Hey everyone! I want to thank all of you for your kind words, thoughts and prayers in regards to my last post about my dad. I am overwhelmed (in a good way) by the outpouring of support I received via blog comments, Instagram comments, and emails. I’ve said a million times before how much I love and appreciate everyone in the sewing community, and this just really reinforced this. I sincerely appreciate all the comments and emails, all the kind words and wishes, prayers and positive thoughts, and I am so so grateful for all of you. Thank you all so much ♥
With that being said, I do have a positive update! On Saturday evening, I came to the hospital after getting off my shift at Craft South (which was a whole drama in itself – my dad is in a hospital in Hendersonville, TN, which is about 20 miles from where I am in Nashville. Not a huge deal, however, there is currently a gas shortage here that people are PANICKING over and of course I only had like 1/4 tank when it happened! But I decided not to stress about it and just deal, and that’s when I managed to find gas. A miracle in itself because most of the stations here were completely out!) and they had been able to successfully wake him up out of the sedation! They took the tube out on Sunday morning and have slowly been introducing soft foods and liquids, and he may be able to get out of the ICU and into a normal room within the next day or two – and then home after that (hopefully soon!)! There is still a lot that he needs to overcome, of course – but this is a very good, very positive improvement over last week and we are all so so so happy. I honestly wasn’t sure that he was going to pull through, but I guess I forgot that my dad is even more stubborn than I am. Literally, his first words when they took the tube out were (to my mom): “Your husband ain’t done yet.”
So anyway, back to regular posting – here’s a project I finished a couple of months ago.
Pin-up Style silk shorts! You know, totally appropriate to combine in a post about my dad (you know what the other option was as far as photos I had on hand? Bras. Sooooo booty shorts it is hahaha):P
These are the Rite of Spring shorts from Papercut Patterns. Remember when I made a really adorable pair of these a few years ago? I have been wearing the hell out of them this summer – they look really excellent with my Elizabeth Suzann Birdie Crop (mine is the ivory one). I wanted to make a couple more pairs, so I started with this silk crepe (leftovers after making those Silk Lakeside Pajamas).
I’ll just say this right now – I don’t like these at all. I don’t think they are flattering on me – they make me look sort of boxy (maybe they look ok in the photos but I reeeeeeally HATE the way they look in real life!) – and the silk crepe feels just a bit too lightweight to be bottom coverage. I actually wasn’t planning on posting this project at all, however, I think it’s important to share the fails along with the victories.
Why I’m not happy with them, I couldn’t tell you exactly. I think it’s a combination of bummers that makes the overall effect just “meh.” I do love this fabric, but I don’t like it as shorts. While I love the idea of a drapey little pair of high-waisted shorts, these just look kind of… saggy and sloppy, at least on me. They’re also too big in the waist, and while I did take them in a little – it wasn’t enough and I realized I just don’t care to keep futzing with them. I’m not going to wear them. I didn’t even bother to straighten or edit these photos. That’s how much I just don’t care about this project haha.
I put some real effort into the construction, so while they aren’t that great (for me) stylistically – they are great in terms of how they were made! 🙂 There is silk crepe piping at the front seams, which is topstitched to help it lie flat. Due to the piping, I opted to just sew + serge the seams (instead of using French seams, which I generally prefer for silks). The waistband is lightly interfaced with a stretch tricot, to help it maintain a little bit of stretch and stay comfortable. The invisible zipper seam is reinforced with interfacing as well, to keep the area smooth and also give it a little bit of strength. I also interfaced the hem, to give it a little of structure and so it wouldn’t be quite so floaty.
To be completely honest, I felt a bit bummed when I finished these and realized that I didn’t really like them. It’s certainly a let-down to spend time on a project, only to be unhappy with the result. These days, I am actively working on focusing on the positive (sorry, I’m big hippy dork ok)- so instead of feeling sorry for myself for “wasting” time on a project, I instead used it as an opportunity to learn from it. Why am I not happy with these shorts? What could I change next time to make the outcome a good one? It’s important to learn from the fails so you don’t repeat them!
