Video: My Summer Sewing Plans

I posted this the other day and completely forgot to share here! If you want to creep my summer sewing plans, head over to my YouTube channel for the latest video, or you can click through the video below. What projects do you have planned for this summer? Let me know in the comments!

WIP Wednesday: Renewed Vigor

I honestly can't explain why, but I have a sudden desire to finish this dang sweater. A turning pint occurred after knitting the sleeve during church this Sunday. I had reached a point where I needed to decide on a sleeve length, so I pinned the sleeve I had made in place on my mannequin just to see how it looked, and guys... I'm smitten again. It looks so much cuter with a sleeve, seriously. I deliberated for a while about the sleeve length, and in the end I decided that I would like to make this one with full length long sleeves. I have several fingering weight sweaters at this point, but all of them are 3/4 length sleeves, which is fine, but since I don't have any in full length I thought it would be nice to go that route this time. I knitted to the point that I need to start the ribbing on that first sleeve and then set it aside to knit the second sleeve just so I can be sure I have enough yarn for both and can make them match (I think it should be fine, but just in case...).

I also needed to deal with the extra buttonhole I made but don't need. I thought that since I was extending the sweater that I may need a 6th buttonhole to accommodate for the added length. Wrong. You can see the hole in the first photo - way up there by my neck. I didn't know this until the whole thing was knitted and I had it sewn onto the sweater, so I was NOT about to undo all that work and remove that hole. I decided to just close it up instead, which I finally did on Sunday. It's not perfect, but I don't think anyone will notice unless I point it out, so that's fine by me. I even have my rayon petersham ribbon that I will back the button bands with, so this sweater is well within my reach to finish soon. Very exciting :)

Then on Sunday, I decided to get over my lack of sewing by jumping into a project I was excited about not long ago. My weight is still in flux and I'm down to the final 10 lbs I want to lose, so when I bought this fabric I wanted to save it in case I lost more weight in my stomach and made this too big for this hopeful future body size. The thing is ... I still haven't lost that weight. I've been at a plateau for months now, and I miss sewing clothes. So I decided to just cut this one out so I can wear it now knowing I can always take it in later on if I need to. This fabric is a cotton canvas from Joann's I grabbed on sale over the summer, so it's the perfect weight for a Hollyburn skirt. Sadly, Joann's decided to give me a 2 yard cut as a 1 yard cut when filling my 3 yard order :/ Which meant that I could not cut this out with everything on grain. I hate that fabric stores feel this is fine, but anyway. I got all the main skirt pieces totally on grain using the 2 yard piece and the waistband is cut on the cross grain on that same piece. The waistband will be interfaced anyway, s as long as it's not on the bias, I think it's fine. Plus this made it so that I could center the moon on the waistband in the correct direction so you can tell it's a moon, which is cool. After cutting it, I also dug out a zipper from my vast stash. I have a big handful of vintage zippers in this odd 70s golden color, which in no way goes with most of the colors I tend to sew up, but given that it was a perfect match for the moons on this fabric, it was the perfect opportunity to use one up. I always sew a lapped zipper for this pattern anyway, so it's a nice little secret pop of color. Because of Halloween and adult obligations like cleaning, I haven't sewn this together yet, but I hoe t this week.

I've also recently become obsessed with the idea of sewing myself a Sophie Dress by Ora Lin Patterns. Shannon Makes on YouTube recently made one in a lovely linen rayon blend and it introduced me to the pattern. Now I can't stop thinking about it. I have a lot of linen on hand that would be perfect except that I need t dye the fabric first, which I just can't muster up the time or devotion to try again after my failed attempt a few months ago. I will dye it soon, but that delays this project a bit. 

In the meantime, it got me thinking about other dress patterns I really want to make and one that has been ono my list for YEARS now is the New England Dress by Decades f Style. I've owned this pattern for years - it's been on my Make 9 list several times - yet I still have not made this up and it's a crime. Last night it occurred to me how cute this would look in some black linen I have on hand I can see it in my head - a simple black dress with a little something t make it not dreary or too dressy. I'm excited, so I think this will be happening soon.

SO after a bit of a slump in my sewing, I now have new found motivation and projects in mind :) Sometimes we just need a knitting break, amiright?