NOW THAT I HAVE THE PERFECT SEWING SPACE, AM I SEWING?

I am and what a pleasure it is.  I am even keeping it cleaner, though how long that will last is debatable.  I finished a pair of trousers, in fact I am wearing them as I speak.  No pictures yet, because lets face it, they are the same as the last 3 pairs I made.  When I finish the rest of the outfit I'll post a picture.  Actually, they are a little different in that I used David Page Coffin's book, Making Trousers for the waist treatment.  I've just been sewing straight waistbands and using the usual hand sewn hook and bar.  They actually look very nice having learned to use a buttonhole stitch for sewing them on and a waste knot so that they are very neat, but Coffin recommends the non sewing type and I bought some.  I am not in love with them. I think that they make the overlap thicker than when I use the sewn on type.  I used his method of facing the band with petersham ribbon and pressing open the waist seam so everything is thinner and flatter.  It also has a split back band which is best if you ever need to adjust it.  You need to use 2" wide petersham which is not widely available.  I found mine at Pacific Trimmings in NYC,  but it's not on their website and they don't do well with phone orders.  The other place to find it is Judith M a milliner's site.  Theirs is a cotton and rayon mix which shrinks up as you watch when you put some steam to it, so buy extra.  This is the one Coffin recommends and its stiffer than the all rayon ribbon from Pacific Trimmings.  If you are a woman and using this technique, especially if like me, your hips curve out right below the waist, you have to steam and stretch the outer edge so that you have the extra room for your hips.   There are other waist band treatments in his book that call for lining instead and I may try that on the bias next pair.

I don't usually make a fly shield when I sew pants, but I made one for this pair and then ripped it out.  It's just too thick for my taste, even made with one fabric piece and one lining.  The fabric  I used, a wool blend tweed is maybe a little thick for this.  I think I'll stick to leaving them out unless I am making jeans, if I ever get to them!
Next up the knit top to go with these and then the cardigan.

Alex is coming home from Korea  December 2 and I am counting  the days.  We both really miss her but she won't be living here again.  She'll be with us for about 2 weeks and then we will drive down to Roanoke so that she can finally meet her nephew and meet up with her boyfriend.  Then it's off to Austin for them where she will be living.  She is dreaming(literally) of the brick oven Italian bread from the local Italian food store because it doesn't have milk in it(it's also fabulous bread that gets trucked out from Brooklyn 7 days a week) Bagels are on her list too and she wants a bagel and lox waiting for her at the airport.  I'm sure that her father will be happy to oblige her.

I haven't posted a picture of Jakob in a while and he's 9 months old already, can you believe it?  I am counting the days until we see him again too. He and his parents are coming for Thanksgiving.  Seth even found a high chair at a garage sale for Jake.

He's got 4 teeth now and loves feeding himself, especially if it's from Mommy's plate.  Of course I think that he's the most gorgeous baby.  Edited: Apparently I've lost count as he is now 10 months old.  He'll be walking before we know it.  He lets go when standing, so far he still lands on his bottom.