ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- I'm back at it again with finishing another unfinished historical costuming project. This time it's my 1908 white cotton lace dress. Latina Living History ( / @ktlovely ) is hosting the #FtheUFOs challenge (playlist: th-cam.com/users/playlist?list...) right now to encourage us costumers to finish those UFOs so I thought now would be a perfect time to tackle the final stages of this dress while also chatting about lessons I've learned over the years about how to avoid, deal with, and complete my unfinished projects. What are your tips for UFOs? Share them in the comments!
** REFERENCES **
Collar stays (stands): www.festiveattyre.com/2011/09/...
** IMAGES **
National Cloak and Suit Co. Catalog 1908: archive.org/details/newyorkfa...
The Delineator: catalog.hathitrust.org/Record...
May 1902
June 1905
January 1917
Le Modes (image of posed woman): August 1908
gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb3...
Lace Dress originally from Ebay: www.extantgowns.com/2013/11/ed...
1910-french-fashion-plate - source unknown
Medieval gown
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Victorian Tennis Dress
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
WWI Red Cross Uniforms
Ladies Home Journal, Sept 1917
babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?i...
** MUSIC **
Courtesy of EpidemicSound.com
** CONNECT **
Find me on Instagram @dixiediy: / dixiediy
I blog at dixiediy.com
I may not always have time to respond to all comments but know that I do appreciate them! - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
The best thing about sewing vintage. It took five years to finish this garment, so it will be so out of date (unfashionable). Oh wait, it's already 100 years out of date, so 5 extra years is nothing.
The dress turned out looking stunning, so who cares what the inside looks like. Extant vintage garments often have raw or unfinished seam edges on the inside. No one sees them, so the home seamstress saves time and effort by just leaving them raw.
The difference between a beginner and an experienced seamstress is the fact that we know what to do when we have problems with a garment. Having experience made them less insurmountable
My therapist gave me really good advice. He used to be a designer, and he said it was useful to always have three projects on hand. Not necessarily massive awe striking projects, but three different things. And that the idea was to (roughly, and without pressurising yourself) have one somewhere near being finished, one somewhere in the middle, and one somewhere round the beginning. That way if you get bored, or disillusioned, or want to throw one of them against a wall - or if there's a part of the process you're less fond of - you can put one away, and work on one of the others for a while.
I tried it, and it really works for me.
That said, I do have a folder of pictures on my computer with stuff I'd like to make in it. But I don't look at it that often. The ones I'm currently working on are in separate research folders, so it's really only when I'm deciding what's next.
The dress turned out beautifully. I’ve been finishing up a project I started 23 years ago. Yes, I was a young teenager and it’s just a pair of cute summer pjs but I’m determined to diminish the UFO pile. Only two projects left!
You can do it!!!
I don't generally UFO. In the rare case I put something aside unfinished I write a note to myself as to why, and then give it an expiration date. I had a 1950's dress I was working on a while back from a commercial pattern, where I just couldn't get the bust to fit right. I put it aside, in a bag, wrote a note that said "If you still hate this in August throw it out," Turns out I did still hate the project, it still had all its same problems, and I cut it up for scrap fabric and never looked back. It's good to finish things, it is also good to just let them go.
When you said to work on one project at a time, my immediate reaction was “But I have ADHD :(“ so when it cut to you saying “you might be asking: What if I have ADD?” I nearly jumped! Mind reader!
Of course, I also have crafting ADD! I currently have 4 quilts on the go (that's not including the pieced but not quilted tops), 1 cross stitch project and 1 t-shirt x6 (same pattern, 6 different fabrics). Plus a friend wants me to help her make a cushion for an outdoor bench this weekend! Sigh.
The "pieced but not quilted" tops are the reason why I don't quilt any more. I had too many of those and finally just shelled out the money to have them long-armed by someone else, lol! May the craft gods bless your UFOs and you finish them all quickly!
