Sheila #So50GuestEditor @sheilasewsherclothes and blanket coats. Keeping warm this Winter☃️
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Got a bright wool blanket?
Southern Hemisphere Sewists grew up with bright wool blankets on their beds for Winter. These unique blankets were dumped and replaced by doonas. Now they are back at markets & are now kids jackets or the odd dress for grownups.
Maria @velosews of @seworganisedstyle invited me to deep dive into the history of retro blankets. On the podcast I discussed: planning, minimal waste, tricky bits like wool thicknesses & blanket stretch, & little projects for the scraps like hats, cushions, mitts, dog coats & hot water bottle covers.
First: the Ayora Jacket by Pauline Alice with a check blanket. Biggest challenge... buttonholes!!! My machine really chewed them up, going over the buttonholes by hand it was a bit better, but it did occur to me why so many Sewist use toggles.
Next: Kaya dress by Fibremood. Extra length to the design weighted the wool and minimalised areas of pre-existing stretch. Blanket binding stitches were used on the top of the pockets, reducing bulk and giving a nod to the history of the original wool. And stripes were matched horizontally because vertical stripe matching just wasted too much fabric.
Latest: the Emmi Jacket includes what I’ve learnt so far. Surprisingly buttonholes were handsewn & were quicker than all the unpicking involved with my Ayora. If holes were encountered a callout to our one of many mending experts in the @sewover50 community would have happened. @suestoney at the top of my list.
Here are a few examples of @SewOver50 Sewists who have turned a blanket into wearable art:
@SheilaSewsHerClothes Ayora jacket, Kai dress, Emmi jacket
@AdyMadie Nova Coat @pamsssewingsolutions used Onkaparinga
@LizHaywood374 1️⃣beaut blanket coat 2️⃣army blanket coat
@suestoney in 2020 1️⃣reused her mother in law’s blanket into house coats 2️⃣she used Albany Woollen blanket for her pink jacket worn in Tasmania with Julie and myself.
@bayhaus7023 Ilford jacket
#AyoraJacket #FibreMoodKaya #PapercutEmmi #PapercutNova #ZeroWasteSewingBook
What’s your blanket recycling advice? #SewOver50June
