Saturday 17 April 2010

Me-Made Tunic GIVEAWAY!!!

So, the run up to Me-Made-May seems to me to be a good time to give away something me-made. Actually, I made this tunic a few months ago, but when it turned out to be a FAIL I did what any self-respecting seamstress would do: hide it in the cupboard, try to forget about it and IMMEDIATELY go on to the next project.

Basically what happened was this: I acquired this awesome vintage Simplicity pattern from 1972 and decided to make it up in this lightweight cotton gingham which had arrived to me in the form of unused curtains from my friend's mum who decided she was no longer going to sew. In my anticipation to crack on, I noted the pattern's size was a 34" bust, remembered I measure 36" and INSTEAD OF DOING THE SENSIBLE THING AND MEASURING THE PATTERN, I went ahead and added an extra two inches all round when cutting out and carried on making it like an eager puppy.

At this point I feel I must add, although the outcome may appear simple, this pattern was challenging and took longer than most my projects so far this year. The faced bib panel had to fit correctly with the pin-tucked yoke section but was extra tricky to do as I decided to cut it on the bias, and did I mention it's faced? Plus the fiddley button loops took a hundred attempts, and the opening required a little panel for modesty's sake. As with all my creations, I obsessively overlocked all the raw edges inside. Anyhow, I gritted my teeth and followed the instructions as best I could and was very pleased with the result.

Then I tried it on. WAY too big. It looks ok in the photos where I'm modelling it, but believe me that it's all in the way I'm standing and the excess it hidden at the back (I can't stand like this all day in real life!). I can't, and basically don't want, to try to think of an effective way to make it smaller without taking out the sleeves and a whole load of jazz. I'd much rather just give it away to someone bigger than myself and chalk it up to experience.

So if you, or a friend, daughter, colleague etc. with roughly a 38" or 39" chest would get some wear from this, please leave a comment with an email address so I can contact you for your address to send it to. At midnight next Thursday (22nd April), I'll see if there are any takers, and if there is more than one I'll pick a number from a random generator. I'll send it anywhere in the world, no contribution for P&P is required, just promise me it won't sit unloved in a cupboard any more, I can't take the guilt! Please note, this giveaway is for the garment NOT the pattern, as one day when the pain from the experience has abated, I may give it another go!

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

love this one!
Andrés

Madelaine said...

This would look fantastic on my friend who's just finishing up grad school and about to face the real world as (hopefully) a librarian. She's a little discouraged about the whole job search process, so a cute surprise like this would be just the thing.

I'm sorry you put so much work into it to have it not work out for you, but it's great that you're giving it a chance at a new home!

Erica said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Erica said...

I have never commented before, but that tunic is just beautiful! It's too bad that it took so much effort, and didn't work out. That always gets me down.

That is my bust size exactly, and I would love to be in the running. Honestly, I'm surprised that you're not selling this on ebay or some such, it's such gorgeous work.

Looking forward to Me-Made-May, and am going to try and participate in my own small way (I only started sewing in earnest about six months ago, so I don't have quite that many finished projects yet).

Edited to add: I don't know if you can get my e-mail from this comment the way it is posted (I don't comment on blogs very often), please tell me if that becomes a problem.

Anonymous said...

This is cute, and I can wear it, and I need something pretty and cute I can run around in with my son this summer.

Great work on it.

Clare said...

Ooh hello!

Ali said...

Oooh, oooh, I'm a 39" chest and lurve tunics.

My first thought on reading your post was, I'm too big, I never fit any regular women's clothing. The totally ridiculous amount of ease in commercial patterns, especially Simplicity and McCalls has bitten me in the ass before. It took me 4 or 5 projects to admit and accept that it wasn't me, it really was the pattern and to totally ignore the measurements on the envelope. Until then, I made a lot of nice clothes for friends bigger than me, sigh.

gila said...

Just lovely. I would be more than happy to take it off your hands :)
I think its lovely that you are giving it away so generously!

Kat said...

ooh ooh pick me pick me! That is just too cute and would definately fit me. It is so super cute!

mon ami said...

Oh my goodness, my heart is racing! A blue & white gingham tunic with floral buttons that would actually fit my boobs?!? This is gorgeous. As always I am so inspired by your capabilities and style sense.

Looking forward to me-made-may...what to make first?

thanks for sharing

Katie said...

Oh man, this is super cute - I have put on some weight lately, this gigham beauty would be perfect for me! :))

bagqueen said...

I love this little frock but I expect it would be too small for me, but I wanted to congratulate you on all the hard work and encourage you that you are not the only one. I have been sewing for many years since I started very young and I still make mistakes like that. I put it down to enthusiasm!!

Anonymous said...

Doh. I have just raced off to measure myself, but sadly I am not big enough. Grow, boobs, grow - that I may have this beautiful tunic. (Looks down.) Sigh. Oh well. I'm sure someone else will really appreciate it. How kind of you.

piccola samurai said...

I love this, it's so pretty!!! I would love to wear it to go to the seaside this summer!!! It's such a pity it doesn't fit you properly, you've done really a great job!

Stephanie said...

Please count me in too! I looove the print and the buttons. <3

naughty little pony said...

Wow, someone's gonna be very happy!

Anonymous said...

Oh yes PLEASE! I love it! Really looking forward to your Me-Made-May, Zoe. The last effort inspired me to make the first clothes I've ever made. Strike up one pair of PJs and a summer skirt so far, and another a-line skirt on the way. If I won this, would it count towards a Me-Made-May Lite (on the basis that somebody made it, even thought it wasn't me!).

:-)

nickypassmore(at)hotmail(dot)com

Maggie said...

Well this is just my size AND adorable to boot. It'd be perfect for the summer... I too am trying a Me-Made-May Lite, possibly going full-hog in June or July.

Consider me entered!

muchdeepmeaning @ gmail . com

Felix said...

I am in awe of your sewing skillz and this is just beautiful!

I don't know if it would fit me so don't consider me for the contest! I just wanted to stop by and say how much I enjoy your blog and how especially pretty this tunic is.

Is the bust measurement taken from the underbust measurement or the widest part of the bust? I never understood that myself and always have trouble sizing knitting patterns because of the bust thing!

The gingham and those buttons are lovely and someone is going to love wearing this!

Haley said...

Wow! That is one good looking dress. My best friend and I are lucky enough to be about the same size and with very similar taste, so we basically have one big communal closet. I can see that beauty becoming one of the most popular items that we own.

Grace Duke said...

Lovely!

Grace Duke

Vonnie said...

I absolutely adore looking at your work, you really do inspire me. I'd love to be in the running for this tunic but I appreciate that I'm a little late to the game! x

Lilly said...

I have a 39 inch bust! I recognize that I'm a little late, but it's not quite April 22nd yet! Love your blog, by the way.

(The captcha word is woozhi. Hee!)

C said...

oh hi, pick me! i love it !

Chase Clark said...

What an amazing amount of work, too bad it was too big. I think it is lovely and I bet it would fit either me, my roommate, or my best friend respectively. *Crosses fingers*

Shalyn said...

That's my size! I will HAPPILY take it off your hands.

Anonymous said...

I can't enter the giveaway because I'm 36" :( I just wanted to say that it's really nice and I'm really sad about it!

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful! I love the flower buttons with the gingham and the tucks, too.

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