Hit, Miss or Maybe?

Congrats if you get the reference, even I wasn't sure where I'd dredged it up from the depths of my memory although this clip brings it all back (with a bonus early Mel and Sue) from late 90s  Saturday morning show Alive and Kicking.  I was going through my photos and found some unblogged less successful makes and thought I'd share and talk about what went wrong.

Miss:  Starting with a basic woven T-top.  This  is Lisette for Butterick B6128 and like many sewists, I was looking for a good woven T style.  Matching my measurements to the chart, I made a size 10 out of some very thin cotton- car boot sale find I think.  It came out big and a little shapeless, probably due to the amount of ease added to an already boxy style.

The front darts are interesting and weren't too far off- they needed to be higher (maybe 1" ?) and a small bust adjustment would've helped reduce some fullness at the front.  I wasn't sure how to do this with this dart style andI thought it wasn't worth it as the style wasn't doing much for me.    

Miss: Next up, Tilly & The Buttons Agnes top.  I am a real sucker for a puffy gathered shoulder and I loved the elastic detail too, it's easy to sew but sadly I found this  styledid not work on me.

There were some other issues- the neck line was too low, the pattern sleeves were  narrow- these were I adjusted the pattern when I traced it.  The fabric was 100% cotton jersey and not very stretchy and as the Agnes is fitted throughout, it definitely benefits from lycra.  I also tried adding a 100% cotton ribbing band on the neck and it stretched out of shape.

Maybe it's a proportions issue with this style, I'm not totally sure but it just doesn't seem to balance on me.  I swiftly cut this up to try something else out.   I sold the Butterick and the Agnes patterns and bias skirt I was wearing then has gone on to someone else too!

This last one is a Maybe.  The pattern is Natalie top by Liola patterns.  I had a big crush on this style but I think I made the mistake of seeing it made up in drapey rayon and persuading myself that it was going to look like that in Liberty lawn.  It's not particularly fun to sew for a relatively simple shape and it's a little boxy sewn up but it comes together as you would expect  The front pleat details is quite fiddly- it needs to be very accurately sewn.  Liberty lawn is not good for a loose drapey style, it seems better suited to a little more formality- a fitted shape, tailored shirt and sharper details.  I do love the fabric so I have kept this one but it always make me feel a little wistful that I didn't make something else with it. 

 I do find that there are a few things to watch out for when pondering clothing patterns on dressmaking blogs:

1. Be cautious if the blogger is wearing a lovely tan leather belt around the waistband area.  Yes, maybe she just likes to accessorise or maybe the waist isn't meant to be a fitted style and the belt is helping it along but I hate wearing belts so I am not able to pull-off the belted look and maybe the dress/skirt if not as fitted as it looks.
2.  Dresses and tops made with rayon or viscose fabric.  I've fallen victim to this many times, a dress or a top looks so drapey and elegant,  it's made with  an amazing rayon challis fabric.   I make the same pattern in lawn and it just doesn't hang the same.
3. Styles that just don't suit me-  very puffy shoulders, boxy, lots of pleats around the waist, high straight waistbands.  I'm sure there's more, that's just for starters.

How about you?  Are there styles that you fall for despite the fact they don't suit you?  Guilty of the wrong fabric choice?  Do share!