Early Easter Dress

I decided to make this dress for Easter, and it's done early for once!  The pattern is New Look 6571.

You can see from this back view that there are wrinkles caused by my belly pulling everything forward in combination with my arched back.  I'm not concerned because A: this isn't a maternity pattern and B: I plan to wear this dress after the baby comes, too.
Here's the side view.  I just made a simple belt to enhance the wrap look.  Pattern review is here if you're interested.

White cropped pants that I can't wear!!

Woohoo!!  Gotta love an opening with a butt shot.  Actually, I'm sparing you from a front view of my unbuttoned, unzipped pants.  Here's the front:And here's the fly opening:And the inside with lining:

There's not much to say about these pants.  I really love how they turned out.  The fabric is cotton/spandex from Sawyer Brook Distinctive Fabrics.  After washing and ironing, the look is still pretty wrinkly, which I think adds some character to these basic pants. 

Modifications:

I made view B and omitted the piping.  Obviously, I cropped the length and removed the flare below the knees.  I also used wider, single belt carriers instead of the doubled ones in the pattern.  I topstitched around the waistband, also.  If you're interested, you can see the pattern review here.

And isn't this the handsomest little man!  He's always had a fascination with the camera, but he recently decided it's more than just a cool gadget with lots of buttons.  Mommy can take his picture and he can check himself out!  Gotta love that Saturday morning hair.

Sewing swimwear?

Lately, I've been obsessing about sewing a swimsuit.  Now, in March in Germany, while 6 months pregnant, I have absolutely no need for swimwear, but I'm dreaming about it just the same.  While I have countless bikinis, I only have one one-piece, and I definitely won't be wanting to wear those bikinis to take my little man to the pool after popping out a kid in June.  I am refusing to buy any supplies right now, though.  I have been buying quite a lot of fabric recently, after several months of buying nothing.  I need to sew down some of this excess.  

I'm thinking a bandeau tank or tankini with lots of boning and support for the girls.  I'd also make a strap in case it just wouldn't stay up.  I really like this one from J Crew.  (J Crew pics are linked)

... maybe it reminds me of my wedding dress.  What do you think?

By the way, that's my awesome mom, who made my awesome dream dress!

I also really love this one, but I think that draped top would be difficult to do without a pattern (and so far, I haven't found one too similar - just twist tops).  I can't visualize what the pattern piece would look like.  I can see there's a center seam between the bust, but I'm not sure...

I think I would convert either one into a long tankini, too.  I think it would be easier to fit without worrying so much about the length and pulling the top part down.  Also, I could make it a little swingier to camo the belly more.

Finally, something knitted to show!

I thought it was about time to show something.  My parents were just visiting for a week and a half, so nothing really new to show, but I did block the lace scarf I finished last month.  I started this in August 08.  It's my first lace project, and, as stated in an earlier post, I'm hooked!

Here's a belly shot.  Only three more months until the little alien, ahem, I mean angel, emerges.
I thought my kitty might want to model for me!  Not so much.  Apparently this was a bit too girly for him.  The color in this photo is really close to life.

Here's a close-up of the edging.  I think this was a good first lace scarf choice.  The needles were small, but the pattern was simple.  I do see a few mistakes now that it's blocked, but that just adds to the handmade loveability.  
I hope to have a bunch more finished things to show this month.  I have designated March my finishing UFOs month, both knitting and sewing.  

WARNING:  Stop here if you don't want to hear a boring list of projects in the works!!

Here they are, in no particular order:

Sewing -

1.  Easter dress.  I actually just started this in late February, and yes, it does fit over my belly.  I just have to make the ties.

2.  khaki jacket for SWAP.  Ran into a bit of trouble with the bound button holes, but now it just needs the lining.

3.  Winter coat for Great Coat Sew Along.  Oh, my old nemesis.  Why can't I just put on the pocket flaps and hem the lining and be done with it!?!?!?!

4.  Polka dot dress hem.  This is silly.  I've had it for a year just waiting for a hem.  Of course, it won't fit right now.

5. Leather purse.  I got the buckles, so there's nothing holding me back now.

6.  Put lining in white cropped pants and tailor pant legs a bit.

7.  Try to salvage the blue knit twist top.  I actually could wear this now if spring would come!

Knitting:

1.  Photograph vest for my man.  I blocked it yesterday.  This was over a year in the making.

2.  Weave in ends and block new sweater for me.  This actually involves a bit of crochet and another run for buttons, so this may be a stumbling block.

I MUST finish these things before starting anything new.  The UFO pileup is ridiculous.  I think it's because a lot of this stuff I can't wear/use right now, so the sense of urgency and excitement is lost a bit.  As I said before, though, I have little desire to sew maternity things, and I do have sewing mojo to spare!

