why does nothing work? ever?

[robinsnest]

I'm following this tutorial...and the slits seem HUGE..in fact that gap everywhere. but now I think about it why don't all regency gowns gap massively? UGH. I'm almost ready to throw in the towel and sell my damn sewing machine. Nothing I make works. Nothing I make fits. I used to think I was sort of, a little good at this.

Comments

[blackcat452.livejournal.com]

The slit is too big, I'd shorten that as much as you comfortably can, it seems to fit at the top. You might be able to fake it even more by sewing down one side so that it only opens on the other. I had trouble when I tried this style too, so don't feel bad.

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

I decided since it's just muslin it'll be easier to just make a new skirt rather than try to replace the front panel or sew up the slits so they don't look stupid.

It does help to know others have struggled. It SEEMS so simple..it's deceptive.

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Hang in there! It helps if you (1) make the slits shorter and (2) make the front skirt panel wider than it needs to be to fill the front space, so that you can overlap past the front edges of the back skirt piece. That is, the front panel is going to extend on the waistband belt farther back than you've got it right now. Here is a picture of the back of one of my dresses. You can sort of see that the front skirt panel is so far along the belt that it's extending under the arms when tied.

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

thank you that picture is SO helpful. I picked up more muslin today to just replace the whole skirt, I can't figure out a way to move/close the slits that won't look weird.

[starlightmasque.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, you'll figure it out.

On the bright side, you have a magnificent décolletage.

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

lol well that is a nice bright side. Thanks :-)

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

The slits are way too big. On the apron front I just finished, they are from the tip of my pinky to my wrist. Not the most accurate measurement but I can't find the measuring tape. I think the cat hid it. Also, the front panel on my dress overlaps the back panels by at least a good 6" on either side. This is probably over kill but it looks cool.

The dress looks to be coming along well other than that slight problem - and it's fairly easy to fix.

[sstormwatch.livejournal.com]

I don't do Regency, yet. But that gap reminds me of my 1510s Tudor skirt, with the side splits. It also gaps oddly at the sides like that, as the front is going over our tummies. Just take the front panel and fit it higher on the side to match the slit from its bottom. The top will need a slight curve, and you will need to wear the outfit while you repin and mark the new line, but you can make it fit just fine. It is what I have to do with my next version of my gown to make the side splits line up right.

[miss-philomena.livejournal.com]

Like everyone else said, the slits are too long. All you really need is a few inches down, depending on how full your skirt is, to basically get the waistline to open wide enough to pass over your hips or your shoulders, depending on if you prefer to step into your gown or pull it over your shoulders. And if you extend your front panel wider to under your arms, you can move your slits/side seam back a bit as well if you keep your slits short, and and just a small rectangle on either side to be your underlap, if that makes sense. But yeah, you want at least 5-6 inches of overlap on each side.

[estela-dufrayse.livejournal.com]

ok, you need to first stop this damned negative self talk. If you wouldn't say these things to another costumer, then why do you think it's ok to say them to yourself. We all have sewing problems, you just have to learn to look at the problem and figure out how to fix it.

I am with the other ladies, stitch those slits up a bit. It also appears that the fall is longer than the side pieces, so shortening it might help a bit. This is not a big deal. You did not make an unfixable mistake. It just needs a bit of tweaking. Now get back to the sewing machine and fix it!

[bauhausfrau.livejournal.com]

I haven't done this style of Regency but on 18th C round gowns the principal is the same. I'm thinking it's not just that the slits are too long but that you also don't have enough overlap.

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

yeah I redid these two things and it works now.

[stinkymonkey41.livejournal.com]

I did a mock up of this dress (well 3, regency era has always been bad luck for me) and had the same problem. I did what others have surggested too, shorten the slits and make the front panel bigger. But I still gave, hopfefully I will pick it up again later. Good luck!

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

still chugging a long on it slowly but surely...

[(Anonymous)]

Hi, I wrote the tutorial (I'm the Hungarican Chick), and the folks that are saying that you should move the panels closer together are correct. Here's a really great photo-example of how they should be placed. The bib panel needs to be wider to overlap the ones on the back piece.

http://shadowofmyhand.blogspot.com/search/label/burgundy%20drop%20front%20dress

Hope this helps. It looks wonderful so far! I do recommend that you place at least a box pleat or two under your bib for some interest.

Steph, aka The Hungarican Chick

[sewloud.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tips! I cut a new skirt (it's just muslin so that seemed easier than trying to fix it) and I think I've got it working now..fingers crossed I can get the bib itself on correctly.