Top of '23: Misses

They Can't all be winners, right? When you make things, you have to accept that sometimes things just don't work out in real life the way you wanted them to. Here is my list of misses from my projects this year.

• Altered Embroidered Top - This one was my own fault for cutting the waist a bit too high when refashioning this adorable dress. I love rayon, I love the embroidery, I love the ruffles... I have never worn this top because the waist is too high and it makes feel me huge. It's just not very flattering and while I've tried to make myself wear it, I always take it off and pick something else. Very sad.

• Irish Crochet Top - I'm still not entirely sure what happened with the fit on this one. I was making the same pattern as my Yellow Eyelet Top, which was a big success, and I guess I jumped the gun with how I did the shoulder alterations on this version because it just looked terrible. Also this blue broadcloth gave major scrub top vibes, and while I'm sure the crochet collar would have jazzed it up, it still just wasn't quite what I wanted once I got it into top form. This one was completely scrapped, unfortunately. I still have the crochet pieces and still plan on finishing my idea of an Irish crocheted yoke on a sewn top, but I'm just looking for the right fabric to make this happen.

• Khaki Linen Skirt Refashion - This is wearable and I have worn it, but it just isn't my favorite. The way I angled the top of the waistband where it joins the elastic in the back just really doesn't work. Also because I didn't remove any width, the back bunches up a bit more than is advisable in this fabric and it really isn't doing any favors for my butt, lol. So wearable, yes, good in the summer heat, etc - just not my favorite piece, and that's a real shame.

• White Cielo Top - This one is actually a lovely piece that I do wear, it just didn't turn out how I was hoping. I find the boxy shape prevents me from wearing it on its own, and the armscye is just entirely too low for me. It's so low that I don't find it comfortable because it limits my arm movement. I still love the idea of this shirt and I plan on trying to make something very similar in feel but with a body that fits me better.
  

• Sock Week Socks - These are just pretty ugly, lol. I'm glad I used up this orphan skein of yarn that was in my stash for a literal decade, but I just don't love the weirdly Christmasy vibes that the red accents give. If I had done a different color for the cuff, toe, and heel, then I think I would have liked these much more. I will still wear them in the winter since usually I wear socks like this in boots and other shoes that don't show my socks at all, but these were not the win I was hoping for. 
  

• Liesl Cardigan - I'm adding this one as a "will make changes" in hopes that I can improve it. This was my fastest sweater I've ever made, still pretty proud of that, but in reality I've only worn it once or twice out and I have never enjoyed wearing it. My body is just not shaped well for wearing a rounded yoke of any kind. The shape of the yoke makes this slip off my shoulders so much that it looks dumpy. I also keep intending to change out the crappy plastic snaps for metal ones that actually snap and hold, but I never remember until I go to wear it and realize the snaps don't work. I also think this would look better with at least one more button, but that means finding different ones that I like since I only had 2 of these. I think if I can get this to where it fastens securely at the neckline that it would prevent it from falling off my shoulders so much and I would actually wear it. 
  

What projects didn't turn out for you? I'm really not that mad at my misses because none of them were very drastic or high stakes. Most things worked out for me, which is a nice boost that I can only credit with me having made clothing for so long now. Here's hoping I can keep this trend going in 2024!