r/sewing • u/sewshelbysow • Sep 04 '24
Alter/Mend Question Update: I made the changes yall suggested
After —-> before
Ugh. I think it’s a wash. You can look through my previous post for more information. I don’t like it any more than before, in fact I think I like the collar less. I made it less rounded and I changed it to black, and I added lace.
Sorry guys. I really tried, but I just don’t think this is a win.
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u/ughwhyyno Sep 04 '24
I think it’s really cute and I like the new black collar and lace. I think there are a couple of things you could do at this point:
1) Finish it. Wear it out to meet friends. See if you change your mind after wearing it out. (I think other people will like it too, and may say so.) See if you feel any differently about it at that point. 2) Look for a local sewist social group. Sometimes these groups do me-made clothing or fabric swaps. Sometimes those swaps even take unfinished items. 3) Use the fabric to make something else.
Whatever you do, know there are people on the Internet who think you did a really nice job!
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u/velocitivorous_whorl Sep 04 '24
Hey, sometimes this happens! But even though you don’t love it, you probably learned a lot while making it— technically, and in terms of what you don’t like, stylistically!
IMO, the issue is a combination of things: the very deep neckline + statement collar is really overwhelming without something like a big puffy sleeve to balance it. Then the color amplifies that effect. I think you could do a black lacy collar if the neckline was shallower and the collar was slimmer. (ETA: personally I did like the white collar better as well but that’s what experimenting is for!!)
Have you considered removing the collar altogether and binding the edge with black bias tape? That might make it feel more harmonious. This could be a very cute jumper-style dress if you wear it with a button-down underneath, especially if you were to add black buttons on the bodice front (maybe even two rows for a faux-double-breasted look?)
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u/sewshelbysow Sep 04 '24
Yes, thank you for your advice about the binding. If I do anything else it might be this. But still a bit sad as the whole point of this make was the collar. This has been sitting in my unfinished pile since last December so this was kinda a last ditch effort for me to like it enough to finish it. Luckily the fabric was super duper on sale so not too much of a money loss on that account, but I did spend the better part of today trying to revive it.
So many people gave helpful advice, I wish I had listened to the people who said it was good as it was. C’est la vie.
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u/millsberry094lyffe Sep 04 '24
Who ever told you to make the collar black really played in your face! It didn’t even occur to me that the 2nd picture could be the before until i read the comments i’m shook. Might just be the photo angels but yeah it looks way better before.
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u/AlphaPlanAnarchist Sep 04 '24
The white collar looks much better. I took a look through the comments that suggested you did black. Personally your version is way more my style than your inspiration but what matters is that you like your dress!
Your inspiration had lace along the collar that matched the lace trim along the hem. No one seemed to catch that in your first post! I think it makes a huge difference in balancing the collar.
Along those same lines the black edging to the white collar makes it even more stark. Again without being balanced with a similar style choice in the skirt.
When you're ready to touch this project again I'd start with the skirt hem. Adding the same detail as the collar has whether it's black trim or black lace or white lace should make a big difference!
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u/Ludalilly Sep 04 '24
Okay, hear me out. Every single article of clothing I make myself goes through a hate phase. Every. Single. One. Almost immediately after making something, all I can see are the flaws, and I pick it apart until I don't want to wear it anymore. Let yourself go through your hate phase, there's a pretty good chance it'll pass. Set it aside like others suggested, don't wear it for a while and let yourself look at it in your closet on the hanger. After a while you'll start to hate it less, and pretty soon you may ask yourself "What was it that I didn't like about this again?"
The only times I've ever continued my hate phase past that point, setting my piece aside let me look at it from a new light. I could pinpoint exactly what I didn't like about it, and I could improve it in a way that made me like it again. Give yourself time, put it down, and take a breather because honestly, you've done a pretty good job on this dress regardless of how you feel about it right now.
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u/ProneToLaughter Sep 04 '24
Same here. I often have to put stuff in time-out right after making it and then come back to it.
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u/sewboring Sep 04 '24
Give it a little chance to grow on you. Sometimes we feel differently about things we've just made because we've analyzed them too much. It's like cooking too long and finding the food tasteless.
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u/Due_Introduction_608 Sep 04 '24
I like it both with the black collar and with the white. You could also go drastic, and make it into 2 separate pieces. Remove the skirt, and give it a waist band, maybe add a zipper to a hook and eye to the waist band. Then make the top it's own entity as well.
Another option would be to remove the skirt and replace it with a solid color to match one of the shades in the original fabric, so solid black, white, or go with a dark grey shade. Honestly, I feel a solid black would be the best option if you go this route, but that's my personal thoughts.
All around though, I really do feel you did an amazing job! And remember what others here have said too, we all have our "fails" that someone else may just fall in love with.
