Rediscovering knitting

Ok, I'm not really rediscovering knitting.  I never forgot it or stopped or anything.  I've just been doing it more and enjoying it more over the past week than I have in a while.  I'm sure my recent sewing troubles are the big cause of this.

Here is a baby sweater I cranked out in a week for a baby shower today.  It's a gift for my expecting cousin, but I couldn't resist trying it on my littlest man for photos.  I can't believe he's already 5 months old and sitting up so well!

My other son saw I was trying to entertain Baby with a toy, so he tried to help out.  Awwwwww, he's the best big brother!
The pattern is Aran Pullover from Vogue Knitting's Baby Knits Two.  I'm seeing now that I spent almost 50% more for this book than it's listed for at Amazon.  Oh well, I was supporting my LYS, right?

After finishing the baby sweater just under the wire (knitting until 9 last night and finishing up until 10:30 and blocking overnight), I want to relax with something pleasant and pretty.  Enter Frost Flowers Jacket from Feminine Knits.
I decided to start on one of the front pieces instead of the back so I could see the lace.  Here it is one repeat in... me likey.
Also still on the needles is this cardigan, which is really close to being complete.  Just a few more rows and then a bit of ribbing.  If I can tear myself away from the new lace and the boys cooperate, I'll bet I can finish it during the Eagles game tomorrow.  I think once I finish this, I'll hopefully get a little sewing bug back since I have a divine dark marly brown knit to make a cozy turtleneck for under this.
Hope everyone is having a spectacular weekend!

Disheartened

I've been a bit disheartened by sewing over the past week.  

Remember this cozy and shell I just made?  Well, I made a BIG rookie mistake.  Didn't prewash.  It wasn't even a conscious "well I didn't pre-wash this, but I'll take my chances.  For some reason, I had it in my head that I had pre-washed while knowing fully well that I had not.  So after one trip in the washing machine on cold, hand-wash cycle and air drying, both pieces are unwearable.  :-(  This is no fault of the fabric.  It still looks very nice after the washing.  It just shrunk sooooo much that it would be frighteningly midriff-bearing.

Did I mention in my previous post that I spent quite a few evenings hand stitching the hem the whole way around my cozy?  

Did I mention how beautiful the fabric is and how excited I was about this project?

I just haven't had the drive to sew anything this past week.

I've been working on two things that will be ready to show soon:  knitting a baby sweater for a shower this weekend and using my mom's embroidery machine on a RTW top for my older son.  I also want to show the quilt my mom made for my baby that's almost ready.

If you're still reading, I'm hoping that getting this out of my system and typing it all out motivates me to get moving again!

Simplicity 2603

They're not super pictures, but would you expect anything else from me?  It's just easier to get pics taken in the evening than in the morning.  

This is a twinset from the popular Simplicity 2603 cozy pattern.  Since there are 27 reviews of this pattern on Pattern Review, I didn't add my 2 cents.

Here is view E, the sleeveless shell I posted a bit about previously.  

The cozy is view A, the longest one with long sleeves.  My only change was to make the sleeves about 2 inches longer for my long arms, and when I'm making long sleeved tops, I like them really long to compensate (in my head anyway) for all my purchased too-short sleeves.
The fabric is from Sawyer Brook.  It's a heavenly soft brushed rayon jersey in heathered dark, dark green.
Next time I wear this, I'll see if I can get better pics outside.

Cozy shell

I've been slowly working on making the Simplicity cozy.  First I made the shell.  My little man #2 is pulling the neckline, but really, it is even.  :-)

The fabric is here from Sawyer Brook.  It's a rayon knit with a kind of brushed finish.  It is so soft!  I think I'll have the cozy ready to show later this week, but I keep thinking that.  My sewing has really slowed down since I got to the States.

Gray Herringbone Trousers

These have actually been complete for about a month.  I wore them on the plane ride from Germany to the States with this top.  Both pieces are part of my Pattern Review SWAP entry.

The pattern is Simplicity 2700.  They're the first pants I've made not from my TNT Vogue pattern.

These are higher waisted than I am used to wearing.  They come right about at my belly button.  I feel very grown up and proper in them.  Haha!  If I worked, they would be great work pants.  Since I'm a SAHM, they are good for when I want to look a little more pulled together.
Hmmm, they look a little tight on my bum.  Maybe I just needed to tug them down a bit.  Definitely better fitting than many of my RTW pants.  I'm open to comments on how to improve pants fit, though.  I haven't messed with crotch curves at all.  Oh, and a comment on why I'm not crazy about higher waisted pants:  they make my bum look saggy with all that square footage between waistband and legs!

