Put a Hood On It: Or maybe not.

I am not sewing for me right now. I have a lot of work, and much of it paid because I like living indoors and eating. So I am going through the blog posts I started and finishing them up. I have a couple of hundred of orphans, and my hair is going to change color in them. LIKE MAGIC.

I made this short robe for Son from an Ikea duvet cover (as one does)

So I took some measurements off the original and did some mathing

And then I gave it a hood.

Oooookay.

This was more a 'do ya think this could work?' exercise in sewing. I cut my hair shorter and shorter, and I don't turn the heat up very high in my house, so the back of my neck gets cold. Not the front.

So, hoodies. And it would be nice to have a hoody for work that isn't advertising something else than my organization. And we don't have a hoody.

Shame.

So I was looking at how the facing/collar works on this jacket and ...well, when you are into something (hoods), you want to put them on everything?

The continuous front/neck facing is twice the height of the body plus the width of the opening, sewn all the way around in one go. It's doubled in width, to fold over that edge.

 So, if I were to add the hood, I'd be extending those facings (and adding a piece at the back for the head width).

I think you're always better with a higher hood than what I'm mentioning here. You could measure your whole head height from shoulder to shoulder over your head. That is why the tape measure is flexible, right?

I try to make muslins I don't want to keep (I got too attached to makes that were almost good enough, and I wouldn't bother to take it further). I make parts of stuff; when I know what works, I just work on the part I'm unsure of. Get enough to get a good proof of concept before I commit to the fancy fabric.

This might not have been the best choice for this project, but it did work for the toile. I can't even remember what this sample fabric was for. I don't buy grey stuff much (even if it is delicious).

This kinda works. Hood should be deeper...

My ultimate fabric choice is a Kokka knit, semi deep stash, 40" wide.

Hug Snug as a seam finish (preventer of future stretching) at the shoulder/neck seam.

Oooh. Sewing.

Awkward selfie before the sleeves, with derp face.

Now, looking back, this is the point where I should have put sleeves on the muslin. 

The original does not have a hood, and it hangs fine.

The finished item has a hood, and it is less than pleasing, at least in this version, with these proportions and this fabric.

So I took off the hood.

Better.

Now if the black was actually black. Next to black, it's kind of green.

Girl stuff i don't know how to do: Sleevy Shawl

Things I cannot do:

 High heels

Makeup

Scarves

 I'm looking at this pattern and thinking the reason why it doesn't work for me is that I'm not a shawl or scarf wearer. If I were accomplished or even familiar with wearing a shawl, the one sleeved shawl would make sense and I could make it work. I could put it on and make it stay.

How do you people do that?

https://www.decadesofstyle.com/collections/1950s-sewing-patterns/products/5006-1950s-stole

I have every sewing ambition there is or can be.

More aspirational than accomplished I think; the title slapdash sewist was already taken.

I spend a lot of time making little models and thinking about shapes.

And after seeing Julie's Jet Set Sewing version, 

https://jetsetsewing.com/2018/03/25/oscars-report-get-a-snack-its-a-long-post-and-daniel-day-lewis-sewing-blog/

I wanted to play with this.

This is an issue. It is important, and appreciated.

I am not giving anything away by showing you this picture. As with most vintage patterns, the pieces mean nothing. Look at the photos: it's a sleeve with wrapping parts and a secret pocket.

The instructions are the gold.

And we are going to remind you, in a different typeface: don't make the mistakes your forebears did on Pattern Review. 

There was a tissue fit with the full size piece. It was....I'm short. 

The sleeve was the height of my torso.

It's a midriff baring wrap for her. 

It's an entire torso and change for me.

I'm really short apparently, because what's left is HALF the size.

There are no finished photos. It turned into something entirely different, because it was huge and I just can't throw that one end over my shoulder to the back and THEN bring that other end to the front.

There might have been a bit of ripping.

Maybe.

(there was a lot)

Hunkered Down

I did not use the cord on the right. At $22 a yard, I just could not afford as much as I needed. 

I am working on a complicated set of costumes for a show and I can't talk about them until the show is over, for reasons I can't explain until the show is over.

It is the most fun I've had on a project since the Dalek dresses, but most of it is handbuilt and handsewn and very time consuming

And I'm working the summer office job

and my house needs cleaning

And why my family expects me to clean and cook when I've got 

Xxxxxxxx

and 

XXXXXXXXX!!!!!!!

to finish

I mean, what's their problem?

Edinburgh Free Fringe

I will be back in time to post about the Six Napoleon challenge

because my family really can make their own food.