Sunday, November 11, 2012

Failure and Success

I'm not very good at following patterns. I know that I should be with all the sewing I do but I find it really hard to imagine what the process is supposed to look like and I make lots of mistakes and get very, very annoyed.
So the failure of this story was my attempt at following a Zakka pattern. I though I might make something for the teachers I work with at school. What could be better than a couple of pencil cases? I know that there are restrictions on how much info you can give in a book because each page published is an added expense but I need pictures - lots of pictures. These little fellows were eventually finished but they are not what I envisioned at all, especially their size which was tiny.
The one in the book is gorgeous and it is not to blame, I'm just a bit lacking. 


You can't even fit a normal sized pencil in it and close the flap.
I'm sure I could adapt the measurements now that I've done it all the way through but then I decided that I didn't want to give pencil cases anymore so I'm ditching the idea.
Today was my success story.
I was reading Nikki's blog (You Sew Girl) during the week.
She was wearing a rather neat little apron that I thought I might like to make.
You can have a peek at hers if you go here.
On an impulse I bought the pattern and within seconds I could download it - all 19 pages of it!
I was already cursing myself as I flicked through the pages and trembled at the thought of getting through it all. You see now that I had spent money on it, I had to make the thing. What I noticed with this tome of instructions was that it contained lots and lots of pictures and handy hints for the innocent and inexperienced.
I cut out the fabric last night and set to stitching today.
I won't say it was easy, because for me, it wasn't but I will say that I managed to finish the apron within a few hours and I only made one mistake that took about 5 minutes to fix.
Thank you Nikki for an excellently written pattern that even I could follow.

My photos aren't great. There are 2 zippered pockets hiding inside and lots of compartments which is very handy for money and keys.
I put in zips! Yippee!

6 comments:

  1. When I got my Zakka style book I thought that the instructions weren't very clear, at least not for me (I too need lots of pictures). It's a shame that the cases turned out too small, but I'm sure they can be used for something else (make up brushes for example). Well done with the apron though.

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  2. I am another one who needs lots of pictures! I have one of Nikki's patterns and she gives heaps of information and step by step instructions.
    Looove the fabric you used for the apron!

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  3. You are courageous and generous to try these patterns for your friends. I've given up on patterns, after having no fun at all with a bag a few years ago. I love what you made, though! Your fabric choices are so much fun.

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  4. Your pencil cases are lovely, I hope they can be used after the effort you've gone to and the gorgeous fabrics you've used. Love the apron too.

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  5. It is really nice post and the stuff which you shared looking so beautiful.

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  6. I love the apron. And I have to say that if you can sew a zipper, you're not "lacking" at all. :-) Those little monsters are tricky. The pencil cases are just adorable. Maybe you could sharpen the pencils until they're shorter? Or try finding pens that fit? It would be a shame to ditch something so cute.

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