Oh my gosh... The pile problem... It felt like you were looking right into my sewing room! Please excuse me while I am cleaning up! :D
Oh, and BEAUTIFUL DRESS!!!
flat surfaces attract piles, but you need flat surfaces to do the sewing thing! gah!
Side note for beginners who fell in love with “a thing” they saw in a period movie: shop thrift stores for large sizes of the right material. For instance, before dropping big money on high end drapey wool, buy the biggest flannel nightgown you can find. Practice the skirt pattern on the flannel first. You can still use the ugliest material as a slip or petticoat or lining! It allows you to work out any confusing pattern directions on cheaper fabrics. ❤
I changed my "planned" list to "projects I already bought fabric for" and deleted anything that I didn't already have fabric set aside for. Thanks for the tip! My list is now a lot smaller and the list works a lot better. I just want to remind myself to get to something, not create an endless list of stress
My "sewjo" - I love it!
Hahaha.. We both have the same mortal enemy! 🤪 I made a video about my best advice to finish UFOs but I actually never thought about overplanning and putting things on lists. I had the past previous 2 years made and published my MakeNine on IG, but after 2020 I didn't want to make one again.. it had just become a reminder of all the projects I have yet to make and that never happened... yet again... And I still was trying to finish old projects lurking around and using the materials I already owned - which wasn't aligned at all with making the majority of these other projects as they required buying more fabrics when I just wanted to reduce my stash!
My advice is that if you work on something more complex and want to work on another project is to work on something simpler. As I am not only a sewist but a knitter too I am gonna give a knit project example: If you work on a complex lace project that needs your concentration on every round you do not want to have another complex project on the go - rather something that you might be able to do watching tv / having a virtual stitch and bitch. This is a great way to ensure you utilize your crafting energy properly - once you are bored with the simple project you can get back to more complex work vice versa.
This was alarmingly relatable. 😳
Just HOW am I supposed to follow your guidelines and NOT pick up ambitious projects on a whim after seeing THIS DRESS
That’s a very pretty dress. I’m glad you shared the “finishing “.
I love the dress, it was worth the time it took! I have always been fascinated by this style of dress, and remember that my grandmother was not as fond of it as I romantically was and am. She complained that she always arrived at functions somewhat wrinkled and untidy. Still, she knew how to turn a neat hem and make beautiful buttonholes by hand. These were skills she seldom used as she had embraced permanent press and double knit. “I have ironed enough, she explained.”
Your advice for Combatting UFOs is spot on. I have sewn for more years than I can say, and still on occasion fail to complete a project. I have learned, like you, to keep my project stored in one place, usually now in a labeled project box.
I make notes, copious notes; I pin them to the pieces they pertain to. I make written pages of process and order. It helps; I can go back to a project and get right into it (although that first stitch back is sometimes a little like jumping into cold water-you just have to get it over with).
Thanks for a great video, it was both entertaining and informative. Also, I really do love your dress. 💕
Having worn this dress, I can certainly see how it (and cotton in general) can get really wrinkly, especially this thin, lightweight fabric. I appreciate your grandmother's distain for ironing! Thanks!
To avoid ufos I have one box for fabric and I only allow myself to buy new fabric if it will fit in the box. All unfinished projects live in the box to. So if I want to make something new I have to create room in the box first. Easiest way to do that is to usually sew on those buttons I’ve been avoiding or finish a hem so that item can leave the fabric box and go in my wardrobe instead.
This is a good plan. What about leftover fabric? Does that stay in the box until it gets used up or does it not count? Most of my stash these days are 1-2yd leftovers
I started a newborn, smocked bishop dress from expensive heirloom Cotton batiste fabric. 35 years later I finished it. I loved your video. It sounded like me exactly.
I bribe myself to finish UFOs by having a one in one out policy. I have one item on the go at any time (items not whole outfits). If I am sick of the current sewing, I have to finish an existing project and it takes its place in the UFO pile. I find this gives me flexibility and variety while also encouraging me to actually focus on doing a thing.
