zztop11
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,537 
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Post by zztop11 on Jun 4, 2016 7:02:56 GMT
It's 3 am on the east coast. I'm tired and frustrated. I'm making (or was making) my daughter some coordinated stuffed animals for her baby shower. A stuffed turtle and elephant. They looked easy. But trying to fit all the little pieces in - AHHHHHH!!! The turtle is done. The elephant ended up in the trash. The last straw was when they wanted me to sew little circles in the bottom of the elephants foot for him to stand on. Impossible to sew around the circle. I had a bunch of fabric left and some batting. I made a yoga -type mat for the baby with cute ties on the end so she can take it with her. It's cotton flannel. Orange on one side and a modern print with circles in shades of blues and green. The same as the turtle. I know I should have stopped at 11 PM. but I just couldn't. I always get that way. Well, the elephant is history but she has a really nice mat for the baby to play on. And a very cute turtle.
Have you ever had to throw out a sewing project? What was it?
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The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
Posts: 7,348
Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Jun 4, 2016 7:11:23 GMT
I would love to see a photo of what you did make! Sounds adorable! I have thrown a project or two away! The last one was a few quilt blocks that were just butt ugly!  I didn't even feel bad about it!! |
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,277
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Post by lindas on Jun 4, 2016 9:36:12 GMT
I've tossed a few in my time. I just added to items to my give away pile. Seems they don't size patterns like they used to when back in the old days. I cut 2 tops out based on my regular size and after they were done I couldn't get the darn things on they were so tight. Both went on the give away pile and the pattern in the trash.
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Post by AussieMeg on Jun 4, 2016 10:05:12 GMT
Yes I have. About 15 years ago I spent an absolute fortune on some gorgeous crepe fabric to make myself a suit using a Vogue pattern (lined skirt and jacket). I got about 3/4 finished but never finished it and a year or 2 ago I found it buried in my wardrobe. I threw it away. (It was 3 sizes too small by that stage, and out of date.) I hate thinking about the money I wasted on that outfit.
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Post by cmhs on Jun 4, 2016 10:24:54 GMT
When the unfinished project is so old that the pins holding the pattern onto the fabric have rusted, I throw it out.  |
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Post by baslp on Jun 4, 2016 11:15:21 GMT
Oh yes! I was trying to make a shirt. I finally gave up. I also threw away a dress that one of my daughters was trying to make. I felt quilty but I knew it was time to throw in the towel.
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Post by MZF on Jun 4, 2016 12:14:24 GMT
When the unfinished project is so old that the pins holding the pattern onto the fabric have rusted, I throw it out. Yes, I have, and the quote above nearly applies. Recently, I was going throughly box of UFO sewing projects--one was a fully cut out, pinned and ready to be sewn organizer thingy that goes on the back of a car seat. I cut it out when DS#4 was a baby--he's 25 now! I decided I really no longer cared and just trashed it. I know there has been a couple of others along the way--just don't remember exactly what. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 8, 2024 2:30:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 12:25:48 GMT
I threw away a mixed stripy crochet blanket that was about half done, my stitch count had gone to pot and the edges were in and out all over the place. I can't abide my work to look such a mess so it went in the bin.
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Post by anxiousmom on Jun 4, 2016 12:39:06 GMT
I'm too cheap to throw things away so I throw the 'holy crap that doesn't look a bit like I pictured it in my head' stuff in a box to later cannibalize for parts. Unfortunately, it happens a bit more than I like.
(Most of my stuff is free hand applique/embroidery.)
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Post by epeanymous on Jun 4, 2016 12:54:59 GMT
When I moved last summer, I tossed a few things. Some knitting projects that were half-finished that I stopping working on because I didn't like them, some quilt blocks that I didn't like. Life is too short to wear and use things that are ugly . |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 8, 2024 2:30:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 15:05:09 GMT
There are times when I sew "on-the-fly" - I cut and sew as I go along, basically making the pattern as I go. When my project doesn't turn out like I want I will throw it away.
