answers...

Sorry for the lackof pictures - when I wrote most of this post, my husband had taken my camera on a business trip. But I thought I should answer some assorted questions that have been raised in the comments, so here are answers without pictures:

Brenda wanted to know if I cut up my favourite sweaters to make the patterns for the sewn cardigans - no I didn't. Luckily, the shapes were all pretty simple and easy to trace out, so I still have my favourites intact. While on the topic of the cardigans, I've been tweaking the draped front one - the first copy I made (the while with the green and blue floral pattern), fit fine, but it was very stretchy, very lightweight fabric, so very forgiving. I then cut out and tried it in a grey heavier cotton/Lycra blend, and well, not so good. Still wearable, but better for someone with less broad shoulders than I have. Plus, I have a wide back, so the sleeves are pulling a bit to the back. I readjusted the pattern pieces, and tried it again in a green cotton knit fabric I found in the depths of the stash. MUCH better. The downside is that I sacrificed the beautiful grey that I REALLY wanted. Crap. Now, I'm going to have to find some more of it... And find someone who will fit into this grey sweater - maybe my niece...

The upside to this tweaking is that now I feel much more comfortable cutting into my pumpkin coloured ponte - that's the one I'm really looking forward to...

Brenda also had a question about my Red Green Sweater - did I make the original or modified sleeves. (the original is a much deeper armscye - almost a dolman-ish sleeve). I had wanted to make the modified (a more fitted style), but I think I screwed up on the armscye of the sweater body, and the actual sleeve depth is somewhere in between. The nice thing a bout the pattern is it gives you estimates of stitch counts and such, so it's easier to fudge things. Whatever, it worked out and I love the sweater. I think I'm keeping it. Sue wants a blue one, so she'll get the same sweater, only in blue.

Barbie O mentioned that I matched the embroidery detail on the sewn jacket sleeves to the body. I'm glad you noticed! I was always taught that it's the little things that make the difference between homemade and hand crafted.

CatBookMom mentioned that I could make her pajama pants anytime I wanted - here's the deal CBM - you come to Toronto to visit, and I'll make you a pair with cats all over!

Tracy wanted to know the Pattern number of the jacket - Simplicity 4025. It's really for a heavier fabric, and will be seen in the next incarnation of the jacket - a Kashmere (fabric name, not fibre content!) wool blend fabric - a stunning camel colour for a fall coat. I may sew down the lapels on this and add leather frogs as closures - we'll see...

I'm hoping to get some pictures of the yarn and charts for a new project I'm planning. It's small, but oh so important to me...