Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 - Completing Body

Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 - Completing Body

Well here we are. I had to check how long I have been working on this project. It certainly lived up to its name as according to my record I first blogged about this in March 2016!

Daytime Top Edge

 

I am now going to add Embellishments to the Daytime Top Edge. This includes Leaves and Branches

Fox Embellishments

 

Laura was kind enough to take the following photographs for me. Here is the Fox. As you can see I have added various Leaves to the Top of the Edge and also further down over the Fox.

The above photograph gives a good view of the added Leaves even if I do look like I am about to sing ‘Bring me Sunshine’.

Hedgehog Pocket

 

In case you have forgotten I had added a Hedgehog Pocket under the Pile of Leaves. Since the Mobile phone won’t fit anymore it is handy for Tissues or Sweets.

Night Time Top Edge

 

As with the Daytime Side I then had to Embellish the Night Time Top Edge.

Badger Embellishments

 

Once again I added Leaves and Branches to the Design

Mole Pocket

 

Here is a reminder of the other Pocket. I called it a Mole in a Hole.

Complete Hood

 

The previous photographs showed the Hood merely draped over my hairline. As you can see in this picture the Hood comes over quite far. This is designed to protect from those really cold days with a biting wind.

Owl Back

 

Back to the Owl. As I said previously if I had known then what I know now I would have placed it further up the Design. Please forgive the folds we were rushing a little.

Can you spot the Squirrel hiding?

First Hockey Match

 

I have decided that the first proper outing will be at a Panthers Ice Hockey Match. I was really toasty. I also loved the Boots that I bought to accompany the Cardigan. Great picture courtesy of my boyfriend Danny 

Paws the Panther

Wow a snapshot with Paws the Team Mascot. What could be better to end this Long Term Project with another animal picture?

It’s been a real labour of Love and it shows what you can do when you try and help from your friends.

Autumn Cape A Long Term Project - 2018 More Hood Part 1

Autumn Cape A Long Term Project - 2018

More Hood Part 1

I know it seems like forever since I blogged about this project but there are several reasons for this one being the time of year. It is very hot and playing with this much wool just isn’t fun.

Another reason is I am at a difficult stage in the project and therefore do not want to rush. Last but not least since I have no pattern to work from I need peace and quiet in order to do so and frankly with my neighbours being so noisy I cannot concentrate.

Daytime Hood Pick Up 42 Stitches 

I have to admit I have been dreading this part. If there is one thing I hate it is picking up stitches. This is particularly difficult when it has been cast off but I fought through it and picked up 42 Stitches on a 5mm circular needle 

Daytime Hood 2 Rows Rib

The section I have picked up is from the Daytime Front Piece. I am using Dark Brown wool so with luck it will mimic a branch. The idea is to add a few rows of Rib and then slowly decrease at the open edge and pick up and knit onto the Hood.

Before starting the Rib I need to be at the correct place. I therefore have purled across so I am starting at the open end.

1^st Row

Knit 2 Purl 2 repeat until the end

2^nd Row

Purl 2 Knit 2 repeat until the end

Night Time Hood 2 Rows Rib

I am simultaneously working on the Night Time Front Piece. I again pick up 42 Stitches on 5mm needles and using Dark wool.

However in picking up I have ended up at a different starting place therefore this time I Knit until the end of the Row. This side I use the following formula

1^st Row

Purl 2 Knit 2

2^nd Row

Knit 2 Purl 2

I now need to check how much Rib I need to Knit

Autumn Cape A long Term Project 2018- Owl Nest

Autumn Cape A long Term Project 2018- Owl Nest

This blog is going to touch on some embellishments that I needed to do regarding enhancing the Back of the Cape.

Back Of The Cape

This is how the full length Back of the Cape looks at present before any embellishments are added.

Owl Close Up

 

This is a close up of the section I will be concentrating on first of all. As you can see directly around the Owl and Hollow it is quite plain.

