More UFOs Finished

So the quest to complete UFOs continues...

I tend to cut out a lot of patterns at a time, so that way I can sew any time I want to and not have to worry about cutting (which is probably my least favorite part of sewing). Because I have this habit, there are PILES of patterns already cut out in my sewing room, including piles of the same pattern cut out in different fabrics.

Since I have been trying to finish the unfinished objects, I just grabbed a pile and started working...this pile happened to be cardigans, as well as some shirts to make twinsets. All were cut from McCalls 5978, a very basic but classic pattern. Here is one of them, made from a leopard print sweater knit from Fabric.com:

And here is the whole batch:

There are 4 cardigans, the leopard print, and then red, black, and white...all also from a rayon/lycra knit from Fabric.com. There was also a top cut from the leopard using New Look 6735. Normally I am not a huge fan of New Look patterns, but the shirt in 6735 has some really great characteristics. The front is cut longer at the bust than in the back, so there is some shaping there, as well as some shaping at the waist. There is also a center back seam (although I don't use it, I just cut it on the fold) if you need to make a swayback adjustment. There is also a turtleneck made from the ubiquitous BurdaStyle 09-2010-121 in the black knit

Also, per a number of requests, here is the tunic from the previous post "on the hoof." I wore it to work on Wednesday, and got lots of compliments. It is also pretty comfortable. In a cotton, it makes a great summer shirt...but in the charmeuse it is plenty heavy for winter.

This photo is about 25 pounds down from the last time I posted any photos of myself on this blog, which was not even at my heaviest. In fact, there is very little photographic evidence of my highest weight. Probably the photo below is the best example, every other photo from that time period I have strategically placed a husband, niece or nephew directly in front of me so the true extent of my weight gain was largely undocumented.

Since that photo was taken, I went back on Weight Watchers, and got active...biking, kettlebell, and roller derby. I still have a long way to go, but you can definitely see the difference that 25 pounds makes in my workout clothes. Here is me ready to go skate:

My preference for all black workout clothes doesn't really help in illustrating physical changes, but so much skating has resulted in a big change in the overall shape of my body...as in, instead of getting smaller, the butt got bigger.

I can live with a big butt. At least I know how to adjust a pant pattern for it.

I have also gone from a BMI of 34 to one of 29...and 29 is almost out of the risk area. Ideally, I would like to lose another 30 pounds, but would be happy with just overall good health. Even as a youth, I was never active or athletic...so the idea that in kettlebell I can lift half my body weight above my head...or that I can skate for 2.5 hours at a time...or that I can ride my bike 20 miles...all of those things are completely astounding to me. So really, the weight loss is secondary to improving my health overall.

Hopefully, I will have a chance to sew a bit more this weekend...perhaps something much more exciting than a drab old cardigan.