I like this idea, it still leaves options open to choose what to sew
And the more things you like to do the worse it gets! I sew my own clothes, but I also like to knit, crochet, and embroider -- not to mention wanting to learn tatting, various forms of lace making, drawing, and other crafty and non-crafty things! At least I shouldn't ever lack new challenges for my brain.
My personal tip: have a maximum as to how much space all your ongoing-projects/UFO's are allowed to take up, for me that is one shoebox (which is stuffed to the max, obviously). When it is full, nothing new is allowed to be added to the box, first I need to finish things within the box. It really helps for me. (Please take note: exceptions are okay, for example, the quilt of scraps of old projects is still saving up squares, so that has a separate place)
That quilt sounds more like a long-term, ongoing project rather than a UFO 😉 good idea with the shoe box
That looks beautiful! I was thinking about my UFOs - I don't have that many because I actually donated the most hopeless of them to the university textiles department along with a bunch of stuff from my stash! But the ones I DO have fall into a few categories: 1. Project I wasn't even that excited about (a skirt for work) that I didn't yet have the construction skills to problem solve (waistband kept collapsing from the weight of the pleats, at the time I didn't know about sew in interfacings, interlinings etc.) 2. Project that turned out not to suit me that much - a cream patterned gathered skirt. I look bad in cream, and that fabric looked bad gathered, so I'll have to pleat it. 3. Project was kind of complicated - drafted a pattern for an unusual pieced colour-blocked linen skirt, cut out the pieces, have yet to sew it. 4. I had doubts about the project - I cut out a very plain a-line skirt that I'd drafted but then I realised that it's way harder to put pockets in a-line skirts than it is to put them in pleated skirts etc because there's not as much room at the hip for all the stuff you put in your pockets. Also the problem with projects #3 and #4 is I'm bigger than I was when I cut the pieces out so there's a good chance they won't fit and I'll have to add panels or something :{
I'm currently doing a long project - it's going to be my wedding outfit, and I've sewn two mockups and have nearly sewn a first version in linen. I planned it a lot. Lot of drawing, lot of notes on what I'd done/changes I made to the pattern etc. The linen version has gone really well and I think when I do the silk one it will be pretty achievable, since when you've sewn something before you don't have to think about it nearly as hard.
And of course the final thing to do to avoid UFOs - just sew the same garment, the one that you know that suits you, over and over and over again :p I've made so many shirts in different fabrics but used variations on the same pattern, and I regret none of it because it's relaxing as hell
Loads of wisdom in such a condensed video! And the "personal" rant/advice is just spot on.
The dress is beautiful, I like the line of the skirt so much!
This dress is so beautiful. I have a home from this time period, and would LOVE the wardrobe to match, so I might swan around my front parlor in white linen and lace. Of course, I would have to finish my HOUSE reno UFOs, and you think sewing UFOs are a mess to store, try power tools and building supplies. Anyway, congrats on finishing this, it is stunning and you look lovely in it!
This is me!!! I plan too many projects, but then sometimes I don't actually plan out the project and it takes so much more effort to create without a plan!! Love the dress 💙
Your gown is beautiful! I am so glad you shared. I don't sew a lot. I focus on card making. I have tubs of works in progress, tubs on need a sentiment, need to cut out pieces, etc. I find it real that no matter the medium --- creators share similar struggles.
This is my favorite historical style! It's a bit of effort, but the whitework is worth it. In the end it is so beautiful! I have a journal full of filet crochet patterns.... someday I'll make myself a lingerie dress too. Very nice video!
Gorgeous dress!! And a giant hooray for finishing a UFO. Generally speaking, I refuse to allow myself to start a new project until my current one is finished. I know myself well enough to understand that if I start something new because I’m in a mid-project slump, said project will become a UFO...indefinitely. The only exception to that rule is starting a new mini project that is part of the same larger project...like a hat that matches, or a scarf, or mitts, or a purse...then I go back to the part I put down. There’s a paused project on my knitting needles glaring at me. I should go pay attention to it, now.
