Thinking About Testing and Fussy Cutting

 I am not missing but have been thinking a lot lately about sewing. I looked at my focus for the year, "sewing what I have". That had me looking at pattern testing. It is the one area that sends me buying fabric as I say I don't have the right fabric. That ends up getting costly and the stash does not decrease. All we get out of pattern testing is the pattern.

I am coming to the end of testing for designers. July was a month of having to test a pattern I didn't want to do. Feed back was horrid and I almost cried for all of the people who took the time to test. This is the point that I realized I was coming to the end of testing. The second pattern was one I wanted to test and it helped calm me down but it didn't change my mind.

A pattern came out that looked interesting and I do like the designer. I thought on it for a couple days, hunting through the stash. I decided I would make it out of fat quarter remnants that just wasn't singing to me until this pattern. It was a 2.5 hour fussy cut job.

I enjoy fussy cutting but have never done a whole pattern. It was an experience that was rewarding. I did use coordinating fabric and decided the look was going to be shabby chic. My process was probably not traditional as I started off with fussy cutting the sleeves which were the largest pieces. 

Once I got them done, I focused on the body pieces making sure I had some flower showing on each piece. The back has a large rose on it. The sides had roses on them also using a different fabric.

On the fronts, I made sure I had rose buds showing along with roses on the side pieces. 

The peplum pieces are not cut but are ready to be done. The upper peplum will be in the green and the under piece in the side fabric. I'm running short of fabric. 

It has been well worth the time fussy cutting this pattern. I have the body done ready for the sleeves. 

So far the fabric is playing nicely together and no one piece is over powering the rest. Hopefully it remains like that when the sleeves are set in. 

I will fussy cut again as this test has given me the confidence to it and to do it on almost all pieces of the pattern. It has given me a new outlook on large prints for doll clothes. 

On a note, this is the only pattern I will test this month. It is one of my decisions. 

Do you fussy cut to get a specific look?

Happy Doll Sewing....................................................