Leaves For Use

I had a pile of knitted leaves left over from earlier usage. Before I started to try and add any I sorted the leaves into sizes. I want the larger leaves at the Bottom of the Cape

Roughly Pinned Leaves

I pinned the sorted leaves roughly around the bottom of the Owl’s Nest in the Hollow of the tree. I tried to make sure that none of the leaves placed covered up the Owl’s Talons.

Owl Nest Sewn Leaves

I tried to arrange the leaves in a natural formation so it looks like the Owl is nestled snuggly amongst them.

Too Much Brown Right Side

At the side of the Owl and along the Bottom of the Daytime piece is far too much Dark Brown. Therefore I added more leaves to break up the mass.

Less Brown Right Side

I have used the brighter coloured leaves to lighten up the area to the Right of the Owl. I may need to do more but I will have to knit more leaves first.

Too Much Brown Left Side

This area was more difficult to do as the Night Time Side is supposed to be naturally darker. Unfortunately when I knitted the Back Piece the idea of a Day Side and a Night Side hadn’t occurred to me. Therefore the colours are the same both sides of the trunk.

Less Brown Left Side

I needed to choose the colours carefully. I made sure that the new leaves I was adding to break up the Dark Brown were dark colours as used on the Night Time Side. I also extended the hanging branches a little so I could add a leaf to break up the mass of orange and red.

I will want to add further leaves but I need to make some more in smaller sizes before I can start.

Autumn Cape A Long Term Project - Inside Toggles Part 2

Autumn Cape A Long Term Project - Inside Toggles

Part 2

The Toggles I ordered have now arrived so I can carry on with the inside fixings.

Daytime Toggle Pinned and Looped 

I pinned the Rib Bottom together and then proceeded to Loop around the Toggle already sewn from last time. This meant that I had a secure point to work from.

Inside Daytime 4 Toggles Pinned

Next I looked where the Loops fell and placed the Toggles in the corresponding area and marked with pins.

Inside Daytime 4 Toggles Sewn

I then began to sew the Toggles in place. Each time I finished sewing one I put the Loop around it to make the next one easier.

Inside Night Time 4 Toggles Sewn

Once I completed the Daytime side I repeated the process with the Night Time side.

Now you might be wondering why only 4 inside Toggles have been sewn when there are 6 Loops? This is because the 5^th Loop on the outside is very near the armpit. I think it would be very uncomfortable to have a Toggle here on the inside so therefore I will have to come up with something a little different.

Autumn Cape A Long Term Project - Inside Toggles Part 1

Autumn Cape A Long Term Project - Inside Toggles Part 1

I am a bit behind with writing up my blogs over the Yuletide period. I did this section of crafting a while back and trying to remember what I did and in what order so please bear with me.

After I had finished sewing on the Toggles and Loops on the exterior I needed to sort out the interior. I can use the Loops already sewn on. Firstly I pinned the Bottom Rib together to make sure it didn’t move.

Inside Bottom Night Time Toggle Pinned

I needed to sew on new Toggles to hold up the weight of the Front Piece on the inside because otherwise it would drop below and hang down beneath the exterior wrap over.

Inside Bottom Night Time Toggle Sewn

I decided the best way would be to start from the bottom and work upwards. I therefore pinned a Toggle in place on the Night Time side then sewed into place.

Inside Bottom Daytime Toggle Pinned

Once I was satisfied with the Night Time side I pinned a Toggle opposite on the Daytime side.

Inside Bottom Daytime Toggle Sewn

I then sewed this Toggle in Place so there was a Toggle on both sides of the garment. This was a little more difficult because this time the Toggle was against a Green background. I had to be very careful that the thread did not come on to the other side

Inside Night Time Toggles Pinned

The next task was to pin and sew the rest of the Toggles in place. I continued pinning upwards on the Night Time Side then disaster struck. I realised that I only had enough Toggles to do one side and not even all the way up to the top.

I sewed on what Toggles I could and put a brooch pin through the top to hold it. It was only a stop gap measure but it did mean that I could wear it for a few moments outside on the Winter Solstice.

I ordered some more Toggles and they have arrived so hopefully I will be able to continue on with Part 2 very soon.