Custom ordering failed

I have created a new Woo product from scratch (a PoD tee shirt). In Woo / Attributes, I already have “Color” listed with 8 colors in a particular sequence. And in “Size” I have 8 sizes in sequence from S-5XL. And in this new product in Woo / Products / [Product] / Product Data / Attributes I have ensured “Color” with 8 colors in the same sequence again and “Size” with 8 sizes in the same sequence again. Then in Variations, I have hit “Generate Variations” and all the variations are listed in alpha-numeric order and completely ignore my custom order (yes, I have selected “Custom ordering”). I think hitting “Generate Variations” on my first two products obeyed the correct order, so how do I get back to custom ordering being obeyed? The website front end displays variants OK in the correct custom order, so there is nothing to see there. I also get the same problem with plugins deactivated.