A cute blouse and a sad skirt
Hello everyone! It's been a while, hasn't it?
I promise I've been working. I've just had some unfortunate luck with my last half dozen projects (this one included). It left me feeling discouraged and less enthusiastic about filming, and that bled into everything I was doing.
I tried to be straightforward about those feelings in this video, because I thought some of you might relate to them. It wasn't for sympathy or anything - in fact I'm happy to report that my spirits are back up and the past week has been far more productive. Sometimes you just need to feel sad for a bit.
As of right now I have two more vlog videos that are done, three sewing through the decades videos that are 90% done, and a video all about the outlander dress I mentioned a couple weeks back!
So there will be lots of content in the latter half of this month, and I appreciate you baring with me! :)
This particular video is kind of half early access and half exclusive content. I LOVE how the bodice turned out, and I'd like to share that publicly... But I'm so annoyed with the skirt - I hate it so much, but it matches so well! And I don't know what to do with it!
I totally threw it out after filming the final clip but realized I was being silly and saved it from the trash. So fixing it is still an option, just not one I'm excited about.
I have some olive toned twill that matches this blouse, so I'm thinking about making a skirt from that instead, and cutting all the footage about making the lime green skirt.
But I want to take a break from it first and decide when I'm less frustrated.
In the mean time, I filmed another vlog about following the bodice pattern, using the victorian lady fabric I showed near the end.
And it is just as delightful as I had hoped! So keep an eye out for that video.
And with that I'm pretty much done with making "normal" clothing for October. So I can begin on my bustle dress dreams, which I'm very much looking forward to!
I really enjoyed reading all the comments about your sewing plans and I'm so sorry I didn't get back to them. But I did read them, and I hope your plans have gone better than mine!
Comments (21)
It's actually really lovely to see that you have moments of doubt and frustration as well. I feel like every project for me has those moments of doubt, and when I feel like nothing will work. It's so reassuring to know this happens to other people! I love your stuff. :D
could you turn the pants you hate int a skirt
Love the blouse :) such a cute combination with the buttons. And I really hope you will feel better soon <3
That blouse is amazing. The skirt is cute too. Instead of making a button closure how about using hooks and eyes to close it and the buttons as decoration? Sorry you're feeling so down and hope you feel better soon.
I hope you'll feel better soon! And the skirt is very cute. The blouse too of course =)
i love the blouse and i love your channel cause it's what got me in to sewing
That blouse is GORGEOUS!
I have only been sewing for the past year, and have little time to sew. Everything I do is new and difficult for me. It's really great to hear that even after so much sewing, an experienced sewer like you has difficulties with new stuff! I'm definitely not using any stretch twill EVER. Thanks for sharing your difficulties!
Thanks for sharing this video Angela, sorry to learn you had such a bad week, but glad you are open about it. Like you and many said, it’s the unfortunate part of being creative and passionate about what you do. The fact that you work by yourself can make these moments that more difficult. But I’m sure you pick yourself up, cause in the end these set backs do not take away your talent and creativity. Oh and I agree the blouses turned out great and the purple and green one does look awesome with a green shirt, Go Angela 👍
Hearing from you is always good. I am still VERY amateur and new to sewing, have not had any courses and not much time to pratice, but try to make at least one thing using fabric a week ( sometimes is just embroidery). I learned everything by myself, and normally I hate the result of my clothes. But hey, it's pratice!
The blouses are amazing! I really like the shoulder structure and it was very interesting to see you go back to it and explain it showing the shoulder pads and how the placement creates the sleeve effect. Well done! I've had a similar experience this past few weeks, the feeling of being unproductive and having a hard time working on some projects that do need my attention... Regarding your lime skirt, don't feel like you have to come back to it to make it better: you said yourself that you're not likely to wear lighter colors as bottoms, the stretchy fabric is a pain to work with, and you're not into it. Don't force yourself to revisit it, sometimes it can feel like a relief to let go of things and move on to other projects! Your last video inspired me to make a simple button-down shirt I had bought fabric for last year, and seeing you all these times motivated me to even try to put more efforts into finishing touches: I made French seams for the first time (here in France we actually call them English seams!) and cut bias tapes from the same fabric to cover raw edges. This may seem simple, but before that I only used the serging seam on my machine, so this made this shirt feel extra luxurious and comfortable! Watching your content is always such a joy, and I'm very happy you're being honest about not feeling enthusiastic and motivated all the time. As many other patrons have said, it's so relatable and very telling of the constant pressure we put ourselves under. I hope you're doing better now, thank you so much for sharing your adventures with us!!
