when you don't write things down

[jennylafleur]

Dangit, dangit, DANGIT!! Why are these things always so complicated?

I'm working on my new 1804 stays (my old pair having given out at Costume Con) and having a hard time reconciling the pattern in my files with the finished result of my old stays. I LOVE my old stays - they have served me well in fit, comfort and look - so I don't want to deviate from the old pair at all. Just remake them.

Thing is I've tweaked the stays several times over the years, trimming things here & there and even re-making the back panels at one point when they got too big. Did I transfer those changes to my master pattern? No. Did I take good notes of the changes? No. Is this pattern I have in my file even the finial master pattern? I'm beginning to wonder.

Add to that the fact that I made these stays 6 years ago, before I got into good habits of note taking, master pattern tracing and that it was my first use of a scaled pattern and I had NO idea what I was doing... it's amazing the stays came out so well and lasted so long really. Trying to go back 6 years and figure out my own assumptions and sewing methods (since I didn't write them down) is a logistical nightmare.

I do have the old stays to reference but that almost makes it harder. Thanks to gussets and trying to factor in the stretch of the fabric in 6 years... it's making my head hurt. I have a summer cold right now so that probably won't take much but still... Why does this have to be so dang hard!

*wimpers*

Comments

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

I know you've probably considered this but can you a pattern OFF of your old ones?

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

I don't really want to take the old stays apart. I need them as referance for constructing the new ones. I think I figured it out though...

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Perhaps if you use coutil and pre-shrink it a lot you won't get as much stretching and can just make them to the current dimensions of your old stays?

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

I didn't think of that. I didn't want to use coutil though...I think one of the reasons my old stays are so comfy is becasue they are cotton twill. Uhm...

[muddled-musings.livejournal.com]

Aw... poor Jenny Rose! Firstly: hope you feel better soon! Having just battled a summer cold, it's no fun at all (especially when sewing is concerned). :p

My inclination would be to take a pattern off of the old stays, perhaps shaving a bit of the measurements off to account for stretch. Or, using the pattern taken off the old stays, and comparing it to the original pattern, adjusting it from there. Of course, this would probably result in needing to make a mock up. :/

Good luck! :)

[jennylafleur.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I ended up basically taking your advice... after a nap. The idea was just too overwhelming before my nap!

[girliegirl32786.livejournal.com]

I'm so bad about not making a master pattern. I had the same problem earlier this week. Glad you eventually sorted it out though!