Cutting vs. Sewing
I just spent hours, broken out over two days, but hours nonetheless, cutting out the Super Secret Surprise (SSS). And I’m still not done. I still have to cut one more pattern piece and then all the interfacing. Due to fabric limitations (I bought the last bit on the bolt) and pattern piece layout necessities, I wasn’t able to print match at all at the side seams. I was even worried I wouldn’t have enough to make the SSS, but I did in the end. I have some largish scraps left, but probably not enough to do anything with. We’ll see.
But I have a confession to make…
I hate cutting. I hate how long it takes. I hate how much work it is to match prints/stripes/plaids (and for some reason, I almost always fail at it even though I work really hard at it). I hate how shifty some fabrics are. Getting the fabric to be on grain is off-putting and tedious. ’
Just get me to the sewing machine though and I’m a happy camper. But cutting? Man, I wish I could farm it out. Do you think there are people out there that actually like cutting? And would do it for pay? Do any of you like the cutting part of the sewing process?
Don’t get me wrong, I always feel a sense of pride when my print placement is awesome (i.e, no pasties). And I took intense pleasure out of the print placement for my chrysanthemum dress. That was a tough print with which to work, but once I figured out the key was to use the white space to guide my cutting instead of the large floral print, it was easy street.
So what’s your least favorite part of the sewing process? Does everyone hate cutting? Or am I the only one? And don’t you feel betrayed when you think you’re all done with the cutting and then you realize you still have to cut the interfacing??? Ugh!
Here’s to the soon ending cutting and to me happily sitting in front of my machine!
I supremely hate cutting out. I could sew all day but the tedious business of laying out the pattern pieces makes me cranky.
Oh gosh, yes! I hate that first part of the process too. The tracing of the pattern pieces, then the cutting of both paper and fabric. Ugh. I just want to have that done with and be able to sit behind my machine.
A little while ago my daughter said: “I like to trace and cut!” And I was all “Yeahaw!”, but then after about ten minutes she said: “I think I’m done now, I am going to play”. So that was a bummer. In those ten minutes I really saw paradise rising at the horizon!
Anyway, can’t wait to see the big surprise. The receiver must be very special!
This has just made me laugh hysterically! I hear my 8 year old too when on Saturday he badgered me to help me paint and then three strokes of the roller and some cutting in and he was done. That’s about how long it is fun; after that it’s hard work!
Cutting out the fabric is spelled L-O-A-T-H-E.
Your chrysanthemum dress pattern piece placement receives a 5 out of 5 stars rating. May I use the word delicious? Perfect fabric for your dress, which looks gorgeous on you in every way.
Keep cutting, er, plugging away. Looking forward to the SSS reveal!
Kelley~
Oh yes, first the main fabric, then lining, then interfacing, then fusing the interfacing. When will the fun part start??
I’m not a big fan of cutting, although it’s a lot less hassle since I discovered pattern weights. The worst thing is having to move things to make enough space.
I hate cutting, all the things you said, trying to get fabric patterns to match, keeping grainlines straight, moving fabrics, yuk! The only improvement I’ve made in this area is to cut out on a single layer of fabric, it means tracing your pattern to get whole pattern piece but I usually do this anyway or use a toile so its not the end of the world. At least now I don’t have to keep the layers of fabric aligned, my next problem to reduce the back ache I get after leaning over for ages….
Yes and yes. I hate cutting and I feel betrayed with the interfacing. I love that chrysanthemum dress.
I once had a friend who loved cutting out but hated sewing. We had a pretty good thing going until she moved 1000 miles away!
Cutting I’m fine with, it’s a sort of a zen activity for me but fusing interfacing? Kill me now.
I always start out cutting with great anticipation. It’s the transfer of markings that I don’t like
I used to loathe the whole tracing, cutting, marking process, but once I discovered better (imho) tools (double tracing wheel, wax transfer paper, pattern weights, rotary cutter, chaco pens…) I’ve become much less hateful about it. Not that I love it. But now it’s a chore rather than a torture, which is a step in the right direction. And since I feel like I’m better at the process with all my tools, I’m less frustrated by it and take more care. So, my end results are better. Sometimes. Sigh.
Yeah no, I hate it too (although noting Clio’s comment above, I’m hoping that my newly purchased double tracing wheel and chalk liner will expediate the process a little bit).
I dream of having a large high table, a rotary cutter, a cutting mat, pattern weights… but sadly that is likely to happen this side of never!
