First seam in. First seam out.

I just made a terrible skirt. Just terrible.I bought some blue linen on clearance a few months ago. I loved the color. But, since buying it I've been having a hard time figuring out what it would work well for. Well, as it turns out, there was a reason I couldn't see it fitting in anywhere: it needed to be thrown away.

The fabric, being 100% linen, is usually one of my favorite fibers to work with. This linen, however, was quite thick and a little rough—something I didn't really take notice of when purchasing it, because I was so giddy it was in the clearance bin. It pressed well, but that didn't help it once it found its way into my little paws. Before I started Project Hallway, I'd drafted the pattern which I used on this skirt (my first pattern drafting, and not just pattern creating, project). I thought that before I really got going that I should just finish this little puppy up. The muslin I made looked weird, but I often think that the muslin looks weird because muslin is crappy, and just doesn't drape or hang well. Muslin starts ugly, and is pretty determined to stay that way. However, as it does give an idea for how the garment I am ruining will fit, I still find it invaluable.

I should have known that there was going to be a huge problem when the first seam I put in the linen, I had to rip right back out. Something inside me said, "Julie, put down the seam ripper, and move on." But, I am not always a good listener. I kept going. I ripped the seam out. I started over. Then sewed all of the pleats, then held it up on me, in front of the mirror. Horror. But I'd already spent to much time on it, so why not try to fix it? Surely it can be fixed, it's Linen! Linen is so lovely to work with. So, I started moving things around, I tried making a bubble skirt. That seemed kind of cute, but not really. Better than the alternatives, so I moved onto problem solving the bubble. Bad. All bad. After wasting 2 more hours of my life, I decided to stop, instead of trying to keep fixing.

It's not all bad news, though, I did learn something, which, yes, I did already know, but this drove the point home: there is a very specific reason why designers always start out with a sketch, not with a heap of ugly, broke-ass fabric that might as well be acid wash denim. The other thing I learned: Don't listen to Hair Nation unless you want to create 80's garbage.

Over in the land of success—though not without struggles— I have finally, successfully finished the front and back of the McQ pink sweater. After finishing my pattern in Illustrator the other night, I finished both the front and the back in two nights, only to realize that my pattern didn't take into account the tremendous and growing weight of the yarn I am using. The arm-holes went from the 12 inches—which is I wanted—to over 18! So, after frogging both sides, yet again, to the base of the arm hole, I re-calculated and re-knit. Now, I am finally happy with it. Just the sleeves and cowl to go.

Time for the fabric store. Lets see what else I can ruin today.