I think if I had straightened the hemline so it wasn’t curved (which I had considered doing before cutting the silk, but then decided it wasn’t worth the effort), and made them more fitted at the waist – that would have helped. But honestly, I think I just like this pattern in a heavier weight fabric with more structure. Not necessarily a bottom weight – but definitely not this floaty gossamer weight. My next pair (which will probably be next year, as it’s just too late in the season now to keep making butt shorts) will be in cotton sateen.
So, there you go – a sewing fail (at least in a sartorial sense – as I do feel good about the construction of these!) but a personal life WIN. I’ll take them both!
Tell me about your last sewing fail! Did you learn from it, and if so, what was that lesson?
As a side note… if anyone wants these shorts, email me with an offer (I will entertain anything at this point). They are a size XS and the waist is approximately 27″. The silk has a little bit of lycra so it’s slightly stretchy, and it’s machine washable! Seriously, someone take these before they end up in the Goodwill pile haha.
LLADYBIRD 
Cute shorts! Wish I were young enough to wear them. Glad to hear that your dad is improving. Love his comment to your mom! Continuing to pray for him and you, too.
Thank you!!
Great news about your Dad, I hope he gets home soon. x
Thank you! I hope so, too! ♥
Great to hear about your dad. And thanks for sharing your fail. My last one was the papercut bowline – I gave the pattern and the top away. Hated it!!! If I had made these as my fail, they would just be thrown in the pjs pile.
They’re not really comfortable enough to be PJs (the waist is too fitted and there is that zipper), otherwise, that’s what I would have done with them!
Definitely a nogo then. Someone will love them no doubt, as my friend does her bowline.
So glad to hear such good news about your dad! I hope he continues to improve and gets home soon. As far as the shorts, I think they are cute, but if you don’t like them, you don’t like them. You have so few fails, it’s good to know you are a sewing human! Someone will love these.
Yeah, I tried to make myself like them but I just plain don’t! And life is too short (and there are too many fabulous clothes out there) to wear something that I don’t care much for. Oh well! Hopefully someone will love these as much as I wanted to 🙂
Can they be something you sleep in? btw-did I miss the post or comment where you talked about the painting that you often pose in front of? Is it an original of yours, a friend’s work, or something you picked up at a gallery or art fair?
I considered demoting them to PJs, but they really aren’t comfortable enough (maybe if they didn’t have the zipper, and if the waist was looser).
You didn’t miss anything about the painting. It’s just a weird piece of art that I found at the Goodwill Outlet a few years ago. Someone had unloaded a ton of them (an art student, I imagine) and I got it for something cheap like $7. It’s really weird and most people think it’s super creepy, but I like it!
Look at yourself, then look at the painting. (It’s messing with my mind a little, you having on the same colors)
Great news about your dad!
Can’t you tell those are my favorite colors? 🙂 haha
So glad to hear the good news about your dad!!!!! And that you found gas. 🙂
Yes!!! It’s been a really really great weekend!! ♥
Lauren – see what the power of prayer can do??!! It is so great to hear about your father’s progress!!😊
It is!! And he is getting better by the day 😀
Good news on dad! Get those shorts out of your house! That always feels good to banish something.
It really does! It’s very freeing to admit that something isn’t working and just get it out of your house (and your life!)!
Your butt seems sad in these. Too bad 😔
Right? It’s so sad when it’s usually such a happy butt haha
I am so happy to hear that your dad is doing better! ❤️
Thank you! We are happy too 😀
Love that you’re wearing the same outfit as the lady in the painting.
You can see where I get my fashion inspiration from 😉
Such good news about your Dad! He’s lucky to have such a loving and supportive family. Sending so much love your way.
