Tonight I'm listening to a melange of 50s Doo Wop, my favorite genera.
I've decided on my new project.
Okay I bought something for myself. A pattern.
I know! It was in my etsy favorites for a long time and it was a good price, and I felt if I didn't get it that it would get away from me and I *wanted* a pattern like this for a loooong time and well...forgive me.
So I got it and I was all happy. A multi gored skirt dated from 1939. Its sizing should be easy enough to grade, right? Its a 28 waist and its a total of 12 gores. I added 3/4 of an inch to each piece and blended the difference in with the back to accommodate my big bum. Simple, right? It was so cute. So much so that the previous user even left tailor's tacks in a lot of the pieces. **ADORABLE**
Well, I didn't look at the pattern close enough. Each gore of the skirt IS ITS OWN PIECE!! What the frick?!
I thought that the pattern would mirror the front and back pieces, right? 3 different pieces for the front, 3 for the back, doubled thats 12. Simple. HA! I'd have to trace off and grade 12 individual pieces! First thing I did was add 1/2" onto the sides of each piece so the placement of the pleats would be in relatively the same place as the smaller size. That was simple. I then traced off each piece, and looking at the diagram on the back, began sizing accordingly.
The beautiful thing is I have some great black rayon blend left over from a 20/30s dress I did a few months ago that will work *great* for this skirt. I was saving it for a skirt too. Yay!
There is no lesson I take from this other than confusing things take time and I want to slap the pattern maker who thought it was a great idea to put the back before the front.
Asshat.
Here, ladies and gentlemen is where paying attention counts.
The back pieces of the skirt are listed ABOVE the front pieces, and the back pieces are numbered FIRST. Who the hell does that!? Pieces 1-6 are the back of the skirt, and pieces 7-12 are for the front.
I'll let that soak in.
Once I stopped laughing at the unnecessary confusion, I adjusted the pieces.
Then I tallied up all the measurements and success! Ick, math.
The beautiful thing is I have some great black rayon blend left over from a 20/30s dress I did a few months ago that will work *great* for this skirt. I was saving it for a skirt too. Yay!There is no lesson I take from this other than confusing things take time and I want to slap the pattern maker who thought it was a great idea to put the back before the front.
Asshat.
Wow, that is work! I made an 11-panel Thirties gored skirt but didn't have to grade it thank goodness. I'm sure it will turn out great!
ReplyDeleteInstead of grading, couldn't you have just added an extra piece?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see the finished garment.
Wow, 12 gores. And had to re-size. Wow
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! That sounds impossibly complicated to me (I'm still very much a sewing newbie). Can't wait to see how it comes out - I'm sure it'll be swell! :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, That's crazy!! Still, it's a gorgeous pattern! Can't wait to see the finished product!
ReplyDeleteI never thought of adding an extra gore because each gore is cut with a specific subtle curve. Its that center part of each of the 12 pieces that is the part that folds on the curve. Most of each gore is pleated.
ReplyDeleteJust from a mental standpoint adding to the 12 gores seemed less complex than fidgeting with extra gores and their curves to make them shape up properly. At least this way I know the gores are designed to drape over specific parts of me bod.
If that makes since...
Holy cow, that's a lot of work. :o
ReplyDeleteThat is dedication! It is a lovely skirt though. I'm looking forward to seeing it come together.
ReplyDeleteI cant wait to see the finished project.
ReplyDeleteYou are the woman!!! I would have folded that one back up and put it on Etsy for sale, lol.
ReplyDelete