Summer project planning (part one)

So here's part one of my list of crafty things I want to complete this summer. It's not an exhaustive list; I'll probably (read definitely) add to it in my head, and I know I'll never get half of it done, but oh well!

1. Purple Blouse

 The first thing is to finish the blouse I started sewing over Christmas. To be exact, my first blouse ever. Also the second piece of clothing I've ever made from scratch and third clothes sewing project ever. Clearly, I'm not one to mind being thrown in at the deep end. I'm making it an a relatively cheap poly satin, in a lovely light purple shade. The funny thing is, I can't for the life of me remember which view I was doing haha! It'll come back to me once I get it out again though.

So far, it hasn't been too difficult. As far as I remember, I've got all the darts done, side seams done, and one side of the button placket. I had surprisingly little trouble with it considering my complete lack of expertise, although the instructions were a tad confusing (cue an hour or so sat with my dad reading them over and fiddling with the pattern pieces only for that moment of realisation, "Oh-oh, that's what they meant! Well why didn't they just say so?"

I even made sure to finish the edges of the seams with a zigzag stitch, and to be honest, I'm quite proud of the way it's turning out. I did have a bit of an 'arghh' moment though- I was ill with a chest infection and really tired but still somehow thought it'd be a good idea to be sewing at about ten o'clock at night. Which inevitably meant I sewed back to front or upside-down or something equally stupid, and had to rip out the stitches. And then did the exact same thing again. And then because I was getting frustrated I somehow managed to get the thread stuck, the material sucked halfway into the machine, and I was pretty sure the only way out was to just cut it out and scrap it completely. I'm so so glad I didn't, because my dad managed to open up the sewing machine in the morning and fix it, and the blouse came out a bit wrinkled, but without even a mark!

 I was originally wanting to change the collar on this and make a scalloped one like the one here instead, but then I sort of slowed down and thought about it a bit. To be fair, it's already quite an ambitious second project, so I figured I'd just make it, as is. If I'm happy with the finished blouse, I guess my next project (or one of them) could be a scalloped collar version, no?


2. 40s/50s style jumper

I've just bought a load of yarn that I'm going to make into a jumper. I'm not exactly sure what pattern I'm going to use yet, or actually if I'm even going to use a pattern. I've never actually followed a knitting pattern as is, you see, and the only other jumper I've made was done completely without a pattern, just a bit of maths and my measurements. This one, however I end up deciding to do it, is going to be more along the lines of a vintage jumper than a modern shape, simply because I think it's going to be much more flattering on me. Also, I've been admiring all the other pretty jumpers I've seen over the internets lately. Basically, it'll be something like this sort of shape:

I feel as though I should do a fingering weight jumper, and maybe follow a vintage pattern, but I also want to finish something sometime soon so I don't think I'll succumb to that urge just yet :p

The yarn that I've chosen is nice grey colour, along with a couple of extra balls in white and purple (you can tell purple's my favourite colour, can't you?) in case I decide to do some kind of colour work- and I probably will!

 I did start a vintage pattern a while ago actually, but stupidly didn't buy enough yarn in the right colour :( I do have more in another colourway, though, so I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and alter the pattern to use that instead. It's a real shame- the original design is so cute! But oh well, that'll teach me to buy more than enough yarn in future...

 This post is becoming kinda big.. so I'm gonna spilt it here- there's so much I have planned and I suppose I should really get cracking! Stay tuned for more next time though, and in the meantime- what are your summer crafting plans? Anything special going on?