Louisa from French Girl Knits

I made this little sweater while on vacation in PA last month.  The pattern, Louisa from French Girl Knits, is actually for a tunic, but I only got two big skeins of this lovely hand dyed yarn, so it's just a little top for me. 

My yarn and gauge was totally different from the model, so I calculated my stitches as best I could, changing my counts a bit to account for the lace pattern. I do wish it was a hair bigger (especially the sleeves) and longer, but I have worn it three times already, so the fit is definitely not keeping me from wearing it.

This was amazingly quick to knit, and I would love to make another in the tunic length and gauge suggested. 

 I just wove a little navy ribbon through the neckline that I found in my mom's stash.  I keep meaning to look for a little velvet ribbon or something a bit more fancy when I go out, but I haven't remembered yet.

The yarn is Madeline Tosh DK in cobalt, 100% superwash merino.  I find the lacey pattern makes it quite comfy in the AC even in the Florida summer. 

Butterick 5285

Here is my first Butterick 5285.  I don't think it will be my last.  This is the swishy, but unbulky skirt I've been looking for!  I like the recent trend to full skirts, but a gathered skirt just isn't my best look.  I'm a bit thick through the middle after two kids, and I like my tummy as streamlined as possible. 

I also like how the large pleats let you use a large panel of fabric, which is perfect for a large print like this.

The fabric is a linen from Sawyer Brook, but it's sold out now.

Showing you the waistband - it's just a narrow, straight band.

The pattern called for a big hook/bar closure at the waistband, but I couldn't find one and was impatient, as usual, so I popped on a nice button.  I LOVE how the pleats cover up the zipper area and match the front.

Did I mention I got a pretty serious hair chop? 

Linen Print Skirt

I don't have modelled photos yet since I just hemmed this baby about 15 minutes ago, but I'm super excited to have finished this skirt (the last for a while, I promise).  Butterick 5285 was great for this huge print since I didn't have to break it up with different pieces, but it's not bulky and gathered at the waist.

Still here

I went on a glorious 3 1/2 week vacation to see my parents and sisters and their families.  It was great, but now back to reality (and potty training).  I actually did a bunch of sewing and knitting over the past month, some photographed, but most not (and now given away to nieces), so I have some catching up to do. 

Lame to Awesome (why I LOVE my embroidery machine)

My new laundry sorter from WalMart

Lame:

Awesome: 

I was a little concerned how my machine would handle the thick canvas fabric with plastic coating, but it worked perfectly.  I just turned them inside out and hooped them.  No seam ripping/resewing required.

Madras Skirt - more photos

I found a couple more photos of my madras skirt on my other camera.  I think these came out a little better. 

I had a pair of madras shorts from J Crew quite a few years ago that I wore a lot.  They were pretty short and seemed to get tighter through the years :-)  so I got rid of them a year or two ago.  I think this skirt is a good mommy alternative, but now thinking about those shorts, I kind of want to get more fabric to try and make a pair.

 

I'm not sure what my next project will be.  I still have one more skirt to do for the Sawyer Brook sew along, but I may take a break and make some things for my nieces.

Butterick 5535 - Madras Skirt

Butterick 5535 is a pattern I've had in my stash for quite a while and just never got around to sewing.  I used it with a madras fabric for my 4th skirt for a Sawyer Brook sew along, and I think the fabric and pattern were a great fit.  My 3.5 foot photographer took these photos at the end of a long day wearing this skirt, and the only problem is that it didn't hold the pleat crease very well.  I may go back and stitch them in.

I love how the bias yoke on this skirt with the madras, and how the pleats make it kicky but still fitted around the hips.  I'll defintely be making this again.  Even if I omitted the pleats, this would be a grat A-line skirt.

 Here I wore it with a store-bought tee (red, white, and blue for Memorial Day!), but I envision wearing it with a white top through the summer.  I'll definitely be reaching for this one.