My sewing progress

Do you remember the checked dress I started a couple of months ago? I did the collar, which was quite messy, then I realized the size was way too big (my body does not quite fit into size standards). I decided to cut all the back, sew it tighter and redo the collar ... I guess it was such a pain that I got distracted and did not work on it any more.

Anyway, here it is in its current state:



The skirt is missing, as well as the cuffs and the buttons.



The dress has to wait - after all, this is spring wear and will be of no use in winter (come to think of it, being such a lazy sewer, I should better start earlier hehe). Yesterday I picked up a pre-blog sewing UFO that is about one year old at this point.





This jacket is from Easy Fashion autumn/ winter 05/06. The funny thing hanging down the left arm is a sleeve not yet sewn on.
As I am not too happy with some of the details, I will turn it into an outdoor jacket and already bought some teddy plush for the lining (uh oh, is that the correct English expression? the furry stuff teddy bears are made of?).

In knitting, I don't have so much fun at this point. I got some new yarn today, which is gorgeous, and I have a stash of some great stuff just waiting for me - and I can't decide what to start. Nothing is too appealing right now. So I decided to go with something that will be quick.



I love the color!

The pattern is from Verena autumn 2004:



You can't see much of the sweater in this pic, right? Well, I don't know what the front looks like, I thought I'd try it anyway =).

Have a nice weekend!

Yes, I know ...

... it has been quite a while since my last update. I have been busy studying and working and I got some kind of flu - so I am staying at home and in bed right now.

But look what I got!



A Jordana Paige purse! Yay!



I had birthday on November 10th, but since I don't like birthdays - only my birthdays, I like spoiling other people on their birthdays! - I did not tell anybody. Hehe. I got the purse from my bf, he knew, of course. I will also get some Elizabeth Zimmermann and Barbara Walker books from my mum. I also indulged myself and got some Noro Blossom, Rowan Felted tweed in a dark green color - really expensive, that stuff! But it feels like luxury. I will start the Cambridge Woman vest from Rowan, but only after I finish some of my Christmas knitting.

What's more, I ordered a lot of fabric because I feel like the sewing bug has bitten me. I'll show you what I am planning and my progress as soon as I am well again.

I finished this baby a couple of days ago:





Naturally, I can't wear it like this to work, I might get a tight fitting turtleneck shirt to wear beneath it (pretty much like the model wearing the original does).

The pattern is taken from this magazine (third picture from the left):




Project specs:

Pattern: Pullover 2 from Rebecca Update #1
Size: S
Yarn: GGH Savanna (43% alpaca, 23% linen, 19% new wool, 15% nylon)
Color: 016 blue
Washing instructions: hand wash cold
Needle Size: 4.5 and 5.5 mm addi circs
Amount of yarn: 10 balls
Yarn called for: yes!
Mods: None. No, really!
What I like about it: Cool sweater.
What I don't like: The yarn sheds fibres ... not too bad, but we all know that I can't stand that. It is not really scratchy, though. You have to be really careful which kind of pants and shirt to wear with it, because the bulky yarn and length are not exactly flattering.

The Tree Jacket

I finished my Tree Jacket a couple of days ago. It turned out great, but a little frogging was required, because the sleeves came out waaaay to big the first time. I did not like that look and aside from that I did not have enough yarn for baggy sleeves.







Project specs:

Pattern: The Tree Jacket from zephyrstyle.com
Size: S
Yarn: Merino Classic from Junghans
Color: 216713 gray
Washing instructions: machine wash cold (30°C)

Needle Size: 5 mm addi circs
Amount of yarn: 600g (just a little strand left)
Yarn called for: no
Mods: More decreases for the sleeves (decreased 10 extra stitches at the underarm - one stitch at each side every other row), collar in garter stitch instead of lace pattern. Made the collar shorter (about 5"), too. Oh, and I changed the lace pattern as well - my lace panels are done using YO, ssk, k2tog, YO.
What I like about it: Feels very soft, good fit.
What I don't like: If I knew that I would end up with too many sleeve stitches in the first place, I would have skipped those increases at the yoke. Other knitters seem to have similar problems with the sleeves.

Right now I am working on my Rebecca Sweater from Rebecca Update #1 using Savanna. I did a little bit of Christmas knitting - hats for my grandparents. Gloves (yawn!) for my brother are still to come.

Have a nice weekend!