I used to hate cutting but there are two things that I think helped me overcome the hate. First, I have to been in the mood. It’s true, sometimes I’d really rather do all that piddly stuff rather than sit down at the machine. Second, when I’m in that kind of mood I try and cut out more than one garment. That way when I’m in the sewing mood I’m ready to go. Of course, I do agree with Phyllis – hate the interfacing part!
I must be weird but cutting and marking is my favorite part. You can teach a monkey to do the rest but thought has to go into the cutting especially as you have found with the larger motifs. I get clients with dramatic huge motifs in their yardage and want it to flatter them so the cutting is the MOST important part and the marking. Choosing and cutting linings and interfacings are just as important as you can ruin the garment with a poor choice or inaccurate cutting. Cutting and “bundling” of all the components into a ziplock bag for later or into a basket starts the production line. You can see some of my cutting nightmares on my blog when people buy too little fabric to save money or they buy the last remnant because they could not bear to leave the store without it…even though it has holes and marks on it…they assume their seamstress can “work around” them. Now it is just a matter of waiting for the big SSS!!!
I’m not the hugest fan of cutting, but my main hatred is making pattern markings. Gah! There are no good/efficient ways to make the marks, IMO. Every method that I’ve ever seen sucks and takes for.ev.er. But the end result makes it all worthwhile….most of the time.
Also not a fan of cutting. To answer your question, yes there are people who actually do enjoy cutting (or at least pretend to) in sample rooms all over the world. It is there only job. In my first internship at an L.A. clothing company, there was only one lady whose job it was to cut samples and also make the flower trims. She had stacks of fabric towering around her and cut out little dress pieces all day long. I did ask if she liked her job and she said she did. Strange, right?
Cutting out fabric is my least favorite part also. So much so that I’m surprised that I ever get to sew at all.
I especially hate thinking about cutting out. Once I’m actually doing the cutting, I’m ok. I do breathe a sigh of relief when it is all cut out, though, especially if the fabric was expensive. Oh and then realizing that you still have to cut interfacing – grrrr- horrible! Interfacing isn’t even pretty to look at while you’re cutting!
I just spent a day and a half cutting fabric, interfacing, lining, then had do do some intense marking for welt pockets, etc. By the time I got to the sewing machine I was mentally exhausted.
I have learned to cut several garments out at a time when I’m in a cutting mood, but don’t feel like sewing -doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I take advantage. The large sheets of tracing paper are a big time & annoyance saver!
I hate cutting as well, it’s the WORST. When I start a new project, I like to cut out the night before. That way in the morning I get to go straight to the good part.
That sounds like Christmas for adults: a free day, a cup of fresh coffee first thing in the morning, and a brand new sewing project to work on.
I don’t mind cutting out the fabric – I actually quite enjoy that bit – it’s the cutting out of the pattern pieces from the huge printed sheet that annoys me most.
Lovely dress.
Love that dress – very flattering and pretty! I don’t mind cutting so much as I really hate fusing interfacing and fitting patterns for my hips, especially when I’m between two envelope sizes! that’s the worst! But I think as I get used to doing it (and maybe just develop a template to use over and over) it won’t be such a big deal. I hope.
How I feel about cutting really depends on WHAT I’m cutting. Something nice and stable and satisfying, I don’t mind so much. Shifty, slithery things make me want to stab myself in the brain just to make it stop. I like it much better since I got my super-sexy scissors, though. Seriously, the feel of those sliding through fabric is awesome…
Someday I will try out a rotary cutter…
block fuse the interfacing to your rough cut fabric first, then you’re only cutting out the pieces once instead of twice!
I absolutely hate cutting. For a while at the beginning of fall I thought I could cheat my own system by cutting out a bunch of projects at once, having them queued. *SNORT* like that ever happened!!!!
Oh, cutting is definitely a pain in the a$$! Especially when you need to cut a fashion fabric, an interfacing and a lining! It’s sometimes too much for me, so I split a garment I’m working on in sections. I cut, fuse, and sew a section of the garment. That’s how I worked on my latest color blocked trench. I couldn’t stand all the cutting, so I divided the process in several stages: bodice (cut, fuse, sew), skirt, skirt border, sleeves, collar, and finally lining.
As a reply to your later post – I struggle to keep myself and the working space organized and tidy. I live in a tiny apartment and I sew in a dining / living room, on a dining table. Making too much of a chaos means the whole apartment would look as if a bomb exploded in there. So I need to pick up the mess every once in a while, or I’ll start loosing my tools, pattern pieces or fabric. It often happens to me I can’t find a pencil / seam ripper I had in my hand a minute ago, because it’s hidden beneath piles of pattern paper / fabric, and it’s so frustrating, but that’s a motivator for trying to be organized.