Thursday, January 10, 2008

CHEAP ASS MOOD FABRIC



Cidell loaned me a couple of issues of BWOF (before she gave me a subscription for my birthday and got me well and truly hooked) and one of the projects that really caught my eye was this blouse, from the 6/2007 edition, #127. It's even a petite, so I didn't have to adjust anything. It didn't grab me at all from the photo, but the line drawing showed its true potential. I didn't see it as a short sleeve blouse (as designed) with that high necked collar. Then I got the idea for a long cuff to go with the Edwardian kind of collar. Here's the photo gallery.

My main challenge with this project was the fabric, or, as I kept referring to it when on the phone with Cidell, the CHEAP ASS MOOD FABRIC (and yes, I was shouting). This was part of my PR Weekend haul. We were looking in the cotton shirtings section and I found this gorgeous polished cotton gray with tiny pinstripes and had to have it. It was $12/yd, which seems an awful lot for cotton shirting in life (though not at Mood), and there was only a little over a yard left. I was so excited to work with it. I was pressing the first seam, admiring the beautiful sheen of my "polished cotton" when it began to melt under the iron. AAAAARGH! That is so sucky! Mood totally screwed me over, selling me some cheap-ass melty fabric for $12/yd by putting it in with the cotton shirtings.

I was really stretching to fit the pattern onto the fabric. There was a little less than a yard, and the exposed edge had been swatched mercilessly, taking away even more length. When I was done, all I had was a minuscule pile of tiny scraps. I read The Good Earth in junior high and all these years only one scene has stuck with me. The protagonist goes to meet his first wife and at that time he was a humble farmer. He said all he wanted was a woman who could make a kimono so efficiently that you could hold the scraps in your hand. (Figures I'd remember the sewing scene!) This project came pretty close.

Because I did not have enough fabric to recut the left center front panel the gathered part of the left bodice is hard and rough and melted. Ugh. It put me in a really bad mood for the rest of the project because it was ruined from the very start. And although I knew it would *look* great at the end, *I* would always know that it was poor quality because of the CHEAP ASS MOOD FABRIC, and I really hate putting a lot of work into poor quality materials. I considered abandoning the project, but I refused to be defeated by Mood and its CHEAP ASS FABRIC.

In the end, the project does look great. But I did some stupid things because I was just so mad and distracted, like forgetting to interface the plackets (which I think qualifies as What's slapdash about this project). The lower placket turns under and shows my belly so I have to unpick the stitching and interface it (with a very cool iron) and then stitch it back up. I haven't done this yet. Maybe when I'm giving a sewing lesson on Saturday I can wield the seam ripper. I also need to shorten a few of the button loops because there are a couple that are a tad too long and don't stay buttoned. But I love the look of them and also the totally awesome Dior buttons that came in one of Cidell's 4 lb bags of buttons from Fabric Mart. It's a couture blouse! Made out of CHEAP ASS MOOD FABRIC.

11 comments:

Kate said...

Love it! I'm not brave enough to make a blouse yet - this looks amazing. THe finished product doesn't look like cheap fabric at all.

Moi said...

I guess because I'm just a really really novice sewer on a college student budget $12 a yard sounds very expensive to me. I'm disappointed that it melted( for $12/yd it should hold up to basic heat, it wasn't like you set it on fire) but look on the bright side, the shirt is beautiful and came out nice.

Linda L said...

I feel your pain! It still is a nice looking blouse!

cidell said...

Snort. Ok. Seriously. I read the headline in Bloglines and burst out laughing because I can hear you screaming CHEAP ASS MOOD FABRIC. My sleeping mother does not appreciate your sense of humour.

laura said...

First of all,the shirt looks great. 2nd of all, thanks for reminding me of the time when an ultra snotty,friend of mine tried to iron a dress in our hotel room at the last minute, and it literaly sucked up to the iron like cotton candy. I'm not normally a mean person but I laughed until I was weak.I'm sure you didn't deserve it, but she did. BTW, A BWOF subscription? You have a great friend in Cidell!

Melissa said...

What a sweetie Cidell is to give you a BWOF subscription for your birthday - lucky girl! The blouse looks very pretty, I'm sorry your CAMF was such a bitch to work with - I'd be a bit sore about that too. You made lemonade out of lemons girl, you should be proud. You look gorgeous as always! :-)

Dr. Bennett said...

I SO laughed at the cheap ass mood fabric! When I came home from PR weekend a couple of people asked me,'so, did you get to go to that GREAT fabric store...umm, what's it called... oh yeah-- MOOD?' It's so funny that you can't use the bathroom at Mood for less than 12 bucks, then the 12-dollar fabric is lousy. Meanwhile, Kashi can totally set you up!

Your blouse still is awesome, and way bette-made than any RTW out there. Cidell was so sweet to you-- can't wait to get my Burda Rx!

Anonymous said...

I stumbled across this blog by accident but I find it histerical. I can't believe how sympathetic everyone is. Apparently, you didn't belong in Mood - you have no idea how to care for quality, delicate fabrics. You cannot just take a hot iron to anything you wish. Haven't you heard of steam or dry cleaning? Those are much safer options. You should really consider that next time. You have only yourself to blame for your disasterous blouse that clearly doesn't do justice to the beautiful fabric Mood offered you.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Anonymous, you're a jerk. She said the fabric was put in with the cottons, and if you knew anything about fabric, you'd know that a cotton fabric wouldn't start melting like that. Plus, I've seen tons of things this gal has made and she absolutely does justice to the fabrics she uses. You're an asshole, go away.

jessie lee said...

that neckline is to die for! and the color is beautiful, i would've given in on the $12 yd, too.

Anonymous said...

I love that idiotic anonymous comment, ASSuming that while you are constructing a garment you would use a steamer or take the pieces to a dry cleaner to, say, press a seam open. What a dumbass.

The blouse looks great despite the near disaster! Very nice fabric, I can see why you chose it.