Crafting Body Appreciation

Despite the fact that I am writing this a mere two days after 9-inches of snow blanketed my house, it is starting to feel pretty spring-like here in Minnesota. The best part about spring is it starts to warm up enough that spending a few hours in my sewing room (aka an unheated space in the basement) no longer feels like a punishment. Huzzah!

Weather-wise, March is still kind of wintery here (see: 9-inches of snow) which means pants and long sleeves are still in regular rotation, but my thoughts are drifting towards warmer weather clothes like skirts and dresses, which tend to be my favorite things to sew. My immediate crafting plans definitely reflect that mix of needs and wants. I have 4 makes on my docket.

First and foremost, my plan this month is to figure out my serger. I got it at the end of November but have not tried to use it once. I am going to serge something this weekend. It might just be some scrap fabric to start with, but the ultimate plan is to use my serger to make this Lisa Cardigan from Seamwork (free pattern alert!) that I have already cut out in a magenta-colored wide ribbed sweater knit fabric that I picked up from a thrift store.

Second, and still in the cool weather side of things, I am going to make a pair of pants with a zipper fly (please read this with as much fear and trepidation as I feel, which is a lot). I actually cutout pair of Largo Cargos from Love Notions back in November. These pants have a high waist, and the pattern comes with a full belly adjustment option included which I am taking advantage of. I cut this pattern out of another thrifted fabric find, a corduroy in a green-ish/gray-ish/brown-ish color. I am choosing to leave off the side cargo pocket and loop in this pair.

Third, I have printed but not cut the pattern for a long Allegro Skirt, also from Love Notions (those $5 Friday patterns are hard to pass up!). My plan is to make this skirt in a coral linen fabric, also thrifted. I haven’t measured the fabric, but I think there will be enough, perhaps with some pattern-piece Jenga.

My fourth and final spring project is knitting a pair of socks. Funny story, my whole goal with learning to knit was to make socks. Early on I took a sock knitting class and made what I refer to as a hobbit sock. Essentially, I knit a cuff went right into turning the heel, and immediately decreased for the toe. It was short and wide and, I think, perfectly proportioned for a hobbit foot. Also, I only made one. So, perfectly proportioned for a one-footed hobbit. But I never actually made a pair of socks I could wear on my feet. But the time is now!

I checked out The Sock Project by Summer Lee from my local library. I am making her Basic Sock No. 1 pattern in a coordinating but not matching color block using yarn I have left over from a hat I made like a decade ago.

The other sewing related thing I have on the calendar for March is a sewing machine cleaning and maintenance class offered for free through a local community center. I am hoping this class will give me the confidence to do basic repairs and up-keep on my machine.

I would love to hear about your spring sewing or crafting plans – links and pictures appreciated!