that is not a color I like as a toile, but I wear it because it fits nice. I haven’t perfected my Jersey sewing skills. I have decided that wearing what brings you joy is important. The feel of the fabric and the fit is really important to me right now. You make so many beautiful things. Thank you for sharing those items you don’t wear. I’m learning my preferences too.
I agree with you, I can't do polyester. I'm in Australia, and it just doesn't work! But I adore the pink bodysuit on you though, and it looks so good with your navy pinafore!
Thank you for such an honest review of your least liked clothes. I’m going to video some of mine as it is a really good way to work out why we are not wearing them. So many factors come into play - it’s harder than anyone might think to come up with a winning combination!
Thank you Deryn. I am really glad you enjoyed the video. It was really helpful looking at why I am not reaching for these pieces as it will really help my going forward as I choose patterns and fabric.
Thank you Loriann, I am glad you enjoyed the video. It was really interesting to me to see what these garments had in common so I could learn what to avoid in future makes!
Great video and excellent sleuthing on what might be making your hand draw back and skip over garments in your closet. Too bad about the red dress. If there isn't too high a polyester content, could you experiment with dye? I also like natural fibers against my skin, or fabrics that are mostly natural but have some spandex added for comfort. Maybe the red dress could be a winter item with cotton turtleneck or long-sleeved knit top underneath? I can't stand polyester next to my skin but love it as a layering piece since it's warm and light and easy to wash and then hang to quickly air dry. Another option for the red dress would be to get some stretch lace in a different color and sew up a one-size-larger sleeveless bodice and shorter skirt to wear over the top of the dress using the same pattern. One more idea for you: could you wear the black bird of paradise slip dress over the red corduroy dress? That might be stunning, solve the sheerness issue, and would save two of your beautiful me-mades for your winter wardrobe. I hope something works! Best of luck, Antonia
Thank you Antonia, these are such great ideas! I really like the idea of dying the red dress - I think it would look really good as a black dress but I am not sure the thread would take the dye. I will have to think about it though as that could be a great solution. Thank you so much for watching and commenting!
Red cord dress looks lovely and colour suits you - made up in 100% cotton would probably feel more comfortable . I am going through wardrobe and taking out dresses I don’t wear. Some just need a little off hem and others I am chopping into a top . If I still don’t wear them I will donate. Great vlog.
Thank you Claire - I think you are right about the content of the dress fabric. Cotton would have worked so much better! I am glad that the video has inspired you to have a clear out too - I definitely feel better for having had a clear out!
Very interesting video, really good to refine what works for you for future makes. I also struggle with viscose jersey, and dropped shoulders dont suit me, and seem everywhere at the moment. Two patterns that have worked for me are pattern emporium besties tee, it makes the most of the drape, and McCalls M6563 it has a nicely draped neck, but not too much fabric, and is cut on the bias.
Thank you so much for those pattern suggestions Jane, I will have a look at both of those - although I don't think I will be buying viscose jersey again soon! It is so interesting to hear that there are so many of us who don't love the dropped shoulder trend!
Great video topic. Thank you for being so honest and you are right sometimes we learn by trying. I have similar issues with synthetic content in fabrics. I am looking forward to hearing your cardigan review.
For viscose or rayon jersey, I like patterns with a bit of swing to them. I’ve made the Chalk and Notch Waterfall Raglan as well as Helen’s Closet Luna tank. I also like more oversized things like the Monroe turtleneck because the fabric still shows your body lines a bit with the drape.
Thank you so much Annie. I think a waterfall cardigan would look beautiful with the drape of a viscose jersey! And the Monroe too. Thank you for watching, and for those suggestions. ❤
Thank you Clare, I am glad you enjoyed the video and that it is helpful! I really enjoy filming this kind of video, so there will definitely be some more of these handmade wardrobe videos!
I agree about viscose jersey ...I'm not a fan either. I think this is a good exercise for everyone. There's no point hanging on to things you aren't wearing. You've enjoyed making those garments so that's a good thing. Thanks for another great vlog Amelia 😀
Thank you so much for your comment Annette. It was such an interesting exercise to think about why I wasn't wearing each piece, and good learning going forward too. Thanks for watching!
Well I think everything looks really nice on you. I don’t like polyester either though. Perhaps the red corduroy dress could become a skirt and peplum top though cos it’s so nice. The red and black skirt looks great on you too ( can’t believe you said anything negative about a rosery apparel make 😂 I know it’s not the pattern 😂) i hope you don’t mind me agreeing with you about the freya dress. I love floral fabrics but I think that one is a little “ mummsy’ on you. But pretty all the same, and I wish I looked as good as you. I think that last purple sweatshirt looks great on you. Thanks for sharing. I am just knitting obsessed at the moment.
