Sewing wool, but thinking of summer

I fired up the sewing machine this weekend and did some work on the Burda jacket (view B). First I had to remove the variety of non-sewing things that somehow found their way to the surface of my sewing cabinet. Then I had to remember what thread I was using and where the bobbin had disappeared to (sitting on a spindle of my serger, of all places). And finally I was back in business. I sewed the shoulder seams, pocket flaps, pocket bags, and the peplum. Doesn't sound like much but it's better than nothing. The fabric is driving me nuts though. It's 100% wool but loosely woven so it wants to unravel into nothingness. The jacket will be lined but I still want to finish the seam allowances so I'm serging them. I don't know if it's the right way to do it, but I'm serging them after they're sewn and this has resulted in a bit of a wrestling match between fabric and serger and some wonky, uneven allowances. Thank goodness they'll be hidden behind the lining. If I serged the pieces before I sewed them I'm afraid I would lose the edge from which to gauge the seam line. I can't mark chalk lines on this fabric at all, so I've had to use tailor tacks for all my marks - no way will I tailor tack all the seam lines. This was $2.95/yard fabric, not $29.95/yard. But I do like the way the jacket is coming out. I think it will actually fit.

But sewing wool is not quite what I'd like to do right now. I would rather be working on some spring and summer outfits, especially something with fewer pieces and easier to construct. But if I put the jacket away I fear that I won't get back to it. And when I finally finish, I"ll have a jacket ready for fall. Of 2007.

On the knitting front, I finished the doll skirt and doll hat and I must say that the doll outfit is cuter than the toddler sweater. I meant to take a final picture this weekend but didn't - I will before they're wrapped up and shipped to my nieces.

I'm progressing slowly on Bonita. The yarn is 100% cotton and is quite "splitty" so between the yarn and the lace pattern, it's taking me a while. But that's fine. If the end goal was to just have a sweater, I'd go shopping.