I was archiving some pictures recently, and notice that the sewing bug tends to hit me around late spring/early summer. Not sure why I trend that way, but there it is…documented in photographs. Even the doll got in on the action this season. Scraps turned in to dresses and accessories for the Teen Trends doll I found at a thrift store a while back.
Knitting has slowed down, but not come to an absolute standstill. Larch is moving along fairly well, albeit a bit slower than I would like. I’m to a part that I have to pay attention to what I’m doing, so I tend to set it aside and start other projects, like a shawl collared cardigan for the doll (or Ursula the sock monkey) and last night a top-down hat got going. Not sure if it will end up a hat though – it just depends if my idea turns out as this one I’m just winging it, not working from a pattern. I call these my procrastination projects. Things I do to have something to knit when I’m avoiding the details on whatever I’m knitting at the moment.
I made myself a pair of Fiber Trends felted clogs recently. I’ve sure missed having a pair to wear. I just do not enjoy knitting them. Although, the revised version of the pattern seems to be 1) a bit easier to follow – still written out and confusing if you haven’t knit it before and aren’t careful though, and 2) a quicker knit. Could be it’s just a quicker knit because I’ve knit so many now that I know what to expect. Kind of like coming home from a trip – the way there seems to take a long time, but on the way back you’re familiar with all the landmarks. Which reminds me – am I the last person to find out that Bev Galeskas passed away the end of last year? What a clever lady she was.
So…back to the sewing trend. This skirt is the latest. I’ll be hopefully finishing a jacket for it today. This is Simplicity 2948 – It’s a pattern designed by Khahliah Ali. The skirt is nothing difficult – a front, a back and a waistband. The waistband is kind of extra tall – so it acts like a yoke too. Very easy to make. This would make a really nice sewing project for someone just getting in to sewing knits, as it works up true to the measurements on the pattern, and is really not all that much sewing. The instructions are pretty good – unusual for “The Big Three” (McCalls, Simplicity, Butterick) patterns IMHO. So, a stretch needle in the machine, and a skinny zig-zag stitch for the seams are the only special treatments – the rest is all just following the directions. The hem I just turned up, ironed, and top stitched with a longer than usual straight stitch. Came out great. Fits perfectly.
I originally bought this fabric to test out a different pattern. It was $2/yd at Wally World. I got the fabric home, pre-washed it and as i was folding it after getting it out of the dryer I FINALLY noticed that it was a KNIT! So, the whole testing out the other pattern idea flew out the window, and instead I dug this pattern out of my stash. I think it was one of my 99-cent purchases when I bought the pattern for the bird handbag.
So, I guess – not bad for a $5 skirt. The pattern has a tank top, dress and wide-leg pants with it. I doubt I’ll ever make the pants, but the top would be nice to wear under the jacket in the summertime.
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Okay I may just have to give that a try, I can not find skirts I like at all at the stores, if they have them in my size they are either to short or look like I should be at a renaissance fair. It couldn’t hurt to try! Of course I’ll have to find time to attempt it, that is the most difficult part.