Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 - Completing Hood

 Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 - Completing Hood

We are finally getting there folks! Time to decorate the Hood with some Leaf Embellishments

Hood Beginning

 

The first thing I had to do is sort out what coloured Leaves I had. I had more of the Daytime Side so I decided that I would start with those.

I began to Sew Leaves to the Edge of the Hood starting at the Outside and working towards the Middle.

Day Side

 

I didn’t’ want the Hood to look Sparse or Cluttered so I Spread them out by putting a one Finger gap in between. Once I had added all the Daytime Leaves I could then think about Extending the Branches and Twigs so that they joined up.

Night Side

 

I had far more problems with the Night time Side of the Hood. I was desperately short of some of the right Coloured Wool to make more Leaves.

In the end I managed to make a couple of the Ginger Leaves and placed them strategically on the Edge.

Full Hood

 

In the above photograph you can see the completely Embellished Hood. It was much harder work than I had anticipated.

This was due to the fact that I was trying hard not to put the same Coloured Leaves on the Edge that were on the Background. It was quite a feat of arrangement since it had no set Pattern,

Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 Filling Time

 Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 Filling Time

Would you credit it? I have had the Leaves I Knitted under my nose for months and now when I want to use them they have gone walkabout.

Gap Fox Side

Since I cannot do what I planned until I find the Leaves or make some more I am reduced to doing a spot of Maintenance.

As you can see in the above photograph there is a Gap at the Top where I have added extra Rows.

Fox Side Sewn

 

I proceeded to Blanket Stitch the Two Parts Together.

Gap Badger Side

I have the same problem on the Badger Side.

Badger Side Sewn

 

This was easier to Sew as I had left a long Tail when I Knitted whereas on the Fox I had to find the Wool to Match.

Top Rim Tidied.

Finally I Sewed the Top Rim to make it Tidy.

 

Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 Toggle & Loops

Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2021 Toggle & Loops

The year 2020 was for me the year of the Face Mask! I have finally managed to put away my Sewing and get my Knitting back out.

Matching Fox Overlap

 

Frankly it was so long since I have worked on this project I had to go back and read my blog - Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2019 Toggle & Loops to remember where I left off.

After I sorted out my Needle and I-Cords I got my Cape and opened it fully. I then Folded over the Fox Side so the Loops Matched where the Toggles were on the Badger Side Interior.

Sewing Fox Overlap

 

With the Tail of the I-Cord I Sewed it Opposite the Adjoining Loop. I Sewed it through itself as well as the Wool.

Fox Overlap Tied

 

I then double checked that the Tie would hold. There was plenty of Cord left to make a Double Tie if I wished.

I decided that for now at least I was only going to Sew in One Tie on that Side and see how it held when I was wearing it. This is because with the extra Rows on the Top of the Overlap I didn’t want to throttle myself with it being too high.

Badger Overlap

 

I repeated the process with the Opposite Side. You may notice in the above photograph that the Wool used is a slightly different colour. Therefore I had to be extremely careful not to go completely through the other Side.

Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2019 Toggle & Loops

Autumn Cape – A Long Term Project 2019 Toggle & Loops

With so many projects on the go it seems that I never have time to finish the one I started a few years ago. This is quite annoying as it is getting so close to being a finished item.

Toggles Badger Side

For quite some time I have been unhappy with the Toggles on the Interior. I have difficulty keeping one Tied whilst trying to do the next one.

I also haven’t as yet decided how to Tie the Interior further up. As you can see in the photograph above only 4 Toggles are Sewn on.

Unravelled

I decided to make some more I-Cords. These were to be used as either replacements or as additional securing. However since they are Knitted on Double Ended Needles whilst travelling this particular one decided to completely Unravel.

4 I-Cords

I Knitted 4 I-Cords. Since this was going to be a Trial and Error basis I didn’t measure them. They are roughly the same Length as a Motorola G Mobile for those who are technical.

Testing Tie

I next Tested the I-Cord for Length. I wanted to make sure that it would Tie after it had been Sewn on. If they were massively to Long I could simply Unravel and make Shorter Ties.

The next step is to Sew one Tie into place and decided whether to use the Toggles or to Remove them from the Interior.

Autumn Cape A long Term Project 2019 – More Hood Part 2

It has been a long time since I have blogged about my Cape. This is due to being unable to concentrate on my design courtesy of a disruptive environment.

Pick Up Stitches

 

I have got to the point that I really hate. This is why I have been putting it off for as long as possible.

Stretching Stitches

Picking up Stitches is difficult so therefore I decided to stretch them first. A needle of the same size or larger is preferable to use.

Even Number

 

Since I am doing a Rib pattern I need to make sure that I have an even number of Stitches.

Cock Up

Oh rats. I never thought of that. I had the right number of Stitches but the Pattern doesn’t match up.

All Joined up

A bit of fiddling and I have managed to join up the Rib. Not sure what I am going to do next as yet.

Autumn Cape 2017 A long Term Project – Branches and Boo boo’s Part 4

Autumn Cape 2017 A long Term Project – Branches and Boo boo’s Part 4

This blog is a continuation of the various corrections I have had to make. 

Brown Boo-Boo

This little Boo boo is right at the bottom of the Front Piece

Brown Boo-Boo Fixed

This was a simple fix. I just added a leaf to cover the mistake and at the same time break up a bit of the excess brown.

Night Time Branches

This is at the top of the Night Time Front Piece and joined section of the Hood.

More Night Time Branches Added

As you can see in the photograph I have added some more branches leading off the main branch and also extended the branch a little. This still needs more adding too it but it gives an idea.

Branches Too Straight

This is part of the Back Section. This was when I was only just beginning to get the process down. The branches are far too straight to be natural. Frankly the whole of the Back Section needs reworking.

Branches Too Straight Altered

This Branch didn’t need too much doing to it. A little bit of embroidery has change the curvature of the branch. I have also thickened the branches leading off it. Underneath the straight branch I have added a small one changes the outline. This also breaks up the block of yellow along the tree.

Not Enough Support

These branches are very raggedy and obviously could not support the other branches leading off it.

Not Enough Support Emergency Fix

It was very lucky that I decided to look at this part of the Back Section when I did. As I was beginning to sew the brown to thicken the branches I spotted something.

A piece of orange wool was sticking out. I naturally thought it was a tail end that I hadn’t trimmed short enough. When I turned it over to the other side I got the shock of my life. It was a tail it was a loop that had somehow come undone.

This would have been a potential catastrophe which could have struck at any time especially with me continuously turning the item. I don’t think I have ever threaded a needle as fast in my life. I began sewing over and over the area through the higher loops. I then sewed below and along the section.

You will be able to spot in the photograph that there is now a rough yellow circle in the branch. I also thickened the branch a little further along. Before I do any more corrections I will need to give it a good check!