progress on the green tweed cloak

I'm pantsing* my way through the cloak - there are generic instructions in the book but most of it is obvious. The only thing I had to unpick was a small section of the hood so it's working out well. I did that unpicking/repinning on the train to work yesterday, and when I got home added the front sections to the main part.

The other oops was in cutting - I counted squares (inches) on the grid and chalked and cut. Forgetting to write numbers down between steps and cut the front bands 3" shorter than the main panel.  It's not a disaster but a reminder to measure twice, cut once and make notes.

I'm really pleased that I managed to machine stitch all 3 sides of the lining in place on the front panel. Not all in the same seam though. I sewed the hem, then the front edge, then burrito rolled the main panel between the front panel and lining.  I was suprised how easy it was.  My hands got too cold and I couldn't find my fingerless mitts (why where they in the laundry?) so didn't finish it last night.

On the train to work I worked out the pleating onto the neckband - which isn't in the pattern but I choose to have one. Fortunately mirroring the pleats went effortlessly and I can quickly stitch it tonight. I flatlined the neckband with the cotton print, and will recut another neckband lining.  I'll quickly get this seam and the hood added to the top edge, and can do the hand sewing in the car tomorrow morning. I've got large hook/eye to fasten the neckband and will add green tape/ribbon once I find some.


* I first heard this term about writing cos although I don't write I easily read 100+ books every year and read blogs by a few of the many writers I'm a fan of.

Green tweed cloak is cut out

The cold snap is upon us,  and I really need something for the wait on the open air platform each morning. Also at night if it's windy. Plus TeslaFest is late in July so I may need it over a steampunk outfit.

I still can't decide if I'll dye the pink wool before making it,  so I cut out the green houndstooth tweed.  The lining for the hood/front sections is also from stash,  and thankfully in the to be folded pile.

A silky smooth lining isn't a good idea in the hood as that would slip right off your head. I also have some trim in the stash that I'm deciding whether to use or not.  There's @1.5m left from one piece,  and two small rolls of 2.1m.

Over half the woven fabric is folded and shelved

I took a couple of nights off from folding fabric after I reached the half way point of fabric folding. I think all the remaining fabrics (not in the discard pile) will fit in the cupboards. I might even fit in a shelf of mock up fabrics - selected from the discard pile; or possibly some of the notions also.

Now two thirds are folded and in the shelves, and its very satisfying. It's also a bit horrifying that with 620 metres done I still have over 300m to be folded.
Having to take a longer break as a ligament is hissy fitting.

There's a now heaping pile of assorted notions/scraps/patterns/unfinished projects in the middle of the room, and I need to tackle them too. I'm tempted to toss every notion into a large plastic tub and then sort them out to trims, elastic, closures, zippers, piping cords etc. I'll give that a go and see how it turns out.