Thursday, February 18, 2016

Color Blocking & Pattern Testing [Straight Stitch Designs: The Wedgwood Skirt]

Wedgwood Skirt Test Call from Straight Stitch Designs

The crazy person that I am, yes I decided to help Kimberly, the maker behind Straight Stitch Designs with her pattern testing. The item? The Wedgwood pleated skirt. Now so you get the full picture, I am in the middle of testing for another fabulous maker and not only that, I have to finish a client's outfit all by the 22nd! So why add one more item to my plate? Why the hell not! The pattern was released 2/22/16 and it'on sale HERE!

Another reason I decided to help with this testing is because I had already made a skirt similar to this one so I was like I can do this in my sleep. You know where I’m going with this right now right?? Yup, I waited until the last possible moment and damn it to all that I know and love about sewing, this was not the breeze that I thought it was going to be. Although the skirt is not a difficult skirt, we as testers have to follow the instructions in order to give our feedback to the pattern makers. 
My fabric of choice: scrap strips from a prior project, we have some red sateen stretch, white canvas and 100% navy colored denim are all in the mix to make this color block skirt. 

The Wedgwood skirt pattern does not come with the color blocking option but you can easily create it yourself two different ways.

1. The way I did it was by cutting strips of fabric [your cutting game has to be tight right now!] and sewing them together to make your fabric pieces. I measured the height and width of the skirt pattern piece to see how big my piece of fabric needed to be. I then sewed my strips together [Your straight stitch has to be on point right here] I serged the seams and cut out my pattern pieces.

2. You can cut your pattern pieces into three pieces and add a seam allowance to the places where you cut the pattern apart for your color blocking. Now just cut put your fabric, sew your colors together and follow the sewing instructions.
This was truly a challenge for me because I always do my own thing when using patterns, sometimes it’s a hit and sometimes not. So I was focused on these instructions. Now after saying all that ish, I was ripping my hair out over here. I would read one part and go ahead to the next part or what I thought was the next part.......WRONG, now remove stitching and follow the dang instructions Michelle!!!!

Sooooo after I got my act together all my pleats and pockets in place, it came time to add the waist-band from hell. Oh how can that be you ask? Well let me tell you. I could not decipher the instructions for this waist-band installation to save my life. Now you know, that I know how to sew a waistband but remember I was following the instructions. I was not the only slow person in this area, I had to go the testing group to see what the heck I should be doing with the damn waistband.

I was seriously sitting there reading the resolution and the words where just swirling in the air all jumbled up not making any sense to me at all. I finally got it and after I got it, I felt like I do when I put IKEA furniture together........"Seriously that's all I had to do???" There were things that I may have done differently but that is just because I have experience sewing and can maneuver things in another manner.
You'll notice I originally made longer, it was 22 inches long [first photo on dress form] and my daughter was like this is too long. I had to shorten two more inches and hem 1/2 inch. 
Results are that this a cute skirt and Mori likes it so it’s a winner.  I could see one in denim with gathers instead of the pleats, that would be cute too.


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43 comments

  1. Mori was right, the skirt looks really cute in the shorter version, I love the color blocking, you made this skirt a 100. Beautifully done.

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    1. Yeah I agree, she has very strict rules when it comes to the length of her clothes. Thanks for the love!!!

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  2. Oh that's a cute skirt. The pocket detail is fab.

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    1. Thank you! I had to add a little something to put my stamp on it.

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  3. What a very pretty skirt! You really took this one up several notches!!!!

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    1. Thanks Myra, if you've been following me you know I'm extra like that! lol!!

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  4. Just adorable!! You have the BEST ideas for making patterns extra special!

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    1. Thanks Eileen, I always try to put the Michelle twist on the things that I make.

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  5. Michelle...your spin with the color blocking is the truth...but that pocket though...love your work. I am a true fan:)

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    1. Lora, Thanks for being my Homie! and your right those pockets are awesome, if I do say so myself! Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. I'm at the point in my sewing life where it is easier to sew things my way instead of reading jumbly words with not enough diagrams/photos. {too many words}. I totally get this.
    Love the skirt and the proportions. I finally saw where you shortened it. Perfect.

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    1. Yeah that's a good way to be but sometimes it gets you into trouble doing your own thing! Yeah I pressed the heck out of this bad-boy and handed it to my daughter to put on and she looked at me like I was crazy. I was like what? She said I need you to make that shorter, that's a grandma skirt.

