Friday, July 30, 2010

Paralyzed by Indecision

The hardest thing for me to do is choose the right fabric for a pattern.  After sewing for over 30 years, the mistake I still make most often is to use fabric that is absolutely wrong for a pattern.  I love prints and I love BurdaStyle design details.  But, the prints I love usually obscure the design details of the Burda patterns I love.  To avoid making the same mistake yet again, I have tried to consider my fabric choices more carefully.

I bought this fabric during PR Weekend in Philly and I love it, but I've been afraid to use it.  The print is large and I didn't want to break it up with a center front opening or too many seams.  So, I went to my Burda Index for a simply styled top and found 05-05-139, which has princess seaming and small bust darts.  (So much for "too many seams")  The fashion photo showed a large scale print and that boosted my confidence, but I've made the wrong choice so many times before.   I have another pattern option, Kwik Sew 2923,  that is a simple v-neck, short sleeved top - no darts or seams in the front. 
KwikSew 2923

I know I'm over-thinking this.  But some of my past projects were disappointing because I didn't think enough about my fabric choice.  And  did I mention, I really love this fabric?  The safest thing to do is first make the shorts that will be worn with this top.  This will give me more time to make up my mind.    Since this will be a shorts outfit, I want the top to be casual.  Which is more casual: the BWOF or the Kwik Sew?  After my last  failure project, I'm overly sensitive to casual v. dressy.  I'm so confused.  It's amazing how a few past mistakes, especially my last project, have made me doubt myself.  I'm forgetting my little sewing motto:  It's only fabric!

9 comments:

  1. The Kwik Sew looks more casual to me. I too would worry about the princess seams. KS is definitely less fitted.

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  2. I like the Burda lines better. It's such a busy print, I don't think breaking it up with the princess seams is going to matter that much. I really like that print, by the way.

    I have to ask. You mentioned your Burda index. Did you create an index of your Burda patterns by type, etc.? Just wondering because I've been trying to create something similar for all my patterns.

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  3. I like the Burda one better too. That Kwiksew one yells scrub nurse to me!

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  4. I don't like the second choice . It's shapeless and just not flattering. Even in the drawing it's just awful. I like the first one, but I agree that it will be harder to lay out. I would do a single lay and assuming that you use see through paper, and lay out the major pieces moving them around till you get a pleasing design. Then if you don't like it, try something else. Darts are less noticeable than princess seams.I have found that they just disappear in the print. You could always pipe the princess seams to emphasize the vertical seams.

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  5. I like the Burda one better. Good luck deciding.

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  6. I think that the Kwik Sew pattern is more casual looking but, personally, I prefer the Burda style. I love the fabric - I'm sure whichever you choose will look great!

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  7. I was going to say the KS, but it does look a bit scrubby. But matched with shorts I think you will be able to get away with it. And it definately won't break up the pattern.

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  8. Lee,
    Burda is my choice. Since I'm am/was a nurse, my first thought was "why would Lee be making a scrub top". At any rate, to use that lovely fabric and show off some of the lines in the pattern, could you try an off-white or matching solid color trim? Some thoughts are piping or a solid bias trim around the edge? Even a facing of an alternate color?

    BTW, did you get the Milliner needles?

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  9. I like the Burda top. It's a good match for the shorts.

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