Here they are with the top untucked.
The only alteration I did was to take in the sides about a half inch on each side.  This makes the pocket openings pretty small, so I'll alter this a bit if I make these pants again.
Also, you'll see I messed up the waistband a bit.  The top part is supposed to extend further and the bottom piece isn't supposed to extend at all.  I interfaced the wrong sides and had to improvise.

A look at the cuffs I added.  To keep them in place, I stitched along the side seam line on the cuffs.  The only hand sewing on these pants is attaching the lining to the zipper area.  Awesome.

Cozy

Wow, I haven't posted in over 2 weeks!  It's taken a while to get situated here in the States at my parents' house.  

I do have new pants to show, but I still need photos.  At least I have photographers on hand now!  I finished them in time to wear on the plane ride here.  They looked really nice but are pretty comfy, too.  I also have been working on the Simplicity cozy.

Actually, I have the shell complete except for the hem.  I haven't started the cozy except to cut it out.  I want to finish it tomorrow or Wednesday.  With the weather we're having, a cozy would be good.

I think I need to do a "State of the Sewing" address and see where I'm at with my SWAP and other fall sewing I want to do.

SWAP jacket

Yay!  I finished my jacket for the SWAP collection just in time to enter it in the jacket contest at Pattern Review.

My little man just had to try it on after all my checking it out in the mirror.

Here it is!  

The pattern is Vogue 8333, one of the Claire Shaeffer couture patterns.  While I did follow along the couture instructions, I didn't use all of the techniques.  My biggest departure was using fusible interfacing.  This was partly because I knew I wouldn't finish the jacket in time for the contests, but really, I doubt I would have finished it at all, ever.  I just don't have the patience at this point to make a tailored, couture jacket.  Hopefully I will soon, but not right now.
I added a back vent.
and I added welt pockets.  With the pattern's inseam pleated pockets, it was looking a bit too horseback-riding jacket for me.  I wanted a versatile jacket to keep a long time.  I also made pocket flaps, but I couldn't find one when I was racing to finish this yesterday, so they will have to wait for a later date.

It took me a while to decide on buttons.  I didn't want boring old matching navy ones, but gold seemed like a bit much.  I finally decided on these silver ones.  I think it's a nice compromise.  I'm not totally thrilled with my machine button holes, but I'm happy enough with them.
Here's a peek at a pocket.
Lining

Functional buttoning sleeve
Back vent
Here is my review:

Pattern Description: Semi-fitted, lined, partially interfaced, below waist jacket has princess seams, slightly extended shoulders, shoulder pads, in-seam pockets with pleats, side panels (no side seams), shaped hem, and long two-piece sleeves with buttoned vents. A: underlined and couture construction techniques.

Pattern Sizing: 6-22. I made a 10.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, except for the pockets I changed.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Ok. I followed along the couture directions, but I have to admit I didn't use all of them. The biggest change was I used fusible interfacings. I would love to do a couture jacket someday, but I just don't have the patience yet. The directions seemed easy to follow. Nothing really crazy difficult; just time consuming.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love the fitted shape of this pattern. It really nips in at the waist, which is flattering. Boxy jackets just make me look, well, like a box.

Fabric Used: wool with 15% cashmere. It's navy and marled a bit. It almost looks like a herringbone a bit. The fabric is a little bit felted, so it hardy frayed at all, which was super helpful. It also responded really well to steam and pressing.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I lengthened the sleeves 2 inches for my monkey arms. I also got a little too much of an equestrian vibe early on, so I added some welt pockets from Vogue 8087 (another Claire Shaeffer jacket pattern, now out of print) to make it appear a little more blazer-like. I just sewed shut where the pleated in seam pockets are supposed to go. I have the flaps, too... somewhere. I went to sew them on this morning and can only find one. I decided I like the look as is. Maybe I'll sew the flaps on if I find the other one, or I can always make a new one. 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I might sew this again with the intended pocket style if I find a fabric I don't think will look too riding-jacket-like. Maybe in a fun colored light flannel coating. I do recommend this. The directions are great, and the style is flattering.

Conclusion: A very nice jacket pattern, even if you're not ready to commit to the couture methods.