I like your philosophy on this
Bahaha mortal enemy the pile 🤣 thank you for this rant, it hit deep for sure... last few weeks I am reorganizing my sewing room and finding a decade worth of fabric stash that I have no idea what purpose I bought it for...and also found 4 totes full of garments paired up with fabric... what the plan was...no clue (wishing I would have bought more than a yard or two of them - especially lace - since historical projects are quite yardage black holes.) As I was cleaning up I felt the urge of instant sewing a few times but now I have another pile of need to tie the ends and work it in 😜 otherwise I will never use those garments. As I looked through some were already sewn together and we're waiting for the finish.... while realizing oh yeah my shape changed since last I worked on it...ooops. I also found some lost Xmas presents because what better place to hide them. I will not start a new project until I make the piles disappear... Until then I will enjoy everyone else's sewing adventures. Thanks again for the peptalk. The dress is stunning.
Wow! Love this dress! And I totally agree with your tips on UFOs! Take care 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇦🇺😎
All of my UFOs are mending work I don't know how to do yet. Lol. "Oh no, my thighs ate these jeans! I can probably fix that." 3 years and 5 pairs of thigh-holes later and my fabric stash has a "jeans" drawer that I deliberately avoid out of shame. XD
i have been trying really hard to finish some of my oldest UFOs (that i still care about) over the past few months too and this video really helped validate me. my oldest piece i just finished is 7 years old and thankfully everything was still together but i didn't start doing the bags trick like you until about 2 years ago. it's definitely a livesaver, especially with those 'can't buy it again' materials.
the main difference in my process is that i always lose notes if they're physical, so i try to keep a digital record of what i do via project 'books' with worklogs in them (and detailed play-by-plays on each individual piece, time permitting) and by always taking a WIP photo at the end of a work session to show the state of the project when i stepped away. that makes it easier to follow the chronology of the photos and figure out where i left off if something gets shelved for a few weeks (or years).
i absolutely adore this dress and i'm really happy you finished it, both for the busted UFO and for what a beautiful garment you brought into the world (even if you would've done it differently now, been there a lot recently!)
ooooh, the digital note taking/photo taking is such a good idea. Thanks and glad you're here!
I have started only allowing myself to have 3 projects at one time. Unfortunately, my ADHD kicks out and wants me to switch project types, so I have maybe 5 that I am aware of. 1 crochet, 1 knit, 1 hand embroidery, and 2 regular sewing projects. I have a list of sewing "ideas" basically a wish list.
I definitely suffer from the “I have a lot of of planned out projects and feel like [censor] for not working on them, ignoring what I have already done.” Also I have huge issues with a fear of messing things up, waisting time and materials. Once it happens and I finally get over it I wonder why I made such a big deal about it, but it will still happen again. My only way to prevent dozens of UFOs is I only work on one thing at a time. If I am making drawers nothing else gets cut or sewn until those are done. And sometimes that means I just walk away for a week..a month because of reasons but I know I personally would feel worse having a ton of partial projects going instead of just the one.
Your dress is stunning...even if it did take 5 yrs...and I bet your feeling "It's over and why didn't if just finish this 5 yrs ago".....the only advice I can say to you is....when you know your putting a UFO in a bag...put a list of why it's there and what's the problem....thank you for taking us along you grand dress design journey....love it...
Good idea on writing notes!
I usually jump between project a lot. and I know fully well that I do so and plan around it. Sure some projects get finished in one go, not working on something else as well, but mostly I have 3+ things going at the same time that I jump between as to not get burned out on a project.
This does not work for everyone. And I have a lot of UFO's. But I usually feel less stressed about them if I don't only have the one project to work on. I've never felt a sense of it being a bad thing that I haven't finished a project if I have other projects going at the same time, but if I only have one project that I work on I get antsy about it not being finished.
I do completely get that for some people they need to stick to one project, not have 8 different outfits going at the same time, but for me it's easier to do the same task but on 8 different projects one day. Like spending a day hemming everything, or embroidering. Some days I don't wanna do a certain task, others I just wanna focus on one type of task. Having multiple projects going helps me be able to do so.
