FO: Evangeline fingerless gloves

I've had a hard time finding time to knit, since any time I'm not nursing I'm sewing!  But I recently discovered that nursing and knitting are not mutually exclusive, so I finally finished these mitts!

My hands get cold easily, so even though it doesn't get all that cold in Texas, I wear gloves a lot.  But it's really hard to use a touch screen with traditional gloves.  I've missed a few calls, so I decided I needed some of these.  I decided to knit long ones so that they'll cover my arms when I wear my Simplicity 2808 jacket, which I do all the time.  The cable makes me happy.  It's beautiful and was really fun to knit.  Rav notes are here.

I've got a few irons in the fire right now sewing-wise.  I'm doing a few things for a pair of weddings - making a bolero for a bride and adding sleeves to a bridesmaid dress, so that's been keeping me pretty busy.  I'll share the bolero muslins with you when I get to fit the bride!

Vogue 8603 - SISC #3

Bet y'all thought I had forgotten how to sew, huh?  Duncan's sleep patterns (or lack thereof) are starting to take their toll, but Tuesday night we had our sewing group so I finally got to finish my third Self-Imposed Sewing Club (SISC) project, Vogue 8603.

And I love it!!

I used view D for the front and length, but I  love that peplum in the back,

so I put it in.  Love!!  I keep seeing this pattern pop up on PR and all over the blogosphere, and I can see why it is so popular.  The several views allow for lots of different looks, there are princess seams for a great fit, and if you aren't "sleeping like a baby" like we are around here, it's a quick and easy sew.  The fashion fabric is a tropical weight RPL (rayon/poly/lycra) from Gorgeous Fabrics.  It is completely fabulous - soft with a nice stretch.  The color is a heathered brown that varies from almost black to gold, making it a very versatile color.  Although the polyester content made it a bit resistant to the iron, it sewed beautifully.

It is also lined, although I'd have done that anyway.  Rather than Vogue's method of stitching the facings over the lining/FF unit, I used the Threads quick lining method, where you edgestitch the facings onto the lining and treat them as a unit in construction.  No floppy facings!  The pattern didn't include a lining for the peplum in back, rather it instructed you to leave that section open and slipstitch the lining to the seam allowances around the gathered section.  I didn't like that treatment at all, so I included the gathered section in the lining.  The lining fabric is a floral printed acetate, again from Gorgeous Fabrics.  I think it is too adorable.

Of course, I used an invisible zip and attached my facings and lining by machine, like I did with the Butterick skirt.  I did hem the skirt by hand, but did a serger rolled hem on the lining.  I love my serger!
When I finished cutting out the skirt I had a couple of fat quarter sized pieces left.  It's such great fabric that I just couldn't throw it out.  It turned out to be just enough to make a pair of wee man pants!  I firmly believe one should cultivate a love for finer fabrics early.

The pattern is my stand by Simplicity 3765.

Aren't they perfect with the sweater I knit him?

Next up in the SISC queue is Simplicity 2614 in a green and cream lawn from FFC.  At the rate I'm going, I should have it ready say, by June?

Mail!

Mitch came in with the mail yesterday, and both my February burdastyle and the Spring Ottobre had come!  Good timing, too.  Between one sick kid and a newborn who has suddenly decided that nighttime isn't for sleep, poring over sewing magazines is all I'm doing at the moment.  My Vogue 8603 skirt is cut out and waiting for me, so hopefully I can get to it soon.  In the meantime, I was pleasantly surprised to find so many things in the new burda that I am excited about sewing!

This dress makes me wish for spring!  It looks cute but very wearable.  Maybe not in white, though.  I have kids...

Love this skirt!!  I have a thing for inverted pleats.

All this talk about 12 jackets in 12 months makes me want to sew a couple.  I love how streamlined this one is.  The empire seaming is really nice.

With all of the changes burda has been making to the magazine, I have seriously been considering not renewing my subscription when it runs out in June.  Other than the September '10 turtleneck, I haven't sewn anything since the April 2010 issue.  The consolidation of the pattern sheets has made tracing a serious pain in the neck and they have raised the subscription rate.  On the other hand, I love it when a new burda comes in the mail, and the last 2 months have been full of designs that I want to sew!  What about you ladies?  For those lovers of burda out there, is it still worth it to you?

Vogue 8699

I was admiring my beloved stash rearranging my fabric closet the other day and I came across this soft, thick interlock that just screamed that it wanted to be a snuggly cowl neck top like Sharon's.  Fortunately I already had the pattern, so I threw aside all of the other things I should be working on to make a top.

Sometimes you just have to sew what you want, you know.

The pattern is Vogue 8699.  It is a basic top with shoulder princess seams and an attached cowl neck.  The view I made is hip length with 3/4 sleeves.  The cowl really is just an oversized turtleneck.  This is one of the "Custom Fit" patterns with cup sizes, so I didn't have to do an FBA (YAY!).  It made this a super quick project.  The top is simple and quick to sew, and fits nicely thanks to the princess seaming.  With a band in place of the cowl, I also can see using this as a basic scoop neck top.  I think this year I am going to make more of an effort to sew up all of the Vogue patterns I am always buying.  They are always well drafted and have nice details.

The color is a bit of a departure from the norm for me, so I was a bit surprised at how well it coordinates with much of my wardrobe, including the denim skirt I just made!  Here I am wearing it with a pair of RTW slinky knit pants.

Refashion: Men's cords to boy's (Ottobre 01/2009-23)

Logan has shredded two pairs of pants in as many weeks, so I needed a quick way to replace them.  Enter an old pair of Mitch's cords and the pattern I made for him last week (already traced!).

The pattern is a quick and dirty elastic waist pant.  Of course, Ottobre gives you tons of fun pocket and detail options, but for these, I didn't use any of them.

The front pockets came from the original pants and I didn't add any back pockets.  That made these crazy quick to make.  Good thing, since corduroy isn't all that sturdy and these are on their second life already.

I neglected to take a before picture, but here is how I laid them out for cutting.  First I slashed the inseam and the front crotch, then laid them flat right sides together.  I lined up the side seams as best I could, then placed the pattern pieces to incorporate the front pockets on the front pant piece and an unembellished section of the back leg became the new back pants.  As you can see, I'm not going to get away with this for too much longer - Logan is getting too big!