My grandmother always told me "never sew when you are tired. That's when you will mess things up." True to her words, that is when I have royally screwed up a sewing project on-the-fly or with instructions.
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Post by gryroagain on Jun 4, 2016 15:05:21 GMT
I can't bear to throw them away, but I do take duds apart and use the fabric for mock ups of things. I make DD leotards, dance costumes, etc and fitting is a pain so I usually make a mock up with random fabric first. I use the dud project fabric for that. I am crap at patterns (and they never fit right anyway) so I draft my own and the practice run is vital or I'd have far more dud projects! I have hilarious photos of DD in garish, multicolored pieced together things I made just so I could get fitting correct and draft a pattern.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jun 4, 2016 15:55:23 GMT
Almost. Once I took a quilting class and had a nice strip of star blocks sewn together to make a table runner. It was left out in the sewing room (still lived with my mom at the time) on the ironing board and one of my little nephews thought it would be fun to scribble on it with a ballpoint pen.  I managed to get most of it off with alcohol, so I couldn't bring myself to throw it away. I'm sure it's packed up in a box somewhere with my other sewing stuff. It was back in the 80's so it was a lovely combination of country blue, rose and cream. Maybe I should find it and finish it since those colors seem to be coming back in style now! |
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Jun 4, 2016 16:04:08 GMT
Far too many, things that I just couldn't seem to get right, ugly quilt blocks, half finished old patterns that I no longer care about, etc. If you are creative, it seems inevitable that sooner or later you will make something you dislike or screw up.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 8, 2024 2:30:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 17:08:58 GMT
My daughter made a pair of mc hammer type pants in home arts, And she would not let me help her fix them. I don't know what the teacher was there for since she didn't tell her how to correct the mistakes.
I tossed them.
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Post by femalebusiness on Jun 4, 2016 18:24:51 GMT
I don't think that I've ever given up and tossed a project but I have spent hours and hours ripping out seams that weren't correct.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 8, 2024 2:30:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 19:04:01 GMT
Almost. Once I took a quilting class and had a nice strip of star blocks sewn together to make a table runner. It was left out in the sewing room (still lived with my mom at the time) on the ironing board and one of my little nephews thought it would be fun to scribble on it with a ballpoint pen. I managed to get most of it off with alcohol, so I couldn't bring myself to throw it away. I'm sure it's packed up in a box somewhere with my other sewing stuff. It was back in the 80's so it was a lovely combination of country blue, rose and cream. Maybe I should find it and finish it since those colors seem to be coming back in style now! I would quilt those scribbles in, and give the runner to him as a gift. |
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Post by rst on Jun 4, 2016 19:20:48 GMT
I often change course, but very very rarely put something fabric in the trash. Donation box, maybe. If I can't stand seeing something any more, I will cut it into strips or squares so it's ready to use -- even as a trial bock for a new pattern.
For the project with a very outdated color scheme and fabrics -- I have a similar project and my plan is to finish it up, quilt it, and then overdye it. It will be an experiment, but it should be fun to see what happens. I think I'll start with a light gray dye, then move to navy, and just keep doing it until I think it looks cool.
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Post by Leone on Jun 4, 2016 19:22:56 GMT
I've thrown away lots. Every five years, i look at all my unfinished craft and sewing projects still in the closet. I clear them out and give myself permission to feel good about it.
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Post by originalvanillabean on Jun 4, 2016 19:54:12 GMT
Yep, my first attempt at a zipper pouch was a disaster.
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Post by dealsamongus on Jun 4, 2016 21:28:07 GMT
I try not to trash items.. I generally keep the items and harvest it for materials. I usually feel so bad about trashing items that i try not to.
