I'm making PANTS!

I am not quite certain how to categorize my sewing skills. I'd never machine sewed in my life prior to January of this year. I've had my machine less than 2 months but I jumped into the deep end of the pool, both feet, flailing and kicking. There was no fear to my sewing! No thoughts or considerations of what I "shouldn't" or "can't" do...well, except for jeans. Not pants, but jeans. Jeans seem impossible to make since they seem impossible to buy.

Anyway! :) I have learned a TON in these two short months. I've sewn something from each of: Simplicity, Butterick, McCall's, Vogue, and New Look. I've read --and am hogging as long as I can-- all of the popular sewing books and bibles from my public library. I think I've come to understand a lot but I'm not sure if I've officially made the leap from Beginner to Advanced Beginner. (Ooooooooh). It seems like info for beginners tend toward, "this is how you stitch a seam"...Here, make an apron!...A Pillowcase!!...Pajama pants!!! 

Which are all fine things to sew! But, I don't need help sewing straight seams or understanding how to make elastic casings. I've got those skills down.

I'm going to look into some of the more specific classes. I know people are fond of Craftsy, and I have totally learned a bunch of stuff on YouTube so I think I can do video based learning. I've also found a class here on sewing pants that's held in May. I'd like to try my hand at a couple pair so I know what I don't know before I go. Capiche?

I've started with Simplicity 2700. It seems to be a love/hate pattern. Some sewers are head over heels about the Amazing Fit pants patterns and others want to set the pattern on fire. I hope I'm the former.

So far I've cut it all out, there are LOTS of pieces. Fronts and backs, yokes and pockets and fly and oh my! I didn't know it would be time to insert the fly so soon so I called it a day and will watch Sandra Betzina's fly insertion video before I attempt it. I'm using a poly blend (?) that I got out of the value section at Hancock's. My muslin is technically costing more than my garment fabric (scored on discount from FabricMartFabrics.com), but that's ok.

UNDERSTITCHING!!!!!!!!!!!

Why hadn't I done any understitching before?!? Understitching is BRILLIANT and fantastic and absolutely marvelous! Woooohoooooooo!

Here's my progress so far. The pocket lining/yoke is a pretty cotton that I used to make a case for my crochet hooks.

Alright. In other crafting news...I'm finally biting the bullet and taking knitting lessons. I've never taken lessons to learn anything crafty. I think I felt defeated that I *needed* knitting lessons and let over a year go by pining over knitting projects. No more! I'm going April 7 and 14 to a place in Minneapolis. I  shall be a knit-master by fall!!!! :)