Thank you for your lovely comment Jenny. I think I am going to alter the sleeves on the red dress and see if that helps me wear it more often. That is exactly how I felt in the Freya Dress - which was such a shame! I am very slowly getting through my knitting - it is something I wish I had more time to do as it is so nice wearing hand knits!
I am with you on several things. I think viscose Jersey is hard to find the right thing to use it for. I also do not like a dropped shoulder. I like a fitted sleeve head. It is really hard to say that our makes are not successful!
Thank you, an excellent and thoughtful video, it will certainly help me to focus on my own wardrobe, which is now all hand made and is very difficult, psychologically, to thin down. I have several lengths of viscose jersey in my stash, they have to go to the charity shop. No point me making something first. Now I know why I have been avoiding them I love Jan`s idea to dye the red dress. Red does not do anything for you nor does the purple, the colours are completely wrong on you
I agree with you in regard to the purple sweater and the sleeve style. But i have to disagree about the pink and red items, I think the colours really suit you. Maybe you just have to get used to wearing brighter colours. My husband always likes me in brighter colours and sometimes I feel really conspicuous but he always admires me in the bright colours.
I’ve had a similar experience with some verydrapey modal terry. I managed to squeeze two tops out of 2 metres. I made a Toaster 2 and a Freya. The Toaster looks great- it drapes in the right places and the fabric suits the swingy shape. The Freya looks awful, unlike a previous one I made in a cotton jersey, the modal fabric just highlights all the wrong bits and making me look barrel shaped. However I’ll be holding onto the Freya as the softness and light weight of the fabric makes it ideal as a layering piece under the heavy scratchy wool jumpers which I’ve been wearing this winter whilst working from home. Nobody needs to see the top under the jumpers and I find the high neckline of the Freya makes my favourite heavy Aran jumper much more comfortable to wear as it has a particularly scratchy high neckline.
Thank you so much for your comment Jenny, it is so interesting to hear about other people's experience! I am so glad the Toaster sweater worked - and putting the Freya under woollen jumpers sounds so great for winter too! Maybe I can turn the Paola into a vest to wear under my jumpers.
Hi Amelia I use a viscose jersey when I make the love notions Sunday romper shorts and it works extremely well due to the drape it offers. I don’t think this fabric works particularly well with dresses , and I agree about the Ponte fabrics I do like the structure they offer but not always the polyester content. Happy sewing x
Great tutorial ❤ I’m new to sewing and I just made a top with raglan sleeves which I don’t have these sleeves in my wardrobe, I didn’t like the look on me and the fabric choices was terrible.
Thanks for showing us these makes Amelia. As a beginner I appreciate when more experienced sewists share what didn’t work for them and why. I really liked the dark red wrap skirt on you but if you don’t feel comfortable wearing that colour then you’re not going to wear it, regardless of how many people like it. I really liked the purple colour of the fibre mood top on you too but agree a set in or raglan shoulder may work better. I just made a sagebrush top in some gorgeous cotton lawn fabric but the pouffy sleeves are just too much for me 😢 I’ve found a Paige Joanna hack for reducing the volume in the sleeves so I’m going to give that a go instead.
Thank you so much for your comment Melissa. I think it is so important to acknowledge that not every make is perfect, and sadly, not every make gets worn. I hope you are able to reduce the puff in your Sagebrush top so you can wear it!
Great analysis of why you don’t wear certain garments. They are all beautiful though! The annoying thing about weight fluctuation is the impact it has on clothes you love.
Your makes are beautiful, fit you amazing, and look professionally made. I learned a lot about matching fabrics to patterns. Thank you for sharing and I also like your head band.
I enjoyed hearing your reflections on why you don't wear certain items. We're always learning, right? I also don't like wearing viscose jersey. It's clingy, even though it's really soft. I also don't care for drop sleeves. Great video!
Thanks for this video Amelia, it really resonates - I’ve also been learning about my memade preferences and have the same issue with having made some things that I don’t reach for. Really good to hear about your thinking on why especially re fabric choice, it’ll help me figure out why for me! For viscose jerseys perhaps the Little Lizard King Tofino dress? It has a drapey skirt and circle sleeves so might work well with more fluid fabrics.