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  7. Ah, love the color blocking and good call on shortening the hem!

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    1. Yup thanks to that girl. I agree that it does look younger shorter.

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  8. Love the r/w/b motif. A good fit for Mori too. Still waiting to see something spectacular on you (or another plus sized diva). Yes, I'm plus sized and I know you can slay it for us curvy girls too--lol!

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    1. Robin girl I wish I was in a place where I was cool with to getting in front of the camera...maybe one day...one day?? My birthday is coming in April and I am making something to wear to my party so you will probably see me on the blog! Stay tuned!

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  9. Michelle, I love this!! Im waiting on that polka dot post....thats awesome! Have you shared the details yet?

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    1. Hahaha! I didn't mean to get that in the pictures! That is for a client and it will not be a post but I may throw some pics on IG. You're the first person who said something about that.

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  10. Michelle your work is amazing! I love everything about this skirt....color, pleats, pockets, lengtg, everything. It's perfect!

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    1. Thank you Cinda, it is a jazzy little number ain't it?

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  11. Wow! Everything you make is gorgeous, you are so talented!

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  12. Cute skirt and that pocket is everything but I live for that polka dot dress and that couch (or are those chairs?) and the chevron curtains! Is that zebra wallpaper that I see peeking out?

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    1. Thanks, Thanks, Thanks and Thanks again! 1. The Polka Dot was not supposed to be in the shot, I did't really think I had that much of it in the backdrop. That is a project for a client. 2. Those are two chairs back there 3. Yes those Chevron curtains are everything! 4. The zebra is a mural not wallpaper, did you peep Mi Casa page?

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  13. VERY cute! Its good to know other ppl also don't follow pattern instructions to the letter. I use them as a guide. Love ur version.

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    1. Fo Sho! Sometimes though I'm sewing and I can't figure out why mines looks different than the pattern......those are the times I was I have followed the instructions!

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  14. When I saw your name pop up in the tester group, I was like, "Michelle is going to give us something AWESOME. She can't help. That's who she is. Wonder how she's going to tweak this now?" And you delivered. As always. Yeah, that waistband installation was very different from what we would generally expect, but it worked out so fabulously simple.

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    1. Thanks! I wasn't sure how I was going to put my twist on this one. I knew I was going to be color blocking but those pockets were totally an afterthought and I have to credit my daughter with the length. That waistband tho was almost a deal breaker! lol!

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  15. Michelle, when I saw your name pop up in the tester group, I was like, "Dang, Michelle is going to come with some manner of AWESOMENESS! Can't wait to see how she tweaks this one now!" And you delivered. As always. And yeah, the waistband install was definitely different from what most of us sewists know, but it worked out fabulously and I found it to be much faster to do.

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    1. Thanks Abbey! I knew from the beginning that I was going to color block but I didn't know how I wasn't sure what to do to put my stamp on this pattern until the last minute with that piping. It worked out well.

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  16. Giiiiirrrrrllll!!! Will you stop? Please, I just can't take it anymore! Had to pick myself up from the floor again, because your fabulous self hit me with another right hook. DANG IT! This skirt is EVERYTHING amazing! Oh Lord, I can't even talk right at this moment, so I'll just say you are ONE BAD CHICK! I LOVE this skirt.

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    1. Thank you Anita, I surprised myself with this one because it was such a simple skirt I didn't know what to do to make it unique but I worked that out! Thanks for stopping by!

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  17. Michelle. You did it again! This skirt is so adorable. Mori is right, she is young with a cute little body. Love the color blocking. Love the pleats. Hey, your birthday in April? ME TOO! April 5th and I am having a 50th that I am hoping to make a dress for. I knew we had a connection.
    Lol oh, I love the polka dots too. Can't wait to see pics

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    1. Heeyy Sista We both are going to be 50!!! My birthday is the 16th and my daughter and sister are throwing me a grand old dinner party at this soul food restaurant, I can't wait! I am going to make myself something to wear but I can't decide on a pant set or a maxi dress???

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  18. I was just looking at this pattern and passed on it bc it seemed a bit to matronly. Uh well dang you made it fun and sexy! Now I'm inspired. Thanks!

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    1. April I agree 100% I would have passed it as well. That is why I decided to be a part of the pattern testing crew to see what I could do with it. It's amazing but you can turn any pattern into something that you would be proud to wear!

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  19. You took this skirt up a whole new level. You are inspiring!

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