This is probably one of the most frustrating sewing projects I finished this year. It all started with my attempt to make a cheongsam. I made a pattern test, it was fine. And then I chose the fabric from my stash that looked the most like a cheongsam fabric. Red cotton with golden ornaments.
I didn’t want to make a fake closure like I did with the pattern test, but a slit at the shoulder with tiny beads as a closure. Very fiddly, and I spent hours on making that. I don’t know why I didn’t notice it before I did all the work on the shoulder, but I didn’t: The fabric I picked was a Christmas themed fabric, and just above the waistline it read “Christmas”.
I decided to make the waist a bit higher and add the same satin I used to trim the shoulder parts to cover it. The dress has a zipper in the back, and I needed to test the position of the waist and satin ribbon with pins in the back, since I wanted to sew the ends down with the fold for the zipper.
Shouldn’t have done that, because I made the waist just those annoying 4mm too high. The additional red and gold cord I used to make the waist look a bit lower doesn’t really work. I guess I should have just left the “chri” where it was and nobody would have noticed. At least I know the pattern fits if I do it right.
Maybe I will make an attempt at it again some day (and draw the pieces on the right side of the fabric next time). The black wig I chose for Roux just for the pictures doesn’t really work for her either.
This post is not exactly a happy post, and I will end it with a few words about something that has been worrying me for some time now. I wasn’t sure if I should write anything about it at all. Everybody is entitled to taking a break. Dear Balljointedwoman, I very much hope that whatever keeps you from going online is temporary. I hope you will be well and back again some day. I miss you and I worry about you.
Nice choice of fabric for your cheongsam Mia, but I’d leave the gold belt off if I were you, it only draws more attention to the waistline. If you had left it as you had cut the fabric and hadn’t said anything I doubt if I would have noticed that you had even made an error in placing your pattern. Sometimes we are our own worst critic. But I know how you feel, and it will niggle at you until you remake the dress entirely. Nevertheless I like it, in particular the finish you gave the button closure at the shoulder, it’s beautifully done.
Big hugs,
X
Thank you so much for the constructive criticism, now that you mention it I can see it. Thank god the gold belt is just a belt, nothing attached to the dress. I was so upset (about a lot of things) that I was a bit blind. Now I feel better. I will put it away for a while and some day I will make another attempt. Thank you 🙂
I agree with Xanadu, the gold belt draws too much attention. However, the pattern and fit are excellent! I used to “suffer” from the same problem of doing the real fastening positions on dolls clothes (i.e. a pant with the fastening on the front) until I realised that doll cltohes will always look better with fake fastenings.
Anyways, please let me join you in expressing my worry for Baljointedwoman. I haven’t seen her in some time, and I also worry about ther D:
Thank you! I guess you are right. Next time I’ll make a fake fastening :D.
Yes. It’s just not like her. She wrote something about a cataract treatment some time ago, but I think if she had planned that she would have announced her absence.
This dress has some very beautiful details, I know you’re not happy about it but nevertheless, it looks really good to me. 🙂 I love the little buttons closure. But I know how it feels when something doesn’t turn out as you wished, and I hope you will try again, it’s worth it! I hope Balljointedwoman is doing alright.
Thank you! I will try it again, but I put it aside for the moment. I hope so too.
It’s like I was reading about myself… I get frustrated about things like that too! And as it was already written above – nobody would notice it. But I think it’s just how we are. Sometimes I rip half of the already finished cloth because it’s not like I wanted it. And I’m afraid I won’t change. xD
Removing the belt is a better option, I agree with Xanadu and Masume. Despite these annoying details, I think the dress turned out beautifully. The cut is perfect and the pattern on the fabric is just fantastic.
I know the feeling when someone among the blog firends is quiet longer than usual. I hope everything is fine.
Thank you :). I am glad I am not the only one who gets upset about stuff like that. But like you I don’t think that will change. Too bad it’s fitted to her bust size, else I could just try it on a smaller doll. I think I will take pictures without the belt and see how it looks. And this time with her usual hair :).
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