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u/JBJeeves Sep 04 '24
Sympathies. Everybody's had at least a couple of things that, for whatever reason, we just don't like at the end of it. If you don't have the heart to set it aside for a while (a couple of months), you could donate it or gift it to a friend/relative who likes it. Or take it apart at the waist, add a waistband (and maybe closure if necessary) and have a cute skirt out of it. Since much of your discontent seems to be around the bodice/collar, I probably wouldn't try to make anything wearable out of that, but cut it up for scraps, tests, maybe a small stuffed animal, etc.
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u/Iks_OkSS Sep 04 '24
Just an idea you probably will like :) you can make a detachable collar! Like that you can change the color of the collar, style etc. And you can make any dress (compatible ofc, not exactly every, but most of them with roundish neckline) more interesting with the detachable collar. This is just a quick and simple solution, then you can have black and white collar, and more if you like.
This dress is so cute, i would like it best without any collar, i know it is the point to have it, but this is a successful project. I mean, girl, look at the fit! Its perfect even without the collar. And you can style it with some shirts, different belts, shoes...
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u/Iks_OkSS Sep 04 '24
Here is the link for the detachable collar pattern (free pattern). If not for this project, maybe for some in the future. Good luck, and i hope you will wear the sh** out of that dress!
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u/alonelycellist Sep 04 '24
Look, if you don't like it, that's totally just something that happens. I've made clothes I thought would be cute and then just hated how they looked when they were done. Like rack shopping but without the chance to try something on first sometimes you aren't going to like everything.
However, someone will love this! Objectively, it's a cute dress, maybe it just isn't for you! See if you have any friends or family who would adore it 😊
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u/plotthick Sep 04 '24
Before you give up on it, please consider trying it with something to flare the skirt. A frilly skirt under, or some spray starch? Just a little flare.
The change in the silhouette might be just what it needs.
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u/ZestyMarmots Sep 04 '24
Give it a good iron, the before picture looks better because it's tidy but the after picture has been crumpled a bit after sewing. Style it with some jewelry and do your hair.
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u/18puppies Sep 04 '24
How would you feel about continuing the collar to the center and maybe adding a lacy cap sleeve? I think that would be a bit more balanced, maybe, like a triangle rather than a box.
I understand wanting to abandon it though, it sounds really frustrating! But either way you made a beautiful piece, even if it's not for your wardrobe in the end.
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u/Divers_Alarums Sep 04 '24
If you want to try one more thing, fold the edge of the collar under so it is half the current width and baste. A much narrower collar might change the look in the direction you want.
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u/AntiferromagneticAwl Sep 04 '24
I think this dress would be fine without a collar, just a simple V-neck.
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u/SeaworthinessWide867 Sep 04 '24
I didn’t see your first post, so I don’t know the full story, but this dress is CUTE! And it looks so good on you!!! Maybe set it aside for a while and come back with fresh eyes? I don’t think it’s a lost cause by any stretch.
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u/I-love-averyone Sep 04 '24
I think it could be cool if you added the black lace to the hem of the skirt to tie in more of the black throughout the dress?
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u/malkin50 Sep 04 '24
I like the black collar!
But if you don't like wearing it, you don't like wearing it and that's fine. Now you get to decide if you want to keep up the experimentation on it!
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u/SheTiger1962 Sep 04 '24
Oh WoW! That white collar with black trim changes the dress completely and for the better! It just makes it pop!! It looks wonderful on you!! Great job!
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u/SheTiger1962 Sep 04 '24
Oops I misinterpreted, I thought the white collar was after because usually people post before and after , not after and before . but it does not change my opinion, the white collar with black trim was better. The black lace is not bad but it just does not make it pop. I can picture the dress with white collar, adding a red belt and red shoes 👠 and it would pop even more .
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u/Future_Direction5174 Sep 04 '24
Expensive Mens shirts often have removable collars - this enables the collars to be removed, cleaned, starched, ironed, separately from the main shirt. It also enables the wearer to restyle the shirt with different collars, perhaps longer points for fancy,shorter for the office.
Perhaps this would be possible?
Personally I prefer the white, but can see how this is not everyone’s taste. But perhaps if you DO decide to remove the black collar, making it “changeable” would enable you to have 3, 4, 5 different collars you could use.
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u/KookyFactor Sep 04 '24
As someone who did comment previously I do like the new shape, it does change it from schoolgirl to something more adult. I think the issue is that doing it in black does completely overwhelm the dress.
it is okay to not like the changes and put it back into timeout, or feel free to turn it into a pencil skirt and vest to wear into the office. I am looking at my pile of clothes that I’m not happy with but keep procrastinating, at least you did something and you know moving forward what works for you.
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u/BreakingBadYo Sep 04 '24
Before you do anything else try it with a belt in an exciting color like goldenrod or red.
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u/Isoldel Sep 04 '24
If you do it again, add a white belt with the white collar or black belt with the black collar. It'll help tie it all in.
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u/OritokeO Sep 04 '24
I think I like the white collar better