Larger than life!

Note to self: Do not leave scarey things out side the bedroom door so it is the first thing you see when you open the door heading for the bathroom!

Dora needed a neck shield. Little ones could look up and see the neck of the person wearing the costume and could spoil the illusion.  (There is a helmet inside the head which supports and takes the weight of Dora's head,  it does not rest on the shoulders.) 
 So it was decided to attached some form of neck/collar "dickie".  I had some swimsuit lining which costume makers use as flesh tones  for figure skaters and dancers to denote bare skin but still has substance and support for their performance costumes.

I measured the diameter of Dora's 'neck', approximately 38"  I cut the fabric , a rectangle 38"x13". The seam was set at the back and quartered to the sides and front.   The rest was hand work.  Dora is ridged and soft. I had to use a small upholstery curved needle to sew the shield to the inside edge. When the head is in place the shield falls on to the shoulders and can actually go over the shoulders.
I will have to do some final adjustments when I fit it with the rest of the costume.  Dora's off to her first parade on Saturday. 

Long Scarf Answer

This is the scarf Dr Who (Tom Baker was the 4th Dr,) made famous.
I tweaked the pattern on the  one I made.
 I wasn't able to get DB knitting yarn, that's a #3 in Canada, from Mary Maxim in all the colours I wanted, so the yarn I used was a little heavier, #4.  My first attempt was the size of a lap blanket! 60 stitches in garter stitch. Next effort was 40 stitches and garter stitch again. And again I frogged it.
I was having my truck serviced at the time, sitting in the local Ford dealership. I can't imagined what the staff must have thought as this women who sat in the new showroom (The new service waiting room is claustrophobic and hasn't any windows) who knitted for a while then pulled it apart only to start again.
 My third attempt was 40 stitches and K1,P1 rib.  That worked much better.  It was an easy knit, just following the colour chart and as I was using a heavier yarn I reduced each block of colour by 2 rows.
The final length was just over 13' with out the tassels so I did have to reduce the length by approx 22".  There are all 7 colors in each of the tassels. I didn't have to block it as it was an acrylic yarn. Lots of tails to weave in along the one side. I only made it on condition that it would be worn. Let's hope it keeps him warm and he doesn't trip over it. The things mothers do.

There more than enough yarn to make a second scarf. The colour order would be different and the joining of two colours would be be smother too as I have found a better way. It's called a fisherman's knot.
Now that's out the way I can continue with my denim blue sweater.  Have to learn the pattern again!

Seeing Double.

Yes you have seen this top before.While it was on Rosie, everything was fine but when I put it on, trying to keep the V central was a challenge. Rework was the order of the evening so my top now has a round neck and is an 1" + shorter. 

Do you know what this is? Who wore it? and when?  Not Isadora Duncan, hers where made of silk.
I'll give the answer in the next post.

Latest Tee

This my basic Tee pattern using 2 types of fabric.  Mainly leftovers from two other tees.  The challenge was getting the front diagonal line to lay under the bust. I had wanted more curvature from the neck and across the body but I played cautious with the V.
Several years ago I bought the Wild Ginger Software.
I have both the Pattern Master 'Curves' and 'Boutique' version 3 upgraded, they are a little dated, and I see newer version are  available.   About once a year I have Jac  redo my measurements, parts are still shifting south so basic patterns need a little tweaking.
Rosie, my model, is such an asset too when sewing for my self.  She makes life easy.  Never grumbles, always there and ready for anything I need to pin in/on her.

Getting started again.

Something small to get my feet wet.
I spent the long winter feeding the birds.  This was the first time I have ever taken the time to do this and it was most rewarding. Of course the squirrels were also beneficiary's of my full feeders. The summer results of their dropped seeds is a wonderful display of sunflowers. This was the first one that bloomed a few weeks ago but there are several more to take its place. Knowing how tall sunflowers can grow I am not surprised to have one that has to be over 6' high. It will be interesting to see if the birds like their food straight from the source.