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Post by peasapie on Jun 4, 2016 21:45:22 GMT
Oh yes. All sorts of projects go in the trash. When asked how I have the confidence to try so many new things, I point to the garbage can.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jun 4, 2016 22:41:41 GMT
Almost. Once I took a quilting class and had a nice strip of star blocks sewn together to make a table runner. It was left out in the sewing room (still lived with my mom at the time) on the ironing board and one of my little nephews thought it would be fun to scribble on it with a ballpoint pen. I managed to get most of it off with alcohol, so I couldn't bring myself to throw it away. I'm sure it's packed up in a box somewhere with my other sewing stuff. It was back in the 80's so it was a lovely combination of country blue, rose and cream. Maybe I should find it and finish it since those colors seem to be coming back in style now! I would quilt those scribbles in, and give the runner to him as a gift. Easier said than done now that I scrubbed them out with rubbing alcohol over ten years ago! |
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Post by deafpea on Jun 4, 2016 23:30:48 GMT
I don't think I've ever actually thrown a project in the trash but I have quit on a project (for various reasons) and tried to repurpose the fabric into something else. For example, I went through a stage when I wanted to sew a vest for each holiday/season. I only actually made two. One I finished and one I almost finished. I wore the finished one a few times but I never really liked the way I looked in it, so way later, when I looked at the other (unfinished) vest, I decided not to bother with it. I cut up both vests and used as much of the fabric as I could for other projects. I did end up throwing away the liner material since I couldn't think of anything to do with it.
It was the first time I ever quit on a project without finishing it. It was quite a liberating feeling to know that I didn't HAVE to finish a project. And I didn't have any guilt over the waste because I reused the fabric.
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,074
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Post by mimima on Jun 4, 2016 23:48:22 GMT
This makes me feel better about a half finished knit skirt for which I am not feeling the love. Thank you
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Post by shaniam on Jun 5, 2016 0:38:32 GMT
Yep! All the time! I do embroidery and sometimes I'll not get it right. I don't even bother trying to take out the stitches.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
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Post by melissa on Jun 5, 2016 1:25:16 GMT
Not yet, but close.
I was a pattern tester for a tank top recently that has a built in sports bra. According to my measurements, i cut a certain sized sports bra. I put it on and decided it was too big. Was convinced that I should keep going. Kept going and added the next step (ruching) and now it's just too hard to make it smaller where it needs to be smaller. I will probably toss it soon. It's in my scrap pile at the moment.
The second is a disaster of a dress. I kept messing it up. It has an empire waist with a nice band there. My band ended up way too thin and the dress just looks stupid on me. It may also be that the style isn't right for me too. I am definitely using the fabric from the skirt of that dress for other things!
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Post by misadventurous on Jun 5, 2016 1:37:56 GMT
Not exactly a sewing project, but close. I used to do counted cross stitch - those ridiculously complicated Teresa Wentzler ones. I managed to finally finish her 'The Castle' one, 10 years after receiving the kit as a birthday gift, but it nearly killed me. I decided a never wanted to do another cross stitch project ever again. I had her 'Peacock Tapestry' one maybe a third finished, and I just tossed it. Sometimes I feel a tiny (tiny!) pang of regret over it, but at least I don't have the daily guilt of looking at the unfinished project on my shelf and thinking about the hundreds of hours I didn't want to have to spend to complete it. It would have been gorgeous, but it was quite freeing to get rid of it.
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Post by melanell on Jun 5, 2016 1:38:02 GMT
Trust me, any sewing project touched by my hands would need to be thrown away!  |
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,652
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Jun 5, 2016 2:12:12 GMT
I've been working my way through the house cleaning out unloved stuff in general so I tossed a few formerly completed but no longer my style projects, and happily tossed some cut out but never sewn projects that I didn't even remember starting. If I still like the fabric and think I will have an actual use for it (as opposed to just admiring it in my stash) then I'll keep it but I had quite a few of those that I tossed in my last clean up because they've been there for 15 years and I've never cut into them.
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I didn't even feel bad about it!!
I managed to get most of it off with alcohol, so I couldn't bring myself to throw it away. 