I like them a lot too! I usually don’t like sleeveless pieces, since they can be unflattering on the arm. But the cut with the shoulder pads is weirdly flattering. I think you’re right, the skirt doesn’t need to be finished. I can make something else that matches it and work well within my wardrobe. Throwing it out will be quite satisfying. There is something hilarious to me about French seams being called something else in France, haha! I’m glad I could inspire you and that you have a lovely new shirt! :) I’m feeling much better, and thank you for the kind words!!
I really love the blouse, the shape is very nice and the fabric is so funny ! I think the skirt is nice too. I love that kind of shape and it matches good with the blouse. But if you don't like it and you're not gonna wear it, it's a lost project. it happens sometimes. Thanks for this video, it was interesting as always. Oh and I think being demotivated, depressed and so, is, unfortunately part of a creative process. Sometimes, you just need a step back to look what you're actually doing. And then, you move forward or you change things. it happens to me sometimes and, even I'm not comfortable with that process, I always thougth it was enrichment.
The blouses are beautiful and I love both of the distinctive fabrics. Like many of the comments I completely understand what you’re going through. I think what ever creative field you are in you have patches where everything that can go wrong does go wrong. I just think life gives you these set backs but its good to remember that it also gives you times of everything go wonderfully. I know it can be hard to see that when you are in the midst of a bad patch.i just wanted to let you know that its great to see content from you even when you don’t feel like it’s your best!
OBSESSED with the blouse and the victorian lady blouse and Im dying to see that video. I know you aren't trying to get our sympathy, but you totally have mine. Kind of a back story: had a job with a company I LOVED, and I took a promotion in February, and I hate the new job soo much. Every day is a struggle and I've been so depressed. I used to spend 4 hours a day sewing clothes, quilting or something creative, but now I don't have the energy, time or motivation. Haven't finished a project in over a year and I have 12 in the works. And it just makes the depression and job hating worse. 100% the highlight to my days after work is going home and watching one of your old videos, its my nightly routine and it makes my days not totally suck. To know that you get frustrated, unmotivated, depressed and unsure is veryyyy reassuring. Selfish of me but true. Your creativity and sense of humor always inspires me. Please just keep trying and taking all the time you need to do what you need to make you happy. You have 614 people who truly believe in you, whether a project is a flop or success.
I'm so pleased with it! I guess it's kind of a good thing this video flopped, because I got a victorian lady blouse out of it. Which I never knew I needed until now. The video about it should be out this week! I'm sorry work has been rough, and that you’ve been dealing with that. My dad has a really demanding job too, and no time or energy for the things that make him happy outside of that. It’s so awful to see and I’m so sorry you are suffering from that too. I’m not sure what to say other than I truly hope it gets better for you - whether it’s within that job, or at a new one. :( I’m glad (and honored) that my videos can be a highlight of your day - I’ll try to make more of them! And I can relate somewhat, there are people I follow, who upload everyday at scheduled times, and when I’m feeling super shit I’m always like “well I can make It to 1PM, and then I’ll smile, and then I can make it a little longer” it’s so important to cling on to anything that brings you joy when you’re struggling. I know it probably doesn’t help, but finishing projects definitely isn't everything - if you have 10 minutes where you can start on something or progress a bit, and it brings you happiness, that matters infinitely more that checking a project off your to-do list. Happiness should be the end goal of everything!
i'm sorry that lime twill didn't work out for you. stretchy stuff is such a pain to work with. i've heard of using embroidery machine stabiliser on it helping. they make tear away and water soluble stuff, so maybe try that route when you decide to try again with Mount Stretch? i get down on myself like that sometimes too. i think everyone does. the trick is not to let it get out of hand and stop you from ever doing the thing again. i love the tula blouse, and those victorian ladies are so sweet. :D
I thought I could get away without it, since it isn't THAT stretchy but it was clearly stretchy enough! I'll know for next time!
"Sometimes you just need to feel sad for a bit." Exactly! Sometimes you just need to feel whatever you're feeling. Too often we are pressured, or pressure ourselves, to "get over it", whatever that may mean. But I find that to be worse. Even if the emotions don't make sense, just feel them, give them a chance. You'll end up feeling cleansed of them, usually. Instead of ignoring it and having it linger, or bottling it up and later exploding with the pressure.
Thank you sooooo very much for posting this video. I've been feeling kind of like a failure myself and I needed the boost of knowing I'm not alone.
This was soon relatable!