My Big Fat Flop

At one of my sewing clubs, we are exploring rainwear/raingear and all things related.  I decided to work on cotton laminate.  On Amy Butler's website, she has very good information about sewing this fabric. Here.  The cotton laminate I bought at Fabric.com is not hers, so I don't know if there is a difference between the brands or not.

I knew better than to use a pattern with details like darts, pleats, etc.  I chose this rain poncho because of the simplicity. Here.  Nothing simpler, so I assumed it would be a good place to start to work with this new fabric.  I had no problems sewing it at all.  I made a plain seam, pushed both seam allowances to one and top-stitched the seam, using a Teflon foot.  And that is where the good part ends!

Here is the poncho.  Now, it is not finished.  I have to top-stitch all around the edges to hold the lining in place. 

This is not a bad photo.  It looks like what it is. Vinyl.  It is not pliable.  It is hot.  It is heavy.  It is uncomfortable.  See how it just sticks out everywhere?  If there were a way to hate it more, I don't know what it would be!  You know what it's like?  Like those heavy, yellow raincoats that firemen wear.  Or fishermen.

The best thing I can say about it is--I know not to use this fabric ever again.  I will take this piece of crap to my meeting about rainwear in September, so that others can see and feel it,  and not waste their time.  I'm sure I can make something better!