Thank you! We are so lucky to have him, too ♥ He’s an amazing man
Great news about your dad! Sucks about the shorts, but hopefully you’ve figured out what you need to do to avoid a fail next time. 🙂
As long as I can learn a lesson out of it, it makes the fail easier to accept 🙂
Have to admit the shorts aren’t flattering , I think is the length at th back , however as you say ,you can learn from your mistakes . I usually chop mine back up and reuse the fabric of possible even if it it’s only for a book cover , I hate to have them around as a reminder !
Is great news about your dad , my best wishes to you and your family .
I agree, they aren’t flattering at all! I usually try to reuse the fabric, but these pieces are too small and lightweight. I have a great pair of PJs from the same fabric, so there’s at least that!
Enjoy the pjs and lose the shorts
So glad to hear about you dad!!! Go on fighting, champion!!! Having a good sense of humor even at heaven’s door?? That makes him a winner!!! About the shorts, don’t discard them yet! I think they are becoming to your figure, but very difficult to wear. Try with the black chiffon blouse you recently made!
Yeah, he’s a badass! 🙂 I tried to make the shorts work, but they just don’t. The chiffon blouse actually looks horrible with them, tried that too haha! Oh well! Can’t win them all.
I’m happy for you and your dad! Frack the (lovingly made) shorts!
Dad win above everything!!
So glad to hear the latest on your dad. I’ve never met you, but I’ve been willing good news and checking back to see if there was an update. Hugs to you all x
Thank you so much! ♥
I actually LIKE your shorts! Perhaps that’s the lesson – what we don’t think looks great on us someone else just might 🙂 I have so many fails it would take volumes to get through them – total fails would have to include a vintage blouse! I really love the pattern (Now and Then Amelie) and the fabric was perfect – an old fashioned printed pink light weight cotton but when it was done it just looked terrible on me! There was something about that collar that just didn’t suit me at all – and those tucks (which she said you could do inside or outside) really really have to be done inside 🙂
I’m just hoping someone will take these and wear and love them like I wanted to! I don’t love them on me at all, but I’m sure there is someone out there who will love them on themselves 🙂
That is a gorgeous pattern, but I can see how it could go wrong! It’s a bummer it didn’t work out, but at least you know what to do to make it work next time (always trying to find a silver lining here, ha!)
I agree that thia is a great learning experience. I have had similar learning experiences with silk, and they’re always so valuable.
I would definitely encourage you to try this pattern in silk again, but I think they key to success is using two layers of drapey, crepe-y silk rather than one. Either cut a lining in a nice solid crepe, or flat-back your printed crepe with a solid crepe and threat the two layers as one. (At least, we call it flat-backing in my neck of the woods. I understand there are other terms for it, too).
Anyway, I did a silk skirt recently by flat-backing two layers of crepe together, and the results were a REVELATION. I was so satisfied! Two layers of silk, my friend. You won’t regret it.
This is great advice! I don’t think I’ve ever considered doubling up my silk, but the way you describe it makes perfect sense. I am a little silk’d out for the moment (I feel like everything I’ve sewn this year has been silk haha) but I am absolutely going to try that out. Thank you thank you!
YAY Dad!! It’s always a great sign when folks are willing to fight. That goes a long way.
Ahhh sewing duds that are technically *fine* are hard to blog. Because it seems perfectly okay and wearable but you’re just all full of NOPES. I get it.
My last fail was a nice (and beautifully sewn!) colorblocked skirt. I like the pattern and will give it a shot again later but that was a big ole dud. A reader emailed and asked if she could have it and I gladly shipped it off to her.
I love that you were able to give the shirt to a good home! That’s what I hope I can do with these shorts. Just to know they have a life somewhere (that’s not with me) would make me pleased haha 🙂
So happy that your dad is doing better!!
Sewing fail: A shirtdress. I really really REALLY wanted one. And it’s cute, with pockets on the bodice and skirt and roll up sleeves. But I think the fabric (just a basic poly cotton broadcloth) just wasn’t the right choice. Plus I workout and it’s just too tight across my back and the sleeves are a little snug. That issue is probably related to the fact that I’m still learning how to do sleeves, so altering sleeves for fit is a little beyond me. I hate sleeves. lol I haven’t worn it because whenever I try it’s just “eh”. But I need to give it at least one wear before I donate it.