I do write down what's left to do for projects though, like break them down into the garments in an outfit, then break down each garment into what steps are needed to complete them. To help me see what I actually need to do. Sometimes I decide that I will skip over the embellishing just to have it be somewhat done, and then return later to add all the pretty extra bits (ofc if it's something that need to be attached in a seam it won't be skipped but stuff like applique is sometimes skipped until a later date).
I like this "batch sewing" idea of doing one task like hemming but doing it on all the current projects. I like that you can have multiple projects so if you get stuck on one or don't want to do a particular task on one project that day you can switch to something else and feel like you've made some progress. There are definitely times in a project where I feel like I've hit a road block and struggle to continue (usually because I go off-pattern and have to do a technique I'm unfamiliar with) and then feel grumpy because I'm not progressing on a project. Lots of good tips here, thanks!
Wow, your technique for creating collar stays is brilliant! They look just like the originals! And your finished dress is GORGEOUS.
Thanks! First time making those, it was kinda fun
1. Your dress is exquisite!
2. I love how matter of fact and no nonsense you are. You’re speaking my language.
3. This type of video is wonderful. I saw your first UFO video and enjoyed that one and was excited to see this one.
1. Thank you!
2. haha thanks
3. Glad you're enjoying the videos!
What an absolutely gorgeous dress! I loved how you shared making your own collar supports. Thank you! I am pretty militant in that I don't allow myself to begin another project until I finish the first one. That said I currently have a 1/2 completed 1830's dress and hat. I completely lost my sewjo when our Romantic picnic was canceled last spring and given that there is nothing on the books I have zero interest. This is probably because I am one of the few people who doesn't LOVE 1830's fashion. I just wasn't excited about the project to begin with. So, here's to an 1830's picnic in the foreseeable future to light my fire.
Ah yes, the picnic 😭 I dont really love 1830s either which is why I wanted to fix that 1840s dress instead. And I never would have finished it if the picnic had been cancelled any earlier. Hopefully we'll be able to get together again soon and you can have a chance to finish your outift!! 🤞
Love the UFO tag! I have an entire cabinet full of them; I keep meaning to tackle them, but life gets in the way. Fab vlog.
Gosh that dress is beautiful! Great job!
This is so so beautiful. I’m very glad you finished it and shared it with us. Thanks!
It's gorgeous! Congratulations on finishing it :)
This is absolutely beautiful! It’s totally dreamy 🥰🥰 thank you for sharing x
Wow! The dress and the advice are both spectacular! This is beautiful and inspiring thank you
It is absolutely stunning!!!!!
You have, like, really great content. Seriously! I hope you continue making such great videos. You are a informative and motivating and real and all the things and you speak to my sewing heart.
I love your style! This is all so lovely!!
Beautiful!
I call my UFOs PIGs (Projects in Grocery bags) . It just seems so fitting for so many of them. :)
Oh my gosh how beautiful the dress is! 🤩 The whole silhouette and the details are so spot on! 😍😍😍
The dress is beautiful! I'm so happy for you.
I needed to hear everything you said. Thank you
This dress looks incredible! Out of a picture, and my only rule is quite restrictive, but I only sew 'regular' clothing items, I never started other stuff before I finish the one I have going. Never, ever. I don't actually have any UFOs. But I do have clothing that I've sewn, and never wore, it's finished, but never got around to liking it kkk.
It's so pretty! 😍😍😍 I love the practical sewing management experience you shared with us too. It's so helpful to hear how other sewists deal with it
dixie, it's gorgeous! so glad you finished it and modeled it for us!
It's a lovely dress I'm glad to see it finished💕
Spotted a scrap piece of fabric from the previous ufo, loved it 😄
The best video I’ve seen on this topic! I really like your advice and the way you edited it together. Thanks.
Gosh this dress is gorgeous!!
Dang I am in love with this dress !
Gorgeous!
That is absolutely GORGEOUS !❤
Just Wonderful!!!!
