One of my prizes from the Sewalongs and Sewing Contests group was a pattern from Thread Theory. As these are mostly men’s patterns, I let Archie choose the pattern and he chose the Finlayson Sweater, with the warning that the fabric had to be “just right”. Right! Anyway he bunked off on a 4WD odyssey up north with a couple of mates, so I had free rein and shopped my stash for a hoodie version for Mark.
He wore it to the Bridgetown markets with some new corduroy jeans that I also made him. He’s been asking for a pair for more than a year and I’m so happy that I finally managed to make them. I used Kwik Sew 4045, as usual.
I have to say that I really like the Finlayson Sweater pattern, it is beautifully drafted, the instructions were really clear and it went together with no unpicking (most unusual for me). For the next one I am going to go up a size and make it longer. The neckline is crossed over creating a really nice shape and ensuring that the hood lies flat. I used a lovely cherry red fleece from Knitwit, but didn’t quite have enough, so lined the hood with some grey leftover fleece, which I also used for the cuffs and bottom band. Mark adores it!
He made like a badass and put his hood up for some of the photos. He’s carrying some new plants that we bought at the markets and there is native indigo among them, so I’m hoping to get some dye from them in a couple of years.
On the way back we called in at the #7 Tank Stand. Strange name but it’s a water tank on top of a hill with stunning views of the local Nannup area. It was a terrible day, but the view was still pretty good.
and here is the famous tank stand which was painted by some local school kids. On our bush block we are visited daily by a flock of the red tailed black cockatoos depicted here and they are both noisy and beautiful. They seem to roost in our trees at night and really like strolling around the edge of the dam, which gives me endless pleasure. The red feathers in their tails are absolutely stunning.
I shall be paying this tank (and the view) another visit in better weather!
I made the Finlayson Sweater whilst camping, along with another Seamwork Paxson modelled here with the lovely Blackwood River in the background. I used some leftover fleece from Mark’s dressing gown, and there’s not a lot to say about this one.
and a couple of photos looking out over Nannup and beyond – how green is it?
