My summer sewing lists

Marji wrote a post last week about making lists for sewing.  I don't usually write my lists down, but I have lots floating around in my head.  Although I like the idea of planning to learn new techniques, my lists are always just the projects I want to make.  If I learn or try something new in the process, great, but I admit that's not one of my immediate goals.

I decided to organize my plans for the rest of my summer sewing, and boy, was it eye opening!  I do not need to buy any summer fabric for a while, and I have a good head-start on my fall sewing plans.  I highly doubt I'll finish all these plans - there are just too many ideas for 2-3 more months of summer.  We'll see.  I don't WANT to have a big stash of fabric waiting to be sewn up (it gives me much guilt)... my eyes are always bigger than my stomach, though... or, my plans are always bigger than my time to execute them.

First, my list of things to complete.  This only includes projects I am actively working on (within the past week or so), not the forgotten WIPs stashed near my sewing area, waiting to be loved again.

1.  Finish outfits for the boys.  I'd like to have this done before church Saturday night.  I need to do the waistband and hem on the shorts and put a few more snaps on the romper (ran out of snaps with about 4 to go).

2.  Floral silk charmeuse dress.  Just started this last night and want to finish in in June for a Capsule I'm doing at Stitcher's Guild.

3.  Cream-colored knit top, also to finish in June for the capsule.  The picture is of a stained top I purchased last summer and love.  I want to take this apart and use it as a pattern for my new top.

4.  White trench.  I'm still plugging away at this.  I next have to tack in the shoulder pads and set the lining sleeves into the lining.

5.  Haha, this is a dress I made last February (2008).  Admittedly, I haven't worked on this in the past week, but all it needs is a hem, and I really am excited to wear it now that I'm not preggers anymore.

List of garments I WANT to make this summer, in the order I want to make them (subject to change... a lot).

1.  Simple bold-print cotton sundress, with buttons on the center of the bodice for breastfeeding

2-3.  Knit tops.  The yellow is for my TNT knit pattern, but I want to make the view with gathers in the center for the first time.  The blue will probably be some form of that dress pattern, but made in a top.

4.  Another knit top, probably the same pattern as the cream one - my cut apart RTW top.

5.  JAMMIES!  I've never made pajamas but am excited to make these in this yummy stretch silk charmeuse.  Have you seen how much silk PJs cost!?!

6.  Another knit top!  This is a textured cotton knit.  I want to use the dress pattern for the raglan sleeves, or maybe I'll use a BWOF pattern with raglan sleeves.

7.  Tropical wool cropped pants.  

8-9.  Linen/cotton pants in TNT pattern and knit top, probably in that same RTW top pattern.  What can I say?  I love that top!  
9.  Chiffon tunic.  Flowy and beachy.  I have a few recent BWOF patterns in mind for this.

10.  Linen pique dress.  I like the construction of this top and want to make it in a sleeveless dress.  I hear I might have some fitting issues, though, since I'm not really the Sandra Betzina sloper demographic.

11.  Black and white polka dot silk charmeuse for this Marfy top pattern.

12.  Simple top from this dress pattern in a really pretty shirting remnant.

13.  Green/yellow cross-dyed (I think that's the right term) linen dress, possibly with this lace I bought in Italy.  If I decide against the lace, I need a more interesting pattern.  :-)  Maybe this, but I'd have to buy it.
14.  Bright blue voile for a strapless Marfy dress pattern I can't find on the website.

15.  Chanel-style jacket to go with this skirt.

Whew!  Yeah, that's a lot.  Like I said, I doubt it will all get done.  I also ordered a few more summer fabrics before I made this list and vowed not to buy any more.  Sewing will be from the stash for a while...

Some upcoming projects

I've never made a quilt (and never had much desire to), but I thought I could make one for my little man, since he'll soon be moving to a new room (so the baby can move into his old crib-turned-toddler bed).  Here are the fabric I picked up on my last visit to my parents in the U.S.

If I'm going to get that quilt going, though, I need to stop starting new clothes for myself!  Stuff like this, which I cut out yesterday (Vogue 1100):

The fabric is silk charmeuse and still in stock at Gorgeous Fabrics.

I also have this fun cotton print from Sawyer Brook.  I bought it originally for some fun shorts, but it's a bit too lightweight, so I want to make a casual sundress I can wear at home or to do errands or whatever.  I need to come up with a design that is breast feeding-friendly, though.

Knockoff cardigan

I really haven't sewn in the past few days, since I finished the cotton skirt.  The sleep deprivation is getting to me.  :-)  

I do have a little something to show, although it's not really new.  Here's the final photo of the "sweater" I first mentioned here.  I'm really happy with how this turned out.  The only thing I may go back and change is to make the sleeves a little shorter and snugger on my arms.  They look a bit dowdy in this photo.   Any thoughts?

I just have to put the zipper in the side of this top so I can show that and review the pattern.  Every morning, I think I'll get it done that day, but it just doesn't happen.  :-)

I also have a purchased knit top that I love that has a stain, so I'm going to cut that apart and try to copy it.  That is, if I can find it... Not sure where I put it.  I probably put it in a special place so I wouldn't lose it...

Easy peasy skirt

Here is a quick pic of the new skirt I made.  It's about as simple A-line as you can get.  I like it.  I made the top a few months ago.  After seeing the outfit together, I'm going to shorten the hem on the top by about 3 inches.  I think this will make a more flattering look.  Right now, that horizontal line cuts right at the widest part of my hips.

Some sewing updates

Thanks so much for all the congratulations and well wishes.  I didn't know that many people actually read this.  :-)  Mark is such a joy.  I love having a baby around and know it will pass all too quickly.

I have a few updates on current projects.  Here is the white trench I've been slowly plugging away at.  This is the back yoke.  You can see that the point doesn't line right up with the center back seam.  In the instructions, they look like they should match, but the pattern piece for the yoke is not symmetrical, so I'm a bit confused...

Here's a look at the collar and neck details.  I think the tab is an interesting detail.  I like the epaulets, too.  There are a lot of steps to this jacket, but it's coming together quicker than I thought it would.  I just try to work on it for a half hour or hour each day (although I just started that back up the past few days).  
Here's the self-drafted, ruffled cardigan.  It's actually done, but I'm going to sew on some hooks and eyes so I can close it if I want.  When I get that done, I'll post a modeled pic.  I need to get out all the stuff I made while I was pregnant and couldn't model and do a photo shoot.  :-)
And a gratuitous cute shot.  One of our little neighbors (3 years) picked out the stuffed animal, and if I ever forget to sit it with the baby, my older son makes sure to put it in.

A Baby Boy

I'm still here (and still sewing a bit.  I also knit a lot of lace at the hospital).  Mark was born a week ago, May 31st.  7 pounds and 20 inches.  I'm so happy he's out and healthy.  He's such a joy - hardly cries and a great sleeper, as far as newborns go.  I really am getting more sleep now than a was that last week or two before he came.  :-)

Here's a picture taken two days ago - 5 days old.