After these things are finished (well, I told myself I had to finish (or give up and throw away) all but one - I think I was leaving myself an out for that coat - I have some things to make that aren't dependent on fitting me.  They are:

1.  pillow covers for the living room.  The white sofas and chairs and walls need a serious pick-me-up for spring.  I already have the Amy Butler fabric.

2.  patio tablecloth and chair cushions (if fabric permits).  I'm going to use toile and striped canvas I got a few years ago to make bags, but my big plan didn't pan out.  Frankly, the bags were just too much work!

3.  Outfits for the new baby and the little man I already have running around.  Yes, I am the kind of mother who will make her children wear matching outfits until they are old enough to be embarrassed.  

4.  silk blouse/tank top.  Ooooooh, in my mind, this is going to be so beautiful, and it's not really form-fitting, so I think I can swing it.

5.  vintage linen shirt.  Again, not really form-fitting.  I want to be able to wear it soon after the baby comes.

So those are my big plans.  Just have to keep up the mojo during March, and then, look out, world.

Where to next?

I finished the white cropped pants for my SWAP last night (hem and all), but despite being made from an opaque cotton, they have mega pocket show-thru, so I'm going to line them.  Don't have white lining, though, so I'm setting them aside.  The other option I'm kind of considering is just sewing shut and cutting off the pockets...  I don't generally like to do this (not because I use my pockets that much, but because I think it's kind of cheesy or cheating), but I am thinking about it.

So tonight, I was going to cut out my jacket for the swap.  I've seen two made versions of it (from BWOF Jan 09) and am excited to get it going.  BUT, I'm also thinking of making the handbag from BWOF Feb 09 (sorry, can't find a picture on the site) for the PR handbag contest.  I have a bunch of yellow ostrich leather, and I think the safari-style stuff is perfect for it.  Just have to see if I have enough.  I guess I'll see which I feel more like playing with tonight- the jacket or the bag.

Two more pieces for SWAP

Yay!  My skirt and top are finished, and I love them!  Both are for the SWAP contest. 

The skirt is BWOF Jan 09 #128, the exclusive design.  I love love love this skirt.  I can see making this one again in the future - in simple khaki or a cozy wool for winter.

The shirt is McCall's 5138 view B.  I wasn't sure about the sleeves on this top and was thinking of de-puffing them, but I've gotten some nice feedback on the SWAP thread, so I think I'll leave them as they are.

Here is the top with a short sleeved-sweater over top.  I think this is cute for spring.  Oh, but wait, in spring I'll be enormous!  Don't you love how I have the style of a 60-year old?

Here are front and back pics of the blouse untucked.  You can see it is pulling a smidge over the baby bump.  :-)

Ooooh, and here are my first button holes ever.  I can't tell you how many practices I did before going on the blouse.  I think they came out pretty well for my first ones ever!  I can't believe I've never made button holes before.  For one, most things I've made in the past are skirts and dresses, which generally require zippers.  The few things I've made that did need button holes, I was not ashamed to ask my mom to do them for me on her super shnazzy machine.  :-)  
Here are some more shots of my skirt.  This is the top detail with the buttons.  I went back and forth lots of times on which buttons to get at a local independent fabric store here.  White looked a little too mod, so I'm happy with these blue ones.
This is the back kick pleat area.  You can see the top stitching on the center pieces a bit.
Here's the lining in the pleat.
Here is my beautious invisible zipper.  I hadn't sewn in one of these in a loooong time, but it went right in.  I kind of think invisible zippers are easier to sew in than regular ones.  Don't know why that is.
and here is the lining shot.  I'm always so proud of my lining.  Not sure why...

Third FO for the SWAP

Here is my third finished object, my second knit top, modeled with the eyelet skirt.  The pattern is Butterick 4789.  This top definitely makes the skirt more casual.  I could wear this to play group or the park (provided I'm not going down any dirty slides).  

A few comments on this top.  I really like the front twist detail.  However... not so crazy about the wings coming off my shoulders.  I think I'll modify those hems a bit to keep them on the edge of my shoulders.  I also don't know how I feel about the center back seam and back darts.  Seems kind of silly on a knit top.  And I'm not totally crazy about the back V.  I don't think it's the most flattering on me.  If I made this again, I might try a regular knit top back pattern.  I'd also use a more fluid jersey knit, I think.  I like the beefier cotton knit I used, but I think a thinner jersey wouldn't produce the "wings" and might lay easier over the tummy area under the twist.  If I could find a nice silk jersey, I'd make the dress version in a heartbeat.  One other thing I may do - tack down some areas around the twist front.  Otherwise, I think I'll be adjusting a lot.  :-)  I also need to give that hem a good steaming in the back so it lays flatter.

Despite all those little tweaks I think I'll do, I am really happy with this top, and I do think I'll wear it a lot in the summer.  I even may wear it while I'm still pregnant in the spring.  The bottom front is pretty roomy.