Thank you Wendy, I am so glad you enjoyed the video! It was interesting to see what the pieces had in common and why I wasn't reaching for them. I will definitely have a look at the Tofino dress, although I am not sure I will be rushing to buy any more viscose jersey! 😂
I really enjoyed your video and I can see why you don't wear several of those garments, Amelia. Some are just too big and swamp you (e.g. the red corduroy dress) and some it's the colour (as soon as I saw the pink body suit I just said, No! Wrong colour!) I agree with all your reasons on all those garments but, as you said, we have to try patterns, fabrics and colours and sometimes we have to accept they haven't worked...
It was so interesting to go through and think about what I wasn't wearing, and to see the common colours that I don't wear. No more pink and red for me I think! 😂
Really interesting video. It us very hard to let go of things you have made. For the red dress, I think it could make a nice top perhaps keeping some of the skirt for a small peplum. It would look good over denim trousers or jeans. You could keep the sleeves or use the skirt material to make new lined ones. It may be my screen, but I don't think that purple colour really suits your skin. It's hard to judge online, but in any event I agree you should pass it on. On the other hand, I loved the pink bodysuit and thought it really suited you.
Thank you Eileen. It is so hard to let go of handmade pieces, but I hope that someone else will give them more wear than I am! I like the idea of turning the top into a blouse, or indeed a skirt. I have learned a lot about colours that suit me too - which is good going forward I think!
@sew Amelia, I am new to your channel and have enjoyed listening to you discuss the pros and cons of your makes. Are muslins a big part of your process? If not, why not? I am relatively new to sewing and even newer to sewing clothing.
Hi, and thanks for your question! I do not always make toiles unless the pattern is tricky to fit, or if the style of garment is quite close fitting. I hope you are enjoying your sewing journey so far!
Lovely video. It's hard to edit our handmade wardrobe. The red dress - if you would remove the sleeves and make it like a kind of pinafore maybe you would wear it more? I love viscose jerseys. My fav patterns for it is the Tres Belle peplum top by Ellie and Mac with hacked flutter sleeves and the Vera top by Forget me not patterns
Thank you for those viscose jersey suggestions, I will look up the Ellie and Mac pattern and I love the Vera Top! That is such a good idea to turn the dress into a pinafore. I will definitely take the sleeves off and see if I can rework it somehow, as I really do love the dress!
To break up the solid red on that lovely dress: have you tired a rather long necklace? Or perhaps a colorful printed scarf in colors that you do love? I have a lot of things to donate that I have made and do not wear. I think this happens to all of us.
Thank you Theresa. It has been so interesting to hear that there are so many of us who are thinking about what we don't wear from our handmade wardrobes.
I love viscose jersey but Ido limit use to a nice cowl neck top of the sew so easy pleated crossover which both allow the drape to shine but limit it my top half. no viscose jersey over my bottom!!! I think the red dress has too much structure so it overwhelms your frame
Yes! I do think the sleeves are a bit overwhelming on the red dress, so I think I will try to make them a bit smaller and see if that helps! Thank you so much for the viscose jersey suggestions too!
I would just take in 2 darts on your beautiful liberty skirt, treating the lining and fabric as one, no it won't look perfect on the inside but it would save a huge amount of work and no one sees the inside of your clothes x
This was interesting to watch. I loved the fabric of your Agnes tee so what a shame about the puffed shoulders. I’ve only been sewing for myself since June last year. Getting over the initial shock at the price of Indie sewing patterns, I found myself making several garments from each new pattern I bought to justify its cost. The problem with that is, I’ve made plenty of things but a lot are the same……I’ve made 8 Billie sweater dresses for instance. However, I’m loving my sewing journey and I’m thirsty for more.
I love pattern repeating when it is a good pattern too! I have made quite a few Billies - it is a great pattern, and, as you say, a great way to make the best use of these patterns. Thank you so much for watching.
Maybe the red and bright pink are too "energetic" for your calm personality? I think both suit your colouring (not that I'm an expert) but perhaps they are just too dramatic in mood.
That might be it - too much energy in the winter! I really love the idea of both the red and the pink, but I just don't feel comfortable in them! Thanks so much for watching!
I think I might try taking some volume out of the sleeve caps first, as I wonder if that might help too. I will think about black dye though - that is a great idea!
You tube keeps deleting my comments. Grr. Try buttonhole elastic for the Liberty skirt as a temporary fix? I’ll send link. With buttonhole elastic you only need sew on two buttons each side or at the back whatever you prefer
Oh no! Sorry about that! I think buttonhole elastic sounds like a great temporary fix. I would like to try to get this one sorted out in time for the summer as I do wear it a lot then!
I love the bird-of-paradise slip dress over the blacks on you. I don’t like it with the white. Of course if you’re not feeling it, it’s better passed on.🇦🇺🦘