Planning works for me, but I don’t try to make set in stone plans. My future projects are just things I think I might like to make, plus wardrobe staples I actually need. And when it comes to planning the specific project itself, I tend to write out a very vague order of operations, what sort of fabric I want or have, maybe a sketch or two of what I have in mind... and then I leave the next two pages blank so I can make notes as I go- I combine that with my plans into one sewing journal.
It’s not a super fancy journal- it’s one of those spiral bound notebooks with lined pages. I have put some nice stuff in there- some washi tape here and there, some pretty writing if I feel like it. I also tape fabric samples in, and at the back I have a fully scaled, fully colourised double page picture of my dream sewing room - in a room I will never have, in a home I can never afford to build. It was a day and a half of procrastination to avoid finishing the buttons on my 1890s apron. You see, I was trying to hand sew buttonholes with normal sized polyester thread. Do not recommend. But it was all I had, and I’m poor, and can’t afford nice buttonhole twist, and I’d already done half the buttons anyway.... so I wasted time drawing out my dream sewing room, with plenty of storage, and pretty much everything within reach from my wheelchair, and a huge 60”x60” cutting table (that my chair could fit under). It’s absolutely gorgeous, and it is just there in the back of my sewing journal, in case my parents win the lotto some day (unlikely to be me as I refuse to waste money on gambling).
Anyway. I do like my sewing journal. I need to keep track of what I want to do and what I am doing, and the next steps, because I have ADHD and brain fog from pain meds (not a good combination). So sewing journals! Love em! Also, I do t do much art anymore, and it’s a nice way to combine the many metres of washi tape I have for some reason (I have a massive set of Van Gogh washi tapes, they’re very pretty), some calligraphy (such as it is, my my shaky hands), and even a little sketching. I like it. And if I do put something away and come back to it later, I know exactly what I’ve done, and what I still need to do. Handy!
Also, I allow myself a maximum of three projects at one time. Because I’m disabled, there will be days (most days, probably), where the next step in a project is just not possible, because I’m just not up to it physically.
I need to have something else on the go that I can switch to, while I wait for my body to decide it can do the thing. Retro Claude has a great video on sewing with a disability, and this is one of her recommendations. I think it’s a good one.
For me, putting together printed patterns and cutting - both patterns and fabric, are usually the things I have the biggest issue with. Especially when you consider how most people do it- on the floor. That’s a bit difficult to do from a wheelchair (which is why my dream cutting table is so damn big!). So I need to wait for both a good day, and a day that I can get assistance (from a carer or my teenage daughter). And I can’t spend three weeks waiting, with nothing to do.
So I try to make sure I have a pretty much entirely hand-sewn project on the go at all times. Sewing with a machine can be hard for me (what with needing to use a leg that doesn’t always receive the right messages from damaged nerves) and needing to lean forward and all that- it can be quite painful, and I can only go for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time.
But I can sit in my chair (or lie in bed, even) and hand sew for hours. So having a hand sewn project at all times is just one of the things I do now. It can also be helpful for me to get some clarity if I’ve run into a snag, by getting a bit of space, but still keeping my mind in the sewing zone. I’m more likely to realise where I went wrong than if I’m not sewing at all.
So sorry for my essay comments. These are things I’ve picked up, and I currently only have one sort of UFO - which is old, made out of leftover fabric anyway, and my issue with it was that I didn’t take into account all my measurements, so it will never fit. I think I’ll just chuck it into my cabbage patch and say I have no UFOs. So, I have no UFOs, which I think means I’m doing okay with how I do things. Also, I’m too poor to not use fabric- either something is made, or it isn’t. I can’t afford to waste fabric on a project that doesn’t get finished. That helps too.
Also, also- I don’t tend to make big costume projects. The vast majority of what I make is more history bounding everyday wardrobe pieces. So my projects are one garment at a time. So three projects is three garments. At the moment, that’s a weird 18th century banyan/1860s wrapper mashup that I’m making out of some old floral bedsheets that belonged to my great-grandmother, a late Victorian walking skirt out of some fabric that I originally bought to make a maternity dress out of for a friend, but it was way heavier than expected, and just won’t work, so I’m using it for a skirt for me instead (even though it’s a winter weight fabric, and it’s a knit fabric, and it’s already hot in Australia, so I probably won’t get to wear it until next May), and the aforementioned maternity dress that I haven’t found replacement summer weight knit fabric for yet.
