SEWmuchKNITting

We are in the midst of The Wedding Year at our house, with 3 weddings in 9 months! I wanted a new dress for our son's and his bride-to-be's wedding shower last weekend, so I picked McCall's 5974 out of my pattern stash. This pattern has SO many rave reviews on PatternReview , and I don't know why I haven't made it before!  I chose to sew up View C, which is the same as View D: just has 3/4 sleeves. This looks so much like the iconic Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress! I went stash-diving for the ITY knit jersey fabric that I knew I had: Some of the notes I made with this project:                                      -1 " FBA, added 1" at waist & hip             - no zipper needed                                       ...

Yesterday was the wedding shower for my son and soon-to-be daughter, and I made up a few decorations.....thanks to inspiration from Pinterest! I found this lace in my stash cupboard, most likely from one of my girls' First Communion dresses. Using it to wrap the wire frame, I then hot glued the flowers on in the colors the kids chose for their wedding: champagne, blush pink and latte. The little chalkboard served to identify just who would be sitting next to Kenny....the Bride-to-Be! I also have this 'thing' for letters. I had made some black ones last year for my daughter's wedding shower, so this time I painted the letters C & K in gold metallic paint, with a little glitter for bling. They added a cute touch to the table in the foyer which featured pictures of the kids...a gift from one of the shower guests. The Bride-to-Be's aunt is a professional chef...lucky for us! The food was to die for, especially this sweets table....

Last night at my monthly knitting group, I was able to finish up my  Quilted Lattice Ascot  by designer Pam Powers. I knit this using Jasper yarn from Berroco, which I have plenty of in my stash. The three buttons came from my button collection.  This pattern calls for two strips of snap tape to be sewn under the lattice square for closure, but I found it easier just to sew the scarf closed, and just pull it on over my head. The buttons are sewn down, and while they function to close the top of the scarf, I find they are more ornamental. And that is what I like about Pam Power's designs: her use of buttons and other closures make it feel like you are wearing jewelry!  Quick pic to show the neck-hugging style of the ascot.....it looks and feels great under my down coat: a necessity this winter in Michigan of day after day of subzero temperatures.

The clothes I sew for myself are often made to wear to work, and I've noticed that my more casual wardrobe has needed some updating. Wearing tunics/longer tops with leggings is so comfortable, but I don't have too many choices in my closet. Enter Kwik Sew 4083 :  I pulled a double sided brushed cotton plaid from my stash (?JoAnn's red tag table?)  to use for a test garment, as I haven't sewn many Kwik Sew patterns. It has the large plaid on one side, and a small check on the other: (pinning stage)  Looking at the measurements, I cut a size XL....way too big. I like the fabric, but I'm not sure using it for this top does my figure any favors...even after taking it in, and taking it in some more, I did wear it over the weekend. I still have plans to take out some of the extra at the front princess seams, and that will make it wearable weekend wear. I think I erred on the side of caution as I have been sewing mostly with knits, and was worried ab...

My first finish in 2015 was McCall's 6996 , a longer, drapey cardigan made with a thin ribbed sweater knit that has a subdued "sparkle" to it.  I went right to the serger for construction, as this is a very forgiving knit and I didn't anticipate any fit issues. Speaking of construction, a few things of note: I serged in a light weight woven fusible strip at the shoulder seams to support the seams. I also decided to finish the raw edges with the serger, after spraying the edges with spray starch and pressing. That seemed to stabilize the edge a bit before serging. I didn't want to weigh down the drape with a hem of any kind, and that has seemed to work, tho I may go back and add a small turned-in & stitched hem at the sleeve edge.  I find I like wearing the skinnier pant silhouette, along with leggings on occasion, but only with a top that has a longer length and plenty of drape for balance.  McCalls 6996 is a quick and easy pattern ...

 

This year I made it a priority to participate in Sunset Family Living's   2014 NICU Challenge  Hopefully, 15 wee ones born at NorthShore Health Systems in Evanston, IL will have have warm little noggins this year!  Thanks to my knit & crochet buddy, Edyee, who also accepted the Challenge made her own stack of little baby hats, and to my dear daughter Kristen. As an RN in Labor & Delivery at NorthShore, She works very hard to see that the babies and their families have the most positive birth experiences possible.