When good improv goes bad

Today I want to talk about sewing off-piste.  Those times when you decide to just veer away from the pattern directions, or away from All The Patterns completely - freewheeling, doing your own thing, making it up as you go along.

In theory, this is one of my favourite things about sewing your own clothes. You have complete freedom to change things up and turn them around in joyful, creative self-expression.

In theory.

In reality, I hate it. And I hate it because I suck at it. And why do I suck at it?

Because I seem to be suffering from the delusion that improv = shortcut. That taking the off-piste route will get me down the mountain quicker, with more fun and less rules. That I will arrive there triumphantly shouting "Look everybody, look at this SUPER COOL thing that I just threw together using an idea out of MY VERY OWN HEAD!!".

 

 

Them stripes don't match and that elastic's too tight!

 

 

Conveniently forgetting that, unless you're a pretty good skier already, going off-piste is more likely to end with a broken leg half way down a crevasse than in a victorious swishy flourish. Or - if I've already stretched that metaphor too far, which I think I have - in an ill-fitting, ill-conceived sundress. Or perhaps in a sweater that you really want to love but really can't, just because of a flippy zip.

Yeah. Both those things.

Why is this? When I'm following a pattern I almost consciously raise my game, partly to learn things, and partly so as to do justice to all that effort I'm putting in. Yet about 2 seconds after straying away away from the instructions, I start behaving like: decent seam finishes - why bother? Wibbly hem - whatever! Stabilising with elastic, putting zippers in stretch fabric? Not going to google that, no thank you ma'am!



But I just don't like interfacing in the shoulder seams!



It sits well nowhere

Why? WHY?? I ask you?

Seriously, am I alone in this? What the hell is going on here?

:: :: ::

• Patterns: Megan Nielsen's Briar and Steph C's Blank Canvas Tee (dress length).
• Briar fabric: grey sweatshirting from the Chien Vert.
• Dress fabric: cheap-as-chips jersey from Berger (yeah, it didn't help. A slippery, non-stripe-matchy pain in the backside).