My BanyanWrapper is a mostly hand sewn garment, that I started to replace my 1890s apron, which was completely hand sewn (because I wanted to say I made something completely sewn by hand, and then realised that I prefer hand sewing anyway).
All that to say to me, a project is one garment, because I only really make everyday wearable pieces (that apron is because I make a huge mess sometimes when I’m sewing, and I wanted something that had a big pocket on the chest because side pockets are useless to wheelchair users. So even that is a more practical item. Also, making historical type clothing while wearing a cute historical apron (the type with the ruffles on the straps) just makes me feel good. Okay. Now I’ve finished my essay. I promise.
Thank you for so many great tips. I like your "three projects" rule. I kind of apply that to my modern wardrobe sewing (which is obviously a lot simpler than sewing a big historic costume). Your journal sounds beautiful! It seems like nice buttonhole thread only comes in big spools and is expensive and it's not like I'm going to use thousands of meters of one very specific color of buttonhole thread. But I did buy green thread for the buttons in the last video. Hard to justify the cost but trying to use regular thread would be way too frustrating. I watched that Retro Claude video, she had a lot of good advice. I'm not disabled but I definitely took notes to use myself. I do like how hand-sewing is so portable (but I gotta keep all the gear out of reach of the baby!). I think my dream sewing space would be Bella Mae's room. Or at least a room big enough that I don't have to put my cutting table up against a wall. I hope someday you can build the room of your dreams. In the meantime, it sounds like you've developed a lot of good project management strategies that work for your situation so I applaud you! Good luck on your current hand-sewn garment!
What a beautiful dress. Great witty advice.
This was very helpful! Our ways are very alike. Thank you for sharing.
Usually I'm not a huge lace fan but that's gorgeous!!!!
They are so gorgeous! Oh I could just stroll down the street in one!
Wow. It’s really beautiful. Clever you.
I SO have lace dress envy. It turned out beautifully.
This video just reminded me of all the “ufos” I have scattered around my sewing room. I loved your advice on avoiding the dreaded UFO ☺️ Also, the gown turned out beautiful 😍
Omg, the final result is amazing. (#neeeeed) And you have very good points on UFOs, I am always trying to take too much at once. Will return to this video eventually, I am sure :)
I love your new dress. It's beautiful.
It's beautiful!! Congratulations on getting it finished and crossing that finish line!!
Thanks for the UFO pep talk too, it's super timely and I needed to hear that. I have a project taking up 2 piles (one on the desk and a rogue envelope on the shelf) and you know what's coming next, NOT the shirt I stopped myself from cutting tonight 😉
Hope you are feeling rewarded for finishing your dress. It is lovely.
hmmm. I have knitting UFOs in bins from over 10 years ago. Even one for my ex that I started when our daughter was about 3. I think I knit 3 sleeves and was "almost" done with it when the proverbial shit hit the fan and we separated and now... I'm back to sewing. I know not to start more than one thing at a time, because ADHD. And Narcolepsy. And Working on an Art degree when you are SUPPOSED to have multiple paintings going on in the works at the same time while you have artists block during a Pandemic... well. I have a good many unfinished paintings in the kitchen taking up valuable space. And now cats too. So sewing historical clothing seems like a great idea. Even more so now that the insomnia is back. And now I may just want to sew one of these dresses. Thanks for the share
Sometimes I think about the UFOs that were supposed to be gifts for my friend's baby. That baby is now 6 years old haha! I think being in a position where I need to work on multiple paintings all at once and I can't just put them away (because they're big and not foldable like fabric) would be really stressful for me. I'm sending you spoons and hoping you can get all of your projects done!
