What in the world was I ever thinking???????????????

I think I could have cut, pieced, sewn, quilted and bound at least two lap top quilts in the time it has taken me on this shirt so far! For the life of me, I can't believe I used to sew everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, we wore. Of course, that was before a very serious accident which caused me to forget how to sew. Who in the heck ever got this idea back in my head to make this monkey shirt??????? AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

From looking at it, I believe that all I have left to do is the side seams, the sleeves, the buttonholes/buttons, and top stitching. The pattern I am using is full of things I truly have never heard of ever doing in sewing before....I'm pretty sure I would have remembered some of these crazy ideas!

Hopefully tomorrow I will be posting a picture of the monkey and his shirt....HOPEFULLY!

:icon_bah::icon_rolleyes::icon_drool::icon_mooooh:

If I had a swear jar in my sewing room, I'd have made enough tonight to sew quilts for a year!

(((((Hugs))))..... You must be so frustrated.....and who could blame you?

But.... You've come to the right place! (((((((Hugs))))))..... Rant all you want to.... We are right here, beside you.. and we want to help...
It must be so aggravating to have trouble doing something you've done so many times before.

But.... You can...and will....get that shirt made.... Don't worry about how long it is taking.... Just do each task as it comes up. Lots of deep breaths! You can do this!!!

We will look forward to seeing the shirt!

Come on, girl! You can do it! Hope your Monkey Boy looks great in his new shirt, strolling down the beach of Waikiki!

Hey, I can commiserate, I used to sew everything but have lost the touch. I betcha you are being too hard on yourself.
I have always had issues with reading and comprehending directions. Gimme a picture of each process and I may be able to follow along. And I mean each process. That is one reason I love Jenny's tuts.
Good luck!

I've had the same experience! I thought I could knock out a few long sleeved shirts for kicking around in, boy was I wrong. I used to make everything for myself and my daughter...hard to imagine. I'm better if I stick to quilts.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blondie

Hey, I can commiserate, I used to sew everything but have lost the touch. I betcha you are being too hard on yourself.
I have always had issues with reading and comprehending directions. Gimme a picture of each process and I may be able to follow along. And I mean each process. That is one reason I love Jenny's tuts.
Good luck!

---

Yup. This is me too. A few years ago I was expecting DGD #1 and got it in my head to sew night gowns. Boy howdy! LOL not sure what I was thinkin'! But when I walked away, took a good long break, went back and looked at the pictures.....light bulb went on and that baby was wearing that nighty with the zipper and the hoodie and the set in sleeves!

I giggled at your swear jar tho. I know the feeling. Oy! Pics when you're done tho, k? Oh, and ***HUGS*** cuz we're right there with you, in our hearts!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bubby

I've had the same experience! I thought I could knock out a few long sleeved shirts for kicking around in, boy was I wrong. I used to make everything for myself and my daughter...hard to imagine. I'm better if I stick to quilts.

---

I'm HAPPIER if I stick to quilts!!!

I say the same thing. I used to think quilting was hard! I would much rather wear cheap clothes that I will discard one way or the other someday and use my time and money for quilts.

A lot of sewing construction seems to have changed. I've seen that with newer patterns. I keep older patterns that work, or can draft my own with software, and have NO trouble. Used to be there were instructions on seam edges, now there is no mention of pinking shears or a serger. A lot of the methods are the same, but the explanations on how-to are different.
I just got a pattern where the instructions were out of order. This same pattern used a 5/8 narrow seam, on a curve. I would have rather bias bound it. I can sympathize.

Lots of empathy, Pat. I started working on a bag from a pattern made in 1985 and when I sat down to read the instructions I whapped myself upside the head and just struck out on my own - and it is looking good. No one writes good instructions any more either.

Good Luck - keeping my fingers crossed that you will soon be 'monkeying around' in the sunshine with a properly clothed Monkey of your own.

This year, I have had to make a chefs hat, apron, dress and bonnet. So many of the instructions were ridiculous, not to mention the amount of raw seams left out! And since three items required gathering/shirring, the amount of wasted time and thread - OMG.

I hate pattern directions. I do find that for everyday wear that Quick Sew patterns are great. They are often labeled for serger but you don't have to have a serger to use them.

I have never purchased a McCalls pattern that didn't have at least one error in it. I can't stand them.

Once you get this first one done, any other you choose to make will be a cake walk!

You can do it!! We need a monkey in Hawaii. lol If you got past the collar you are home free:)

I feel for you. I use to sew a lot of my own clothes and clothes for my 2 daughters when they were little. I haven't sewn any clothes for myself in years. I have been wanting to make DH a couple nice "western" looking shirts to wear at his gun shows but a man's shirt just seem such a daunting task that I am not sure I would have the patience.

This pattern is by 'Island Wear', which I had never heard of before, but they had a sample done up at Fabric Depot and it's a nice looking shirt. However, some of the seams are 1/4", then some are 3/8", and others 5/8"!!! I clearly remember seams being 5/8" and nothing else when I used to sew...what the heck!

Thanks for all your words of encouragement.....I'm off to get my haircut and then you know what I'll be doing!!

SAYING MORE BAD WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!

I agree completely - used to sew lots of garments, but not for a long time. I really thought it would all come back to me easily, but I think todays patterns are very skimpy on instructions. I've had a ridiculous amount of trouble with what seems like should be simple things.

Its the directions and the way they write them. If you have sewn garments in the past then go by how YOU know it should go. I sewed lots when the kids were small and all my own clothing yup til about 7 years ago, not so much anymore but still quite a bit. When I was teaching garment construction , I taught my method and it is not always the way the pattern reads. and the *for dummies* patterns were the worst. I wouldn't let any student use them. Mens camp shirts are a breeze . Like Lorie says once past the collar you are home free.
Donna western mans shirt is not hard at all, they usually have a fancy yoke front and back but thats usually and overlay. I can whip hubby or the kids who ever wants atm a shirt up in about 2 hours from cutting to buttons and buttonholes and hems.
Of course I have seasoned patterns and have not tried a new one in ages. Can;t wait to see the monkey shirt!!

I'll tell you, the collar was a breeze!!! The only troubling part, and I had to rip it out once, was the back yolk. You sewed the yolk bottom to the back then the outer top yolk to the front. Then you rolled the shirt to do the lining yolk and then pull everything out so the seams are so enclosed (like the pillowcases!). Anyway, the first time I did it, the front was all inside out or vice versa....That was about a million dollar minute!

My husband had favorite shirts that he wore out. I just took the shirts apart and made a pattern using 1/4 seam allowance.
Kwiksew does have serger directions, but also how to use an overlock stitch on your sewing machine.

Met someone today who loves the new patterns - she hates to finish seams.

I cut out a simple A line child's dress today, not happy so far. It calls for interfacing and I really, really dislike interfacing. I am thinking of self lining the facing which would finish the raw edges at the same time. Is this a good idea?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Claire Hallman

I cut out a simple A line child's dress today, not happy so far. It calls for interfacing and I really, really dislike interfacing. I am thinking of self lining the facing which would finish the raw edges at the same time. Is this a good idea?

---

When I started making my kids clothes I followed the interfacing thing. I didn't like it either. When I started online I left that out and serged the edges. I tacked it under the armhole. I only use it now for collars and button plackets. It was so freeing lol

I have several "old" patterns that I am used to. I purchased a new pattern for a suit awhile back, and ended up using a pattern I have had for years. You are right the instructions are so different....it makes me wonder if the people who "write " the patterns even know how to sew !!! LOL ! No, thanks, I will stick to the tried and true pajama & nightgown patterns I made for my own kids, now for the grandkids, and my great nephews & great niece !