Good Feelings

Recognize this pattern? It's Vogue 8278...again. I thought it might be a good idea to continue the knit sewing trend..I like to make things more than once just to make sure it wasn't a fluke that it turned out the first time. Again, this pattern was super easy to make and if you can get your hands on a copy...make it!  As much as I loved making this pattern, I love this fabric even more. It is soooo soft!! I can't remember the content, I'm sure that it is some sort of poly but I couldn't care less. It just feels so good. 

I had enough of this fabric to make a longer sash this time but still not enough to have any choice with the pattern placement. I think it looks fine and I'm not sure having more fabric would have made it any better. I am pleased that the navy section of the fabric ended up closer to my face...it's just a better color on me and kind of makes it look like a yoke. Both good things.

Here I go again with my catwalk pics... much better than jumping, don't you think?

Here you can see the color palette up close. I have paired this with my navy cardigan on cooler days and can foresee wearing this dress a lot.

So there you have it...two knit projects. I am feeling pretty good about myself and want to continue to sew up some knits.

Plaid Cape

With the arrival of fall comes my craving for plaid, chunky scarves, boots and all things cozy. That being said, some fall days start out chilly then turn warm throughout the day, leaving me overdressed and peeling off layers. This cape is the perfect weight for some warmth and then folds up neatly to fit in my purse if I have to take it off.

Have any of you jumped on the cape bandwagon? I have bought a total of three patterns for them this season and then went ahead and made this one without using any of them. The pattern for this is a rectangle folded in half with a zipper inserted into one side. The dimensions for those of you interested.... 70 cm by 140 cm rectangle. I love how the neckline folds into a side cowl when I put it on. I noticed later in these pictures that one side was longer that the other and immediately fixed it. The first is always a bit of trial and error I guess. The next three...yes I made three... were perfect.

I have been following Gillian of Crafting a Rainbow's Project for Better Pictures...so Gillian, these pictures are for you. This is my lame attempt at capturing  movement. A cape doesn't twirl very well so I resorted to jumping. Jumping with long hair doesn't make pretty pictures but could I get extra points for 1... doing it in four inch heels without landing on my face and 2...doing so in front of strangers....can you see those people walking in the background? You can see that they are stepping off the sidewalk to avoid me and my picture taking antics. People are just nice like that here...lol.

So...this will not be the last cape you see from me... I'm kinda obsessed right now.



Update: So...I have published this already but felt compelled to come back and update it by sharing the conversation I just had with Husband...

Husband: "Did you get a post up?"

Me: "Yes"

Husband: "What did you call it?"

Me: "Plaid Cape. Kinda boring huh?"

Husband: "Yeah...you should have called it 'The Poncho Of Destiny'."

????

 Should Husband name all my posts? Hmmm...

Nameless Knit

I have said it many times...I'm not a fan of sewing knits...especially the slippery, slinky wants to run away from you kind. But my past, more optimistic, "It's a New Year, let's throw caution to the wind and make all the promises" self thought it would be a good idea to write a reflective post and in that same post include some sewing goals for the upcoming year. Among those goals was one to sew more knits. Did anyone else make these kinds of promises? Are you keeping them? If you wrote a similar post too, go have a look at what you wrote...or don't...I wish I hadn't. I am way behind on that list...way behind.

Back to knits...wearing them is AWESOME. So comfy. Some genius coined the phrase..."secret pajamas"...and it is so true! I have sewn with a stable knit ponte and thought it was time to try another knit, the sweater knit. It wasn't as bad as I thought but it probably helped that I choose a very simple pattern, V8278. 

This pattern is now out of print but I'm sure that there are others available like it. I cut out both front and back on the fold, eliminating the CB seam. This left four seams to be sewn and the hemming, which was made simple with my coverstitch. Easy peasy.

With barely a meter of this fabric, I wasn't left with much to make the tie but worked it out. I may have stretched out the neckline as I hemmed it but it is still fine. Any tips to avoid stretching it?

I think this dress is perfect for fall, especially when the days are still warm. I don't feel as though I am dressed for summer but I'm not sweltering in the heat either. It can be tough during the fall to balance seasonally appropriate with weather appropriate. 

To say that I love how this dress turned out is an understatement....I think it looks great, it feels nice on and it wasn't a big deal to make... so what took me so long???

Can we talk about this print for a moment? It has a kind of chevron stripe to it, with a hint of a floral in some areas. I love it...but it is very hard to describe...does anyone have a name for it?