I love this dress
Beautiful dress 💕
Holy crap, that dress is gorgeous!! Those little three-tuck patterns are magical. Enjoyed the talk about motivations and projects and UFOs in general. :) Your videos are so well composed and your sewing expertise is so clear. Also I'm extremely delighted by the phrase "sew-jo" LOL Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you so much! The "modern" sewing community uses that term a lot, I'm surprised it isn't used as much in the costuming community.
You should get a cheap metal clamp to put on the rod under your dress form and keep it from falling. Like one of those vice one that screws tight
Words of wisdom!
This a really good hit of reality. Even from the first point. I have a collection of UFO's that are just segregated into online delivery bags. I really love the idea of keepong all bits and bobs for one project in a container/bag so no rummaging from piles or other bags of stuff.
Also just pacing yourself with perdonal projects help. I try to do one thing for one project whether it be beading or seaming. Working a 9-5 job plus getting some sewing done can be very daunting.
"Hipster Bride." 👰🤣
I find that I feel so much better after cleaning my sewing space. I try to make it a priority to pick up periodically.
That’s beautiful!
I love this and I feel this, and thinking about my 2nd ever sewing project (Regency Ball Gown), which after 14 years still needs a back closure! The finished gown is stunning! I'm gonna go finish my projects now.
You can do it!! ❤
I just put my UFOs and WIPs in two categories: Devoted or Whim. If I do it on a whim, I try to finish it as much as possible before I give up then I go back to it after a while since I will feel guilty eventually. Devoted projects tend to be done after a long time since I do spend more time on it before I place it in a box with the whim projects if I got sick of it.
I like this division method!
Oh my GOD, you look like you stepped out of an antique photograph!!!!!! 😍😍😍
Thanks sunny!!
Beautiful 😍
This dress has turned out to be the most beautiful thing! Thanks for sharing. I would love to have one like this as a wedding dress. Maybe you could share the pattern with everybody some day? :)
Thank you! This thing was cobbled together on the fly so I doubt I'd be able to make a coherent pattern out of it but if I ever do I'll come back and reply ;)
It's beautiful and ....you are lovely in the dress. Adore your hair style when it is put up wow 👏
Five 🌟⭐ 🌟⭐ 🌟!!!! s
this year my sewing list only has 3 things lol two are only accurate in style but not fabric because they're themed for easter and a goth, 1820's bat type of theme to exercise creativity, plus i had so much fun making a 1918 Halloweentown themed ensemble for halloween last year i want to do it again at some point but no rush
Ayes the piles.
I literally cant walk in my room because of that
But to my defence i am preparing to reorganise the whole room
Wow what a make!
You just made my Great Grandmothers wedding dress!
I finished my long dead grandmothers UFO about twenty years ago. I was bored, it was gorgeous original Lily Pulitzer fabric… UFOs come along.
Find somewhere to wear it, which creates a deadline, and make sure I’m fully medicated so I can focus effectively.
I feel a bit called out right now.... although the list is in my head and that is enough to beat myself up over.... I fortunately don't have a lot of UFO's because I reached the point where if I couldn't do it, I didn't. I have recently started sewing again and remind myself on a regular basis that this is something I enjoy, mistakes are okay, and I am not to let perfect get in the way of good (Thanks Cathy Hay!) Oh and in regards to your finished dress, I actually think lace running across at the waist band would have interrupted the flow on the lines you have going down the shirt and into the skirt which I think looks super elegant! So yay for the lace wandering off? :)
Sometimes I need to remind myself, too, that I like sewing and mistakes are ok. Good advice all around. And thanks for making me feel better about not using the lace, haha!
@@DixieDIY yeah remember that we do this for enjoyment! lol I often lose sight of that one!
I hide away the new fabric/wool - if I see it, I want to use it! So I make sure the current project is very visible on a hanger, and everything else is hidden away
I always need to remember my projects tend to take longer than I think, and I need to start them earlier than I think I do. LOL I need to sew in shorter sessions as well, or I get frustrated and start making mistakes
me, too, all of this!