Rediscovering knitting

Ok, I'm not really rediscovering knitting.  I never forgot it or stopped or anything.  I've just been doing it more and enjoying it more over the past week than I have in a while.  I'm sure my recent sewing troubles are the big cause of this.

Here is a baby sweater I cranked out in a week for a baby shower today.  It's a gift for my expecting cousin, but I couldn't resist trying it on my littlest man for photos.  I can't believe he's already 5 months old and sitting up so well!

My other son saw I was trying to entertain Baby with a toy, so he tried to help out.  Awwwwww, he's the best big brother!
The pattern is Aran Pullover from Vogue Knitting's Baby Knits Two.  I'm seeing now that I spent almost 50% more for this book than it's listed for at Amazon.  Oh well, I was supporting my LYS, right?

After finishing the baby sweater just under the wire (knitting until 9 last night and finishing up until 10:30 and blocking overnight), I want to relax with something pleasant and pretty.  Enter Frost Flowers Jacket from Feminine Knits.
I decided to start on one of the front pieces instead of the back so I could see the lace.  Here it is one repeat in... me likey.
Also still on the needles is this cardigan, which is really close to being complete.  Just a few more rows and then a bit of ribbing.  If I can tear myself away from the new lace and the boys cooperate, I'll bet I can finish it during the Eagles game tomorrow.  I think once I finish this, I'll hopefully get a little sewing bug back since I have a divine dark marly brown knit to make a cozy turtleneck for under this.
Hope everyone is having a spectacular weekend!

Disheartened

I've been a bit disheartened by sewing over the past week.  

Remember this cozy and shell I just made?  Well, I made a BIG rookie mistake.  Didn't prewash.  It wasn't even a conscious "well I didn't pre-wash this, but I'll take my chances.  For some reason, I had it in my head that I had pre-washed while knowing fully well that I had not.  So after one trip in the washing machine on cold, hand-wash cycle and air drying, both pieces are unwearable.  :-(  This is no fault of the fabric.  It still looks very nice after the washing.  It just shrunk sooooo much that it would be frighteningly midriff-bearing.

Did I mention in my previous post that I spent quite a few evenings hand stitching the hem the whole way around my cozy?  

Did I mention how beautiful the fabric is and how excited I was about this project?

I just haven't had the drive to sew anything this past week.

I've been working on two things that will be ready to show soon:  knitting a baby sweater for a shower this weekend and using my mom's embroidery machine on a RTW top for my older son.  I also want to show the quilt my mom made for my baby that's almost ready.

If you're still reading, I'm hoping that getting this out of my system and typing it all out motivates me to get moving again!

Simplicity 2603

They're not super pictures, but would you expect anything else from me?  It's just easier to get pics taken in the evening than in the morning.  

This is a twinset from the popular Simplicity 2603 cozy pattern.  Since there are 27 reviews of this pattern on Pattern Review, I didn't add my 2 cents.

Here is view E, the sleeveless shell I posted a bit about previously.  

The cozy is view A, the longest one with long sleeves.  My only change was to make the sleeves about 2 inches longer for my long arms, and when I'm making long sleeved tops, I like them really long to compensate (in my head anyway) for all my purchased too-short sleeves.
The fabric is from Sawyer Brook.  It's a heavenly soft brushed rayon jersey in heathered dark, dark green.
Next time I wear this, I'll see if I can get better pics outside.