Have you considered cutting the sleeves off and finishing the arm holes with a binding? I’ve done that with soooo many of my almost-duds and it makes a huge difference! If you don’t like to go sleeveless, you could always wear a lovely cardigan over it 🙂
I hadn’t but that might be a way to rescue it! I don’t go sleeveless but I do love my cardigans so it might be worth a try. Thanks!
Continued prayers for your dad.
♥ ♥ ♥
I put hours of effort into a fleece jacket used crepe back satin to give seams a Hong Kong finish it was gorgeous until I washed it. Rust spots surfaced on the fabric, the fabric piled and it turned into a limp rag. I wore it around the house and for dog walking but a friend saw me in it one day ripped it off me, cut off one sleeve and made me throw it away. I secretly kept the sleeve she cut off because I did such an awesome job on the seam finish….
Ohhhh that is a very big and very real fear of mine!! Getting something ruined in the wash sucks SO bad!!! But I am cackling that you saved the sleeve bc of the seam finish, as that’s definitely something I would have done, too!
Wonderful news about your dad!
My most recent sewing fail was a Cashmerette Springfield top. I traced and sewed a straight 16, without realizing how much I hate the 1/2 SA in her patterns. There’s no room for adjusting once it’s cut. And, I could really use just like a smidge more room in a couple places. A lass, I am wearing it today, but kind of hating every moment of it.
Next time, I’m going up a size, and cutting a bigger SA so I can have a bit of room to adjust on the fly. I hate not being able to adjust on the fly.
Ha, I love 1/2″ seam allowances because I feel like they are the perfect balance of a smaller seam allowance with still a little room to adjust. But you don’t get much wiggle room with that, so I know what you mean!
I am so glad the news about your dad is so good. There may be a long process ahead of him, but he seems to be a fighter. Best od luck!
Thank you!
Happy to hear your dad is better! These shorts would be so cute on my 13 year old who loves anything high waist. She’s 5’2 has 35 inch hips and a 26 inch wast.
I would be happy to send them to her if you want to cover shipping costs 🙂 Send me an email and we can discuss!
Glad to hear your Dad is doing better – continue to take care of yourself as well as him!
I’m wearing my latest fail today – a Sewaholic Hollyburn skirt but the fabric is wrong wrong wrong. It’s from my Mom’s stash (used with her permission) but it’s way too thin and should have been a gathered skirt or a circle skirt instead. But I decided to wear it today to see if my original thoughts were correct, and boy howdy are they! I can’t decide if I want to unpick (while salvaging the zipper) or just chuck the whole thing. I don’t have to decide today though – and if nothing else, the colors look good on me.
Like you said – focusing on the positive!
Oh that’s a bummer about the skirt! Would it be possible to drop in a lining – or even just wear a separate slip – to try to salvage it? I am always trying to figure out solutions to save my fuck-ups, but sometimes you just gotta throw in the towel haha
So happy to hear that your dad is better! The shorts look cute on you in the photos but I understand how it feels not to be happy with them. I like the idea of using them as sleepwear.
Oh they definitely aren’t comfortable enough to wear as sleepwear. The waist is too fitted and there is a zipper right up the center back 🙂
This fabric is stunning! Was this one of your Mood purchases? Any chance it’s still around? And I’m glad to hear your dad is doing better.
Nevermind! I just clicked through to the pajamas post and saw that you bought this at a local spot that closed.
From some angles they look good, and from some angles they don’t. Fails are as much a part of sewing as everything else. Glad to hear your dad’s doing better. And what a splendid chain of events to go with it! Xx
So pleased to hear your Dad’s a bit better and hope he continues to improve – I’m sure he will, he sounds like a real fighter. And thanks for sharing your “fail” (although they look fine to me) – it’s good to know I’m not the only one who gets to the end of a project sometimes and just feels meh about it!