Challenge / Goal

Compelling personal projects notwithstanding, I'm officially on knitting hiatus. Not cuz I'm sick of it (strangely), but because my hands/wrists/arms/shoulders/neck need a rest. It's ok. I've largely finished the holiday gifts on my list. And baking awaits, donchaknow.

Having said this, the urge to sew gets a little stronger every day. How I miss the solitude of my sewga room, the hum of my machines.

Now's a good time to remind us all that I don't need anything. My desire to sew something is based entirely on my enjoyment of the craft and pretty new things. My intention is to make the next garment construction a stash-busting exercise, but I'm finding my fabrics on hand to be somewhat at odds with the patterns I'd like to sew (they being quick wins as we like to say in my industry). Hmmm...

The fabrics that call to me - either because of yardage or loveliness (or both) - are:

• This amazing Versace that Mardel gave me. Everytime I look at it, I like it more.
• The remainder of this orange 4-way stretch jersey.
• A bizarre, on balance, crappy beige 4-way stretch fabric that has a strange, vaguely fleece-like quality (only the "good side" is the fluffy side and the nap is more rich-seeming than that of a sweatshirt). This is one of the first fabrics I ever bought, and I still haven't figured out what to make with it.
• The top (slate) fabric, with beautiful drape, pictured here.

The patterns that appeal to me - either because they're "simple" or practical - are:

• Knit top V8323
• Knit, cowl dress V8413
• Next go 'round of the Clover pants
• This Hot Pattern skirt that threw me for a loop (re: waist facing) 2 yrs ago. It's the only pattern I started and then put away. After making a muslin.
• I could also make the ubiquitous Kwik Sew yoga pants - lord knows, my current crop of lounge pants is regrettably sad. But this isn't exactly interesting work.
  

So, I put it out there for feedback. Do you have any suggestions?

For what it's worth, I have realized a few things over the past couple of days of sewing reconsideration:

• I really like sewing and wearing Colette and Sewaholic patterns. Too bad I can't make another Sencha or Pendrell. Alas, I have a glut of them - though I do wear them all the time.
  
• I'm so glad the Colette gift set is still available today. I bought the book (with 2 free patterns), recognizing that I need a) a new, staple skirt (the Ginger) and b) a good slip pattern (the Cinnamon). See, I really feel like making a slip this weekend, but I don't have a pattern on hand.
• I'm much happier with my cache of knitting patterns than sewing patterns. I really have to find "the angle" when it comes to most of my sewing patterns. I wonder why that is...
  

My Next Project

I've been waiting for the Sewaholic Pendrell Blouse sew along to begin - and the time is almost here!

Tasia, designer - and author of Sewaholic, the blog - is a fantastic example of how creative dreams can become a reality - a commercially viable one!

She is also a skilled tutorialist. Her Sewtionary is an excellent starting point for information many techniques.

You should consider joining the sew along - or ordering this lovely pattern and completing it on your own schedule. (It's a beginner/intermediate project.)

It's going to be interesting to see the fit in my preliminary muslin. I suspect an FBA will be in order, given that Tasia is designing, first and foremost, for a pear-shaped figure. (Alas, one never knows till the sewing begins.) I've had mixed success with FBAs - though I've never tried one on a princess-seamed top. It's the challenges that keep it interesting though, right?

And soon enough I'll have a Kristin-shaped dress form to drape and pin and check against!