Top Five Sewing Mistakes of 2025

And there were sewing mistakes or questionable decisions make at the workspace.  

1.  This is The Assembly Line's (TAL) puffed sleeve shirt.  Where did I go wrong on this one?  It was my fabric choice.  It would have made it on the top five favourites list if I chose a better fabric and it didn't continue to shrink after a second wash.  Yes, I did pre-shrink the fabric before it hit the cutting table but it did not hold up well at all.  It did not even make it to the donate pile, it shrunk that much.  

2.  This is another TAL top, but please don't just the pattern company by it's second appearance on this list.  I do like working with TAL patterns.  I cut this one in a size large and the neckline is too wide.  It looks sloppy.  I should have cut it out in the small size and maybe a couple of sizes smaller in the neckline.  It's currently sitting in the donation pile along with the plaid version of this top.   

3.  This is the first Merchant and Mills sewing pattern I worked with and I did not chose the right size, it's too big in the neckline and armholes and it just doesn't sit right in this area.  And I struggled with sewing the facing piece.  I ended up hand stitching the neckline opening.  I am torn with what to do with this one.  I would like to try to save fabric and make something else with it.  

4.  This is actually a TNT pattern, OOP Vogue 9268, but again it was miscalculating sizing and poor fabric decisions.  The fabric has a lot of drape and the hem hung too low and then I cut it to fix that problem but now it's too short for my liking.  It's likely heading to the donation pile.  

5.  Another new-to-me pattern, Daughter Judy's Henry skirt.  I got the sizing all wrong.  I tried to follow the measurements but it came out too big and I feel frumpy wearing this but that could also be thanks to the wool blend fabric I chose.  It make it to the donation pile.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.