Well that's the dream! But life gets in the way, the link is broken or a step unfulfilled in the journey from Fabric purchase to the Runway of wearing your creation..
So let's look at the challenges of missing links
Missing Link one:
You've fallen out love with it...most probably this Fabric won't be Sewn up but It will take up space. If you do sew it you probably won't love it and therefore not wear it!
Solution: Just don't buy it in the first place!
Missing Link Two:
You love the fabric but You don't buy it at the time.
If you don't buy it when you see it two words... SOLD OUT they are the worst words ever. You will be on the hunt for this fabric in other stores or something similar...it will drive you crazy.
Solution: Buy it if you love it.
Missing Link three:
Buying too little Fabric at the time of purchase
You will kick yourself later. Your choices are limited by the amount of Fabric you buy... So buy enough!
Missing Link Four
You don't ever sew it up.
Why aren't you and that Fabric embracing each other on any dates?
First love is a romance! If you found the love of your life... would you put him/her in a cupboard with moths and silver fish? That's no way to treat a true love!
Missing Link Five
Problem you sew it and it doesn't work out..
Solution: Sewing is a learning experience. Tears of disappointment happen but remember you tried and sometimes it just doesn't work out. The marriage of Fabric and pattern is far more complex than finding a partner in life: body proportions, personality, season, occasion, lifestyle, wants & needs etc...
Missing Link six
You wear it but it's not perfectly made, so you feel inferior and disappointed in yourself. You show others the flaws.
Solutions: Don't be showing anyone anything that you feel bad about! Wear it and celebrate the bits you got right. It's like a pimple on your back... You are still beautiful but don't alert others that you have a pimple on your back ..too much information
Missing Link Seven
You did everything right but it's not working for you.
Solution: Maybe you need to personalise the garment to make it more you. Topstitching, necklaces, earrings, a different neckline, higher hem ...take a photo and look at it... Make adjustments
Missing Link Eight
It turned out differently to what you expected.
Explanation: Our bodies give a different visual result. If we are different to the Jerry Hall type fit model, you WILL look different. Models have long legs and different proportions to most Sewists.. you could get stretched on a rack but I don't advise that. See where you can add vertical lines to give you the illusion of more height and know more of us are in this boat than that other boat that holds the models.
Reality Check
Making garments is like a box of chocolates, different factors to get an outfit together that is you... Feels like you... You feel comfortable in it... You don't have to fiddle with it.. in fact it feels like the Emperor's new clothes ...it doesn't feel like you have anything on at all!
When you feel so comfortable you have to look to see what you have on and you feel happy in your own skin, so to speak, you have hit on an outfit that is effortless for you. Take a snap and keep it handy so you can recreate the combination at another time or do different versions of it
At the end of the day
Buying fabric is for making clothes that you will love wearing. Storing fabric does not give you value for money... Just guilt and a storage issue.
Delve deeper into your Fabric...
See what grabs your interest...
Make one garment...
Build on this foundation...
Make other garments that go with this piece..
This is the beginning of your capsule wardrobe ( first building block)
Love fulfilled.. a wardrobe that supports you and you love to wear.
Imagine the romance between you and your Wardrobe when you open your wardrobe ... All garments love you and you love them
Happy Sewing
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