Jacket in Progress

Well, there it is. In all of its giant yellow flowery glory. It is sunny, which is what I had wanted. It seemed shockingly so when it was coming together, but I pressed on. It was exciting to try on and I have to admit I think it is pretty much what I envisioned. EJ thinks that it is beautiful. Knowing her current sense of style, this doesn't really give me much confidence in my own taste.

The pattern has been pretty easy to follow so far, for someone who falls into a category between beginner and intermediate seamstress. I have been stumped along the way... like why the front and sides are not the same length. But I figured it out after some thinking and trust in the instructions.

I had some dark green lining, but I think I need something lighter. Back to the fabric store. I just wish I could have a natural fiber lining, that was still slippery enough to act as a lining. The poly linings are kinda meh. Any suggestions to alternatives that are readily available? And while I am asking questions... honest opinions on the bold fabric? hehehe

Peep show

I have been sewing! Just had to get rid of my husband for the weekend to find the time.

Close up of the one pocket welt, and front and side panels of my new jacket.

Scarves!

I just love the trend of layering scarves over an outfit. I had been working on my first knit shawl for way too long... almost a year I think, but I am so happy to have it finished!

It is the Fountain Pen Shawl from an Interweave Knits magazine from 2009. I didn't make it as large as the pattern suggested, because I wanted to wear it as a scarf and not a shawl. It was a lot of fun to watch it change after blocking it!

And speaking of scarves, my friend and fellow blogger is offering a give away on a beautiful scarf! Check out her blog and take a look around! She is a fun girl with a lot of creativity for party planning and putting together outfits!

2,3,4?

Gauge, is a great mystery at times. This yarn has given me a great many problems along the way with gauge. But this time, I feel like I won. Even if I ended up with a size 4, and a size 2 daughter. She should grow. Right?

It all started with a sweater, for me.

a sweater that was never more than a too-small sleeve thanks to too tight knitting and a dislike of the pattern.

Then came a little dress.

And after a first attempt being too small, and a second attempt being too big I threw in the towel.

Finally I decided to revisit this yarn one last time. One more pattern. Again, two attempts...

And finally. A success. That is not to say I finally found the perfect pattern with the proper gauge to execute perfectly. Oh no. My gauge was way off, and this yarn didn't want to be knit any tighter. Knit on size 5's and with the size 2 directions I ended up with a sweater much closer to the size 4 sweater. So I knit using the size 4 length instructions. So I don't know if it is a size 2, 3 or 4. But I do know it fits her now. And that is enough.

But what do I do with the rest of this yarn!?!?!

Third time...

is a charm!

2010 Salvation Army Fabric Sale

Thanks to some very good friends, I was made aware of a fabric sale that the Salvation Army does every year. I was unable to go last year. My friends reminded me I had cracked a tooth and was desperate to see a dentist. Yuck! But this year my teeth were in tact and I was ready to go! It was great fun! And I think we all left with a bag full of possibilities!
First stop was the notions table, specifically the button boxes.

Lots of yellow, and those big buttons might just work on my jacket project! Total cost- $3.
I then started to wander up and down the rows of tables stacked with fabric. Everything was organized by type and my bag got heavy quickly.

Navy flowered poly blend, some blue lining, gray suiting material, wool houndstooth plaid, gray wool, blue/white seersucker stripe, flowered cream home decor fabric, and finally some Waverly home dec print (which I thought of using to recover a small chair I have... but there might be enough to recover my dining room chairs which seems like a good use of the fabric!!) Total yardage- 19.5 cost- $27.75
Lastly I took some time to look through a few boxes of patterns. They were only a quarter... so why not?

They only charged me for two of them. I pointed out there was one more in the bag and the lady let it go. Cost-$.50.
All and all I had a great time with friends. Spent the morning elbow to elbow with complete strangers digging through piles of fabric. Only cost me $31.25, and who knows what all of these goodies will end up becoming in the coming year!

Taking the plunge!

I can be a very cautious at times. Planning and thinking and worrying. It is part of my personality I guess. But I also have a way of coming up with an idea and running with it. If you are one of my readers who know me in real life, well you know where this is going. As you have been the recipient of many e-mails, and messages filled with sewing questions.
I am tall. Tall enough that I can't buy coats in the store. I have to go online and click the "Tall" button on my favorite retailers sites. Sadly, all the tall coats were gray, tan, or black. Otherwise, BLAH. If it is dull and dreary outside I want to do my part to brighten up the day. Not contribute to the drab. I wanted something and couldn't buy it. Time to pull out all the stops and get crafty. Even if it means pushing my current skills up a notch.
Please join me in welcoming my newest project.
The Perfect Spring Jacket.
The cast of characters:
Simplicity pattern 2508

And while I was thinking of a solid fabric when I started this adventure, this print was not easy to ignore

Del Hi PomPom Sun, found at Fabric.com discounted and applied a coupon code for 25% off! Double Score!
I was also lucky enough to have a friend with a similar fabric from the same designer in her stash, which helped me through all the crazy doubts about the large print on a coat with a lot of smaller pieces. But today, I took the plunge. I ordered the fabric for the coat! Lining is still not decided upon. I might wait until I have the fabric in hand. But I am thinking something unexpected would be lovely. Baby blue? Bright spring green? Should be fun!