Red Riding Hood : Little Things To Sew

How I took so long to sew the Red Riding Hood cannot be explained, but for saying that sometimes life gets in the way of sewing nice things...

..And this is one of those really nice things to sew. I adore making anything that doesn't require seam finishing and this is a very finished looking garment that is deceptively quick and easy to sew. In fact, it's sufficiently elegant that Heidi sewed up a Wed (sic) Riding Hood cape for a wedding. Who ever would have thought that the Little Things To Sew book would be providing pattern fodder for weddings? go take a look, it's divine!

I went with traditional red as I suspected it might be more of a dress up than an everyday cape, but it has been worn out a few times and received some great compliments. I'm telling you people, if you see my kids on the street and compliment them on their clothes then that garment that I had to wrestle them into will suddenly become a real favourite. Keep it up strangers, I love you for it!

The red wool is from Spotlight and was on sale, I bought a one metre cut and I'm sure there'll be enough for a little lined Sunday Brunch skirt. The lining fabric is Riley Blake's Little Red Riding Hood in Floral Grey purchased from The Fabric Stash where, for a few more hours you can take 20% off your order in the Memorial Day Sale. The button, I'm told, is made from some kind of nut and will swell up magically when wet, then return to normal size as it dries. I'm really curious to soak this cape and see what happens!

Thankfully we had a sunny afternoon at the park and didn't get soaked and A did a little Cinderella (dress here), Red Riding Hood mash-up and told me the flowers were for Snow White who was sleeping over there (pointing to the park bench!)

Which reminds me of a mental game that I sometimes play (mostly for my own amusement). As an antidote to those parents who see only the brilliance of their children, and make bold predictions for their kids future based on what ever perceivedly brilliant thing said child just did, I like to do the opposite. When my kids do something really mundane, I smile and think what a great {insert mundane job/career} they'll be. As a small toddler A had a real tenacity for repetitive tasks (cannery line) and now can't help but lean up against any street lamp she passes (street walker). P on the hand never wants to leave the park (vagrant). See, it's endlessly amusing, and anything that can help you to smile when some other parent is extolling the virtues of their flawless kids is a good thing, right?!

Here's the photoshoot location I wish I'd chosen, but I got a negative on wearing the cape that day and didn't have the camera. Still, A and I were in the city as the artists were setting up this installation for Australian Wool Week. So beautiful, and I was glad to have been sewing with wool!

Picture credit: Woolmark.com



Picture credit: The Juliet Report



To further celebrate wool week I hit up The Fabric Store for the last day of their merino sale, (which is probably all from New Zealand anyway, oops) and now I'm dreaming of a SBCC Tonic 